Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #116189

Kevin D. Sitter, MSW MPH¹, Nancy Berman Lees, PhD¹, Jeffrey T. Bernstein, MS², Shanna Starke-Livermore, CHES¹, and Steven R. Truax, PhD³. (1) Office of AIDS, California Department of Health Services, MS 7700 P.O. Box 997426, Sacramento, CA 95899-7426, 916-449-5900, ksitter@dhs.ca.gov, (2) California Technical Assistance Program, UCSF Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, 74 New Montgomery, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94105, (3) HIV Prevention Research and Evaluation Section, California Dept. of Health Services, Office of AIDS, 1616 Capitol Ave., Suite 616, Sacramento, CA 95814-0208

Issues: Stakeholders need resources that are both time efficient and cost effective as they develop, implement and evaluate their HIV prevention interventions. Compiling the latest epidemiological and behavioral data, analyzing and prioritizing target populations, emerging trends and influential co-factors at the local level can be laborious. Continuing staff turn-over requires ongoing training to sustain effective interventions.

Description: Technical assistance providers who assist local jurisdictions in developing HIV prevention programs have limited capacity. An interactive website is being developed that will assist in developing local HIV prevention plans, selecting appropriate interventions for specific target populations, and evaluating HIV prevention interventions. A companion on-line training resource will provide self-study modules addressing each component of community planning and HIV prevention design, delivery and evaluation. This will allow users to access specific resources at any time.

Lessons Learned: All aspects of community planning and the design, delivery and evaluation of HIV prevention interventions are inter-related. Capacity of stakeholders providing HIV prevention services varies and fluctuates with staff turn-over, requiring a continuum of cost-effective resources be continuously available. Survey results from stakeholders demonstrated strong support for a web-based resource. Collaboration with stakeholders throughout the development process increases buy-in and creates a more exact product. Web-based systems are easy to maintain, update and keep secure.

Recommendations: Consolidate resources related to all aspects of HIV community planning and HIV prevention interventions. Utilizing web-based delivery systems allows technical assistance to have on-demand accessibility.

Learning Objectives: