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Date of Report: 05/2004
Source: Pacific AETC and National Minority AETC
The Pacific AETC (PAETC) and National Minority AETC (NMAETC) recently improved their collaboration on training and capacitybuilding efforts in the PAETC four-state region of Arizona, Nevada, California and Hawai'i. To specifically address this and previous communication challenges, PAETC sponsored a successful one-day Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI) consultation meeting in San Francisco. The meeting aimed to create a new paradigm of communication that would better facilitate cooperation toward improving the quality of life of minorities disproportionately affected by HIV through improved service capacity and clinical practice regionally.
Approximately 30 participants including MAI project leaders from local performance sites, directors and managers from community- based minority partner agencies, and staff of PAETC and NMAETC's Central Offices were in attendance. The day's proceedings, assisted by an outside facilitator, resulted in greater understanding by participants of the outcomes and activities of each MAI project in the PAETC region. In addition, participants identified and prioritized unmet training and capacity-building needs, and outlined concrete steps to ensure improved working relationships. The following list of prospective activities for collaboration in the next year was compiled:
 | Sharing needs assessment findings, curricula, training and evaluation tools, and presentation materials; |
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| Working with the National Resource Center to create an MAI section on the website www.aidsetc.org that includes a list of available resources throughout PAETC; |
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| Establishing mutual hyperlinks on each others' websites to enhance awareness of projects; |
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| Developing a common work plan outlining specific joint training or capacity-building activities for FY2004; |
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| Identifying opportunities to ?tell our stories' and the unique importance of MAI in jointly proposed abstracts, articles, case studies, presentations and exhibits. |
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Ultimately, all concurred that the foundation for a truly collaborative process had been set. PAETC and NMAETC agreed on a series of 'next steps', including a follow-up conference call, development of a coordinated process to screen and review future capacity-building requests, allocation and leverage of PAETC and NMAETC's range of resources, and a commitment to support minority-focused projects. Participants also wholeheartedly agreed that an annual face-to-face meeting focusing on MAI project problem-solving and lessons learned would be valuable, and will be reflected in their work plans for next year. Overall, participants found the meeting process and outcome helpful in addressing communication challenges of the past. A synopsis of the meeting including key findings is available upon request by contacting Robert Tagalicod, PAETC Minority Programs Manager, rtagalicod@psg.ucsf.edu.
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