On September 18, 2007, Councilmember Catania and Chairman Gray introduced the “Effi Slaughter Barry HIV/AIDS Initiative Act of 2007” to rename the East of the River HIV/AIDS Initiative after the late First Lady, Effi Slaughter Barry. In addition, the legislation formalized the partnership between the Department of Health and the Mayor’s Office of Partnerships and Grants Development to build capacity among HIV/AIDS service providers east of the river. Ms. Barry served as Director of Special Projects at the Department of Health where she advocated on behalf of several thousand District residents combating HIV/AIDS.

As the District works to lower its high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, especially in Wards 7 and 8, the Effi Barry HIV/AIDS Initiative plays a critical role by ensuring that organizations have the resources and technical capacity to serve their communities and roll back this disease. In particular, the Initiative allows community based groups to participate in training with the Office of Partnerships and Grants Development in order to better understand local and federal HIV/AIDS funding requirements and to improve service delivery through program evaluation and strategic planning.

The Committee held a hearing on this legislation on November 1, 2007. Community organizations participating in the Effi Barry HIV/AIDS Initiative and individuals who personally knew the former First Lady presented testimony before the Committee.

On November 16, 2007 the Committee marked up the permanent version of the bill. On January 8, 2008, the Council passed the Effi Slaughter Barry HIV/AIDS Initiative Act of 2007, and the bill became law on March 20, 2008.

Introduced Version of Bill 17-372
Permanent Version of Bill 17-372