In 1991 the Mayor of New York City established the HIV Health and Human Services Planning Council of New York. The Council is charged with developing spending priorities and allocating for Ryan White CARE Act Part A funds based on the needs of the ever-changing HIV/AIDS epidemic. The Council is a coalition of persons living with HIV/AIDS, care givers, governmental representatives, and community members. The vision of the Planning Council is that people living with HIV disease in the New York Eligible Metropolitan Area (EMA) will have access to appropriate, quality services across the continuum of care, resulting in the best possible health and quality of life.