Community planning is an effective method of promoting overall health and well being by mobilizing and organizing the community. Local community planning ensures that programs work within the existing structure of their communities, and promotes program sustainability, viability, and effectiveness. The Boston Prevention Planning Group (BPPG), a community planning body, was formed in November 1998 to assure collaboration, coordination and cooperation among the City, providers and people living with and affected by HIV. Membership was determined through a community nominating process that sought multi-sector participation and partnership. The BPPG included representation from the Office of the Mayor; Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC); Massachusetts Department of Public Health; Boston AIDS Consortium; Boston Public Schools; Massachusetts Prevention Planning Group; and members of priority populations and affected communities. Members were chosen to reflect the diversity of the epidemic in Boston, and to include expertise in epidemiology, behavioral/social science, health planning, and evaluation. The work of the group culminated in a three-year HIV prevention plan for the City of Boston with the goal of preventing the spread of HIV in the City. The objectives of the plan are to guide the BPHC in soliciting proposals for HIV prevention and education services in the City, and to help providers design and implement effective prevention and education services targeting severely affected and infected communities. In creating the plan, the BPPG gathered and analyzed needs assessment data by population and by neighborhood, determined effective prevention and education strategies, and developed recommendations for the funder and funded programs.
Learning Objectives: 1) Articulate the basic components of community planning; and 2) Conduct a community needs assessment, including the definition of unmet/partially met needs, and the identification of methodological techniques appropriate to specific priority populations
Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Needs Assessment
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Boston AIDS Consortium;
Boston Public Health Commission
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: I am employed by the Boston AIDS Consortium.