Materials Reviewed by Statewide Program Materials Review Panel (PMRP)

About The PMRP

In accordance with regulations set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the Program Materials Review Panel (PMRP) evaluates new and revised written and audiovisual educational materials for use in DSHS HIV/STD prevention activities statewide. All PMRP panelists are community-based, non-DSHS employees. The PMRP is designed to represent a reasonable cross-section of the state's population. Since the panel reviews many materials for many different audiences, no one target population will predominate the composition of the panel. Local HIV/STD contractors funded by DSHS may adopt educational materials approved by the statewide PMRP without further review at the local level. However, local contractors may choose to review state-approved educational materials to determine appropriateness for the communities they serve.
 


Quick links to materials reviewed in:  2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010


PROGRAM MATERIALS REVIEW PANEL (PMRP) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

What is a Program Materials Review Panel (PMRP)?

A Program Materials Review Panel (PMRP) is a CDC-mandated panel set up at the agency, local, regional, state, or federal level to review HIV educational materials for accuracy, ease of understanding, and appropriateness for their intended audiences.
 

What must be reviewed by a PMRP?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) require all HIV educational materials to be used under a contractor’s DSHS project plan to be reviewed and approved by a local, regional, state, or federal Program Materials Review Panel (PMRP). These materials include:

  • written materials
  • audio visual materials
  • pictorials
  • social marketing
  • advertising materials
  • educational materials
  • social media communications (e.g., Facebook, Twitter)
  • electronic communications (internet/webpages)
     

What does NOT have to be reviewed by a PMRP?

Only materials that are providing HIV-related information for educational and informational purposes are required to be reviewed by Program Materials Review Panel. Materials that do not require review by a PMRP are those that serve no educational purpose:

  • organizational notifications
  • surveillance data
  • changes to dates/times of marketing materials.
     

Who must comply with PMRP requirements?

Any agency that receives HIV funding from CDC and/or DSHS must either convene or identify a PMRP to review educational materials. All agencies funded through CDC and/or DSHS sign an assurance of compliance to this effect.
 

What requirements must a PMRP panelist meet?

According to CDC guidelines,1 PMRP panelists should have some knowledge of the science of HIV, current HIV prevention and treatment methods in acquisition and transmission, and understand local epidemiology. PMRPs should also represent a reasonable cross-section of the population served.
 

How many people must be on a PMRP?

According to CDC, all PMRPs must contain at least five (5) persons that constitute a “reasonable cross-section” of the general population.
 

Do PMRPs need to have health department representation?

Yes. All PMRPs must have a state or local health department representative serving on the panel. This would ideally be a health department employee, but a health department may designate another person with subject matter expertise if a department employee is not available.
 

Can PMRPs consist of only agency employees?

No. While agency employees may serve on a PMRP, the panel must also include non-agency employees.
 

What should PMRPs look for when reviewing materials?

The review process is designed to ensure that educational materials are accurate, well-designed, easy to understand and culturally appropriate for the audience being targeted. Materials should also explain methods for reducing risk of HIV infection.
 

Are panelists required to act as censors?

Although all HIV educational materials must encourage healthy behaviors and may not promote or encourage sexual activity and substance abuse, this clause may not be construed to restrict information about reducing risk to HIV or STD infection so long as materials are not obscene*. The PMRP process in Texas is designed to improve educational materials, not censor them.
 

Do materials already reviewed and approved for use at the state or federal level need to be reviewed by the local PMRPs?

No. Materials that have been reviewed at the federal level by CDC or at the statewide level by the DSHS PMRP do not need to be re-reviewed. However, a local or regional PMRP can choose to “re-review” materials for appropriateness if deemed necessary by the panel. 
 

What PMRP documentation must be on file with DSHS?

  • CDC “Assurance of Compliance” form listing all PMRP panelists with affiliation and contact information.
  • Electronic or print copies of all materials reviewed by PMRP (URL links to online materials are also acceptable).
  • Record of materials reviewed by PMRP, including record of all panelist votes and approval/disapproval outcome.
     

Who at DSHS should I submit the above documentation to?

PMRP documentation should be scanned and submitted electronically to the Health Communication and Community Engagement Group at hivstd@dshs.texas.gov. Electronic submission is strongly preferred, but arrangements can be made for print submission if necessary.
 

Who should I contact with PMRP-related questions?

PMRP questions should be directed to the HIV/STD Section at 737-255-4300 or hivstd@dshs.texas.gov.

Helpful PMRP-related links:

  1. Program Guidance on the Review of HIV-Related Educational and Informational Materials for CDC Assistance Programs (Updated: June 2016): cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/funding/announcements/ps12-1201/cdc-hiv-ps12-1201-content-review-guidance.pdf (PDF)
  2. List of materials reviewed by the DSHS statewide PMRP.

Last Updated: February 1, 2019

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* “Obscene” as defined by the “contemporary community standards” provision outlined in the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court case Miller vs. California. For more information on selected Supreme Court obscenity cases, go to: findlaw.com/01topics/06constitutional/cases.html.


Quick links to materials reviewed in:  2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010


Materials Reviewed - 2021

Title: Ryan White Services Social Media Messages
Format: Animated Graphics in GIF format
Producer: Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF)
Subject: Ryan White Services 
Audience: PLWH in Dallas and/or Bexar Counties
PMRP Vote: RECOMMENDED (5-0)

 

Materials Reviewed - 2020

Title: Staying Healthy: COVID-19 & HIV
Format: Video, YouTube
Producer: Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF)
Subject: COVID-19 and HIV
Audience: People Living with HIV
PMRP Vote: RECOMMENDED (5-0)
 
Title: Women Get Real about HIV (11 videos total)
Format: Video, YouTube
Producer: Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF)
Subject: HIV Care, Treatment, and Services
Audience: People Living with HIV and People of Color
PMRP Vote: RECOMMENDED (8-0)
 
Title: Living Well & Let's Talk about Care & Treatment (6 videos total)
Format: Video, YouTube
Producer: Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF)
Subject: HIV Care, Treatment, and Services
Audience: People Living with HIV and MSM of Color
PMRP Vote: RECOMMENDED (5-0)

 

Materials Reviewed - 2019

Title: 10 Questions About HIV, Syphilis, and Pregnancy (English and Spanish)
Format: Brochure
Producer: Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
Subject: Pregnancy and HIV, syphilis and other STDs
Audience: All pregnant women in Texas
PMRP Vote: RECOMMENDED (10-1)
 
Title: Healthy Options Job Aid (English and Spanish)
Format: Fact Sheet/Job Aid
Producer: Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
Subject: Combination Prevention Job Aid
Audience: People receiving HIV/STD Services, Staff Providing HIV/STD Services
PMRP Vote: RECOMMENDED (10-0)

 

Materials Reviewed - 2016

Title: Protect Yourself If You Shoot Up (English and Spanish)
Format: Pamphlet
Producer: Channing Bete
Subject: HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, Injecting Drug Use
Audience: Injecting Drug Users
PMRP Vote: RECOMMENDED (5 approved)
 
Title: Learn More About PrEP
Format: Pamphlet
Producer: Texas HIV Syndicate, Texas Department of State Health Services
Subject: HIV/AIDS, PrEP
Audience: HIV-negative at-risk population
PMRP Vote: RECOMMENDED (5 approved)

 

Materials Reviewed - 2015

Title: A Gay Man’s Guide to HIV Testing
Format: A Gay Man’s Guide to HIV Testing
Producer: Texas Department of State Health Services
Subject: HIV/AIDS
Audience: Gay men
PMRP Vote: RECOMMENDED (5 approved)

 

Materials Reviewed - 2014

Title: HIV/AIDS (for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing)
Format: Pamphlet
Producer: Texas Department of State Health Services
Subject: HIV/AIDS
Audience: Deaf/hard of hearing population
PMRP Vote: RECOMMENDED (5 approved)

 

Materials Reviewed - 2013

Title: Ask for the Test
Format: Pamphlet
Producer: D.C. Department of Health
Subject: Routine HIV testing in medical settings
Audience: Patients in medical settings
PMRP Vote: RECOMMENDED (5 approved-2 abstained)
 
Title: MSM Syphilis Awareness Posters
Format: 3 Posters
Producer: Maine Department of Health
Subject: Syphilis
Audience: Men who have sex with men
PMRP Vote: RECOMMENDED (4 approved-3 abstained)

 

Materials Reviewed - 2012

Title: 5 Ways You Can Be Greater Than AIDS
Format: Poster
Producer: Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
Subject: HIV/AIDS prevention
Audience: General
PMRP Vote: RECOMMENDED (4 approved-3 abstained)

 

Materials Reviewed - 2011

Title: How to Use a Condom (5/11 revision)
Format: Pocket Guide
Producer: Texas Department of State Health Services
Subject: Condoms, sexual risk reduction, HIV/AIDS, STDs
Audience: Sexually Active Persons
PMRP Vote: RECOMMENDED (5-1)
 
Title: How to Use a Condom – Spanish (5/11 revision)
Format: Pocket Guide
Producer: Texas Department of State Health Services
Subject: Condoms, sexual risk reduction, HIV/AIDS, STDs
Audience: Spanish-speaking sexually active persons
PMRP Vote: RECOMMENDED (5-0)
 
Title: Knowmystatus.org (DSHS HIV/STD consumer website)
Format: Website
Producer: Texas Department of State Health Services
Subject: HIV/STD prevention, testing, symptoms, referral information
Audience: Persons seeking HIV/STD information in Texas
PMRP Vote: RECOMMENDED (6-0)
 
Title: Knowmystatus.org (DSHS HIV/STD consumer website – Spanish version)
Format: Website
Producer: Texas Department of State Health Services
Subject: HIV/STD prevention, testing, symptoms, referral information
Audience: Spanish-speaking persons seeking HIV/STD information in Texas
PMRP Vote: RECOMMENDED (5-0)
 
Title: “Stomp Out Syphilis” 60-second Spanish language radio spot
Format: Radio spot
Producer: Texas Department of State Health Services
Subject: Syphilis symptoms, treatment and prevention
Audience: Spanish-speaking persons at risk for syphilis in Texas Department of State Health Services
PMRP Vote: RECOMMENDED (4 approved-1 abstained)

 

Materials Reviewed - 2010

Title: The Hard Way
Format: Video
Producer: Select Media
Subject: HIV/STD Prevention, Safer Sex, Relationships
Audience: Teens
PMRP Vote: RECOMMENDED (6-1)
 
Title: Nicole's Choice
Format: Video
Producer: Select Media
Subject: STD Prevention, Safer Sex, Relationships
Audience: Teens
PMRP Vote: RECOMMENDED (8-0)
 
Title: All Falls Down
Format: Video
Producer: Scenarios USA
Subject: HIV/STD Prevention, Teens, Relationships
Audience: Teens
PMRP Vote: RECOMMENDED (7-1)