Communities Empowered: Capacity Building Assistance at Work

Issues: In 2005, African Americans and Latinos represented approximately 67% of reported HIV/AIDS cases although they comprised only 27% of the total U.S. population. To eliminate these health disparities, an increased emphasis for community-based organizations (CBOs) to scale up science-based, culturally and linguistically-relevant HIV prevention initiatives has occurred. However, community-based organizations are facing unmet organizational development and HIV intervention program management needs that are serving as barriers to CBOs' HIV prevention efforts.

Description: This presentation summarizes programs of two national organizations – AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth & Families and the Border Health Foundation – funded through cooperative agreements with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Adolescent and School Health and the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, respectively, that have provided capacity building assistance (CBA) to CBOs serving African American and Latino populations at high risk for HIV infection.

Lessons Learned: Some of the CBOs that are best positioned to provide culturally and linguistically-relevant programs face a considerable number of organizational and program management barriers. These CBA experiences demonstrate that the transfer of knowledge, skills, expertise and attitudes strengthens the core competencies essential for CBOs to improve the delivery, effectiveness, and sustainability of their HIV prevention programs.

Recommendations: Capacity building assistance should be scaled up and funding sustained in order to train and provide long-term follow-up support to CBOs. CBA efforts should assist CBOs in adapting HIV prevention interventions that are science-based and that empower youth and their families.