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Date of Report: 11/01/2004
Source: National Minority AETC
Defining capacity building
In 2002, the National Minority AIDS Education and Training Center (NMAETC) changed its focus from training to capacity building, a systematic approach to building the potential for clinical organizations to respond to the needs of the minority communities that they serve. Components of this approach include identifying, establishing, and strengthening existing clinical, administrative, managerial, and management information system structures to improve patient outcomes over time.
Implementation activities
The implementation process began with a needs assessment and establishing goals with the client organization through Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) and Statements of Work, critical indicators in the evaluation phase of the engagement. Baseline measures were established; interventions such as chart reviews, process analyses, staff interviews, multifocal workshops, cultural competency and learning plan development with related tools and curricula were conducted.
The regional AETCs and Local Performance Sites (LPSs) were essential to the implementation process, providing local expertise and long-term educational support. Many have contributed expertise in their regions including Delta, NY/NJ, New England, Pacific, Pennsylvania/MidAtlantic, Texas/Oklahoma and Southeast. Regional AETCs worked together with the NMAETC, consultants, local clinics and subject matter experts to successfully prioritize the goals of capacity building among healthcare professionals.
Evaluation
Evaluation standards derived from the Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI) targets and the objectives of the capacity building assistance (CBA) intervention have aided the NMAETC in designing a capacity building model that is reproducible, cost-effective, and measurable, and most importantly, an asset to the community of organizations responding to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
 | Increased services available to minority communities:
Facilitated grant-writing process, provided continuous quality improvement (CQI) tools and guidance, and assembled a team of mentor organizations to assist a clinic in acquiring $150K in funding to build HIV care program. Conducted chart reviews and process analyses identifying areas for improvement in prominent Hispanic community clinic. As a result, the clinic began to offer gynecological care and vaccines. |
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| Increased coordination of services in minority communities:
A Ryan White Mid-Atlantic region hospital-based clinic established a relationship with a military health center to provide advanced HIV-related laboratory services. In the same region, a Title III clinic established a relationship with a dental school to provide dental services to their clients. |
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| Increased number of providers able to offer culturally competent services:
Several hundred providers have participated in the BE SAFE Workshop, a model designed by NMAETC to increase provider awareness of culturally influenced barriers to care, and to improve cross-cultural communication skills. |
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| Increased provider ability to offer services:
A hospital-based clinic in the Northeast attended a CQI workshop and was consequently able to solidify its quality management program. |
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