Positive Women’s Newsletter – February 2026

FL ADAP Crisis Updates

The Florida AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), which provides people with low income who have limited or no prescription drug coverage access to HIV medication, has proposed radical, devastating changes to its program.

The state’s Department of Health announced that, starting March 1st, they will reduce ADAP medication assistance eligibility from 400% to 130% of the federal poverty level. Anyone making over $20,748 per year for a single person or $42,900 for a family of four will no longer be eligible. They will also end all premium assistance for health insurance. In addition, the state is dropping Biktarvy, the most prescribed HIV medication, from its formulary, and restricting Descovy to people with renal insufficiency. 32,000 Floridians are expected to be impacted by one or more of these changes. More than 16,000 Floridians could lose access to medication assistance because of the changes!

Despite advocates’ best attempts to slow the Florida Department of Health down, these changes will take effect on March 1st. It is urgent that decision makers hear from people living with HIV in Florida who will be impacted by the changes.

Here are two things you can do right now to hold the Florida Department of Health accountable for these cruel and rash cuts:

1. Submit a public comment opposing the changes by March 4th. There are instructions and sample comment language, HERE, to help guide your submission. Once your public comment is drafted, you submit it HERE.  If you would like to watch a video walking you through the process, step by step, view that HERE. 
2. Call the Florida Legislature and demand they protect Florida ADAP and stop the proposed cuts! Check out The AIDS Institute Action Alert for guidance and talking points. HERE is a video walking you through the process, step by step.

For people living with HIV in Florida, you should check to ensure you know the impact these changes will have on your medication or health insurance access. You will want to be a proactive as possible including:

• Calling your clinic or case manager to verify you will still have access to your medications and care. You can connect to a local HIV Service organization to request support and find those links HERE.
• Requesting a 90-day supply of medications to ensure you have enough for the next couple of months
• If you are on Biktarvy or Descovy, apply for the Gilead Advancing Access patient assistance program HERE.

Click below to view our recording from our February 23rd Florida ADAP Conversation – Demanding Accountability and Advocating for Ourselves in partnership with the Sero Project and Florida Advocates.

PWN TX-GHA Demands Accountability From Elected Leaders

Our values. Our vote. Keep the promise.

Over the last year, constituents in congressional district 18 have been without representation for 360+ days. During this time budget cuts were made to health care while representatives voted to increase the budget for ICE. All of this happened without representation for voters in CD18. 

PWN TX-Greater Houston Area have been talking to voters in north Houston across CD18 about the primary election to finally have consistent representation in DC. The primary election is coming up for many of us, including voters in Texas (March 3). 

Mark this as your reminder to look up your primary Election Day and make a plan to vote. 

PWN-Alabama

We are the People Leading the Way

PWN Alabama chapter is serious about meaningfully including people living with HIV in every part of decision making.

They no longer want permission from the people who hold titles or power. PWN-AL has been building the confidence and trust of women living with HIV across the state since becoming an affiliated chapter of PWN-USA in 2021.

In February, the chapter held a retreat ahead of Alabama HIV Advocacy Day called Sisters in Solidarity Retreat Advocacy Day Experience February 21–24, 2026.

PWN-AL took six women to Montgomery to deepen connection; enrich their stories through meaningful experiences like spoken word, storytelling, and poetry; and be reminded of their power through a historical tour of the Legacy Museum. Take a look at their time in Montgomery.

Many thanks to the PWN AL chapter members that participated in the weekend and the leaders who helped plan and coordinate this weekend including Katryna Gholston, Myra Franks, and Lisa Johnson-Lett.

AIDSWatch 2026

PWN is coming to D.C. for AIDSWatch March 15-18th and we are ready to hold our elected officials accountable.

At AIDSWatch 2026, PWN-USA is bringing lived experience directly to Capitol Hill. PWN members and staff are supporting advocates to lead policy conversations with lawmakers, share their stories, and advocate for federal priorities that protect HIV funding, healthcare access, bodily autonomy, and community safety.

We have a series of trainings including our “Road to AIDSWatch” that will be held on 03/04/26 at 6pm ET. 

PWN will have workshops at AIDSWatch led by PWN members and state coordinators who will lead their state delegations with congressional meetings. PWN is building leadership, strengthening relationships with movement partners, and advancing justice-centered policies in a critical political moment.

PWN-USA is Now Hiring!

PWN is looking for our next Leadership Development and Training Manager – are you a natural trainer, do you love developing and support PWN members as they grow into subject matter experts demanding meaningful involvement and leadership by and for people living with HIV?  If so, then we need you to apply! Role is remote and full time: $66k/year.

PWN is also looking to recruit our next Communications Director! Do you have a passion for crafting narratives? Love working with community to elevate their storytelling? Interested in leading our communications strategy? If so, then we encourage you to apply today! Role is remote and full time: $75-80k/year.

Congratulations to our February 2026 Shero of the Month, Franceina Hopkins (she/her) of South Carolina!

Ms. Franceina Hopkins is a Public Speaker, Community Outreach Specialist, Powerful Advocate and Recruiter, Linkage to Care Specialist, Trainer and a True Leader. She was born in a very rural area of SC in Hampton County but currently lives in Lexington, SC, which is also a rural area.

