title: Rapid assessment of the HIV/AIDS crisis in racial and ethnic minority communities: an approach for timely community interventions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The US Department of Health and Human Services, in collaboration with the Congressional Black Caucus, created a new initiative to address the disproportionate ongoing HIV/AIDS crisis in racial/ethnic minority populations.
  
  
  METHODS
  This initiative included deploying technical assistance teams through the Office of HIV/AIDS Policy. The teams introduced rapid assessment and response methodologies and trained minority communities in their use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The first 3 eligible cities (Detroit, Miami, and Philadelphia) focused assessments in small geographic areas, using multiple methodologies to obtain data.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data from the first 3 eligible cities provided critical information about changing the dynamics of the HIV/AIDS epidemic at the local level, including program and policy changes and infrastructure redeployment targeted at the most serious social and environmental conditions.
authors.affiliation: GAP program, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Needle
authors.forename: Robert T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Trotter
authors.forename: Merