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Abstract

The objective of this three-year project was to improve the coordination and capacity among 12 community-based organizations (CBOs) that serve minority populations impacted by HIV/AIDS in Hampden County, Mass., particularly re-entry populations, women in transition, substance abusers, and individuals with mental health disorders. The key strategies included group trainings designed to increase service delivery skills, information sharing, awareness, and networking capacity of CBOs, as well as technical assistance on organizational development and program management. Building on the success of past projects, the grantee partnered with three agencies selected based on their longstanding, highly respected roles within communities of color and their expertise in reproductive health care, HIV prevention and substance abuse treatment.

The project evaluation focused specifically on measuring outcomes related to the impact of training and capacity-building activities on the knowledge, skill, and quality of care provided by the healthcare CBOs in the target area. Data were collected through interviews with stakeholders, focus groups with CBOs' program staff, and surveys of training participants and CBOs' program staff. The evaluation showed that over the three-year period of the grant, a total of 215 staff members participated in the trainings. Each year, the number of participants increased, with 43 in the first year, 74 in the second year, and 98 in the third year. The training program resulted in improvements in CBO staff members' knowledge of HIV/AIDS and their effectiveness in delivering HIV/AIDS-related services. The participant survey showed that the trainees improved their knowledge and skills in areas, such as understanding of HIV/AIDS, HIV/AIDS testing and screening, substance abuse treatment and prevention, needs assessment, fiscal management, grant writing, and partnership-building. Nine out of 12 CBOs completed the organizational capacity survey and reported increases in the number of partnerships with local healthcare providers, including substance abuse and mental health treatment services, as well as increases in minority populations' use of counseling and HIV testing services. In addition, grant writing trainings helped the CBOs secure additional funding for their health service programs. In the first year, eight out of 14 (57 percent) of the proposals submitted by CBOs were funded, in the second year four out of 10 (40 percent) proposals were funded, and in the third year 15 out of 16 (94 percent) of the proposals were funded. Having these additional funding sources allowed partner organizations to sustain and expand their health services.

Related NPA Goals

• Awareness: Increase awareness of the significance of health disparities, their impact on the nation, and the actions necessary to improve health outcomes for racial, ethnic, and underserved populations
• Leadership: Strengthen and broaden leadership for addressing health disparities at all levels

Related Healthy People 2020 Objectives

• HIV-3 Reduce the rate of HIV transmission among adolescents and adults
• HIV-4 Reduce the number of new AIDS cases among adolescents and adults
• HIV-5 Reduce the number of new AIDS cases among adolescent and adult heterosexuals
• HIV-6 Reduce the number of new AIDS cases among adolescent and adult men who have sex with men
• HIV-7 Reduce the number of new AIDS cases among adolescents and adults who inject drugs
• HIV-8 Reduce the number of perinatally acquired HIV and AIDS cases
• HIV-12 Reduce deaths from HIV infection
• HIV-13 Increase the proportion of people living with HIV who know their serostatus
• HIV-14 Increase the proportion of adolescents and adults who have been tested for HIV in the past 12 months
• HIV-17 Increase the proportion of sexually active persons who use condoms