Background: The Division of HIV Prevention (DHP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides capacity building assistance (CBA), which includes training and technical assistance (TA), for HIV service providers throughout the nation. Out of the four regions of the nation, the Midwest had the most notable increase in the number of TA services delivered during a three-year period of the program.

Methods: Midwest-specific data from the CBA Tracking System (CTS) which includes the Post Technical Assistance Evaluation (PTAE), and the Training and Technical Assistance Follow-Up Survey (TTAFS), were analyzed to describe and compare the characteristics of the TA provided from program year one to program year three (April 1, 2019 through March 31, 2022). Open-ended responses in the PTAE and TTAFS were used to identify TA participants' suggestions for program improvements.

Results: The number of TA episodes in the Midwest saw a 154% increase over the three-year period. Most of the TA episodes in the Midwest were assigned to the “Prevention for HIV Negatives” subtrack, and the TA topics focused on implementation preparation steps. Survey data revealed that staff availability, local context or conditions, and the need for post-TA training are common barriers to the usefulness of TA.

Conclusions: Common barriers must be addressed by 1) offering TA that focuses on staff recruitment, retention, or succession planning; 2) increasing the extent to which TA is tailored to local contexts and conditions; and 3) following-up to connect TA participants to trainings that can provide information and education necessary to overcome barriers to implementing HIV prevention interventions and public health strategies.