When she found out about her HIV status in 1995, she kept it silent. Being from a rural area of SC she didn’t talk about her status and no one else did either. She did not know of anyone else with HIV or AIDS and had a fear of rejection and becoming an outcast in her own family, so she always made sure that it was not discussed openly. 

When she came to Columbia, SC, she was introduced to the organization, Women Helping Women, a group through LRADAC (Lexington Richland Alcohol Drug Abuse Council), for women who are recovering from addiction and are living with HIV or AIDS. It was in this group that she began to realize and understand the stigma attached to living with HIV. As a result of her personal stigma, she was in denial of her status. This group of powerful women helped to open her eyes to her struggles. – stop right here and introduce her to share more.

Franceina is now a lead recruiter for WISE Women (Women in Support of Empowerment) at PALSS (Palmetto AIDS Life Support Services) where she has had a great deal of success. Wise Women educate family members and the community about STI’s (Sexually Transmitted Infections), HIV and AIDS. She is also a member of a Women’s Health Advocacy Network, POSITIVE (Proactive, Optimistic, Sister, In-Touch, Involved, Validated and Empowered) Voices. Franceina has continued her quest to help people living with HIV/AIDS by doing resting and counseling, community outreach, public speaking and rallies at the State House on Medicaid cuts and ADAP (AIDS Drug Assistance Program). 

Her greatest concern is making sure that people in the rural areas will not be left behind because they lack support, transportation, and are living in poverty. She plans on turning this around by educating herself and others, making connections with other women’s and men’s organizations, and is currently working on creating a safe place for people living with HIV or AIDS to go for support and is also working to provide transportation to those in need.

Most of all, Franceina’s favorite thing to say is, “To God Be the Glory because through Him All Things are Possible”.

PWN-LA announces Sarah Jackson as their new liaison for the Louisiana Coalition on Criminalization and Health (LCCH) and PWN Louisiana! The chapter looks forward to continue collaborating with LCCH on efforts that will end the criminalization of people living with HIV in Louisiana.

PWN-USA staff and board were able to join and support PWN-New York for their National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day event! 

Please join us in celebrating our policy fellow DeOnyae-Dior Valentina, who is developing a national project in partnership with AIDS United’s Transgender Leadership Initiative called Trans Futures: A National Story bank and Advocacy Toolkit. She will be presenting at AIDSWatch and an upcoming webinar with MAP, Advocates for Youth, and The Trevor Project. Register here!

Please take a minute to fill out our Technology Survey! PWN is committed to ensuring that every member has the tools, access, and support needed to fully participate in our community, leadership development, and advocacy work. As technology becomes increasingly important for connection, organizing, and power-building, we want to better understand what members need to engage safely, confidently, and without barriers. Your feedback in this evaluation will help us strengthen digital access, provide meaningful tech support, and make sure all PWN spaces are accessible and empowering for everyone.

PWN-USA is excited to announce that we will be joining our long-time partners The Well Project to recognize and uplift National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NWGHAAD) on March 10th!

In spite of the federal government’s attempt at erasure, we will be using this day to acknowledge the unique impact HIV has on cis and trans women and girls, and elevate the stories of our communities in resistance. Our efforts will center around the theme: Sisterhood, Hope, & Equity.

Check out our NWGHAAD 2026 collaborative web page for a social media toolkit with graphics and our key messaging. Stay tuned for our joint statement, community stories, and more to come!

Sister Circle Virtual Support Group – March 5th

Are you a PWN member living with HIV? Join our virtual support group, Sister Circle, for a space to release, connect, and find peace! Join us Thurs, 03/05/26 at 8PM ET/7PM CT/6PM MT/5PM PT/2PM HT. Registration required to attend: bit.ly/PWNCARES (all caps). Hope to see you there!

Policy & Advocacy Training – March 12th

Join us on Thurs, 03/12/26 at 6PM ET/5PM CT/4PM MT/3PM PT for our next policy & advocacy training! This session will focus on Storytelling for Advocacy ahead of AIDSWatch. Everyone is welcome to join, no matter your experience level. Come learn with us! Register here!

PWN-USA National Membership Call – March 13th

Our next PWN members call is Friday, 03/13/26 at 4PM ET/3PM CT/2PM MT/1PM PT/10AM HT. Note: you must register as a PWN member before getting the Zoom link. PWN members include women (cis and trans), gender diverse, and transgender people living with HIV. Register here!

• Announcement of Changes in PWN-USA Leadership (02/10/26)

• PWN-USA Webinar: Conducting Effective Meetings with Decision Makers (02/19/26)

• Check out this digital security for community defense resource guide by Aspen Collective Safety
• “Trump administration directs rescission of $1.5B from blue states on health, transportation” by The Hill (02/05/26)
• “Trump administration is sending pregnant migrant girls to South Texas shelter flagged as medically inadequate” by Texas Public Radio (02/11/26)
• “ICE at the polls: Arizona Republicans push plan to require agents at all polling places” by Arizona Mirror (02/17/26)
• “24 Parents And Activists Blockade HHS Headquarters In Protest Against New Trans Youth Care Ban, Arrested” by Erin in the Morning (02/17/26)

If you’ve been to a PWN celebration in the past few years, then you’ve grooved to the song stylings of our very own DJ Big Sal, a.k.a. Sallie Thomas – the decriminalization specialist on our policy team. Now she’s bringing you a song selection to get your joy on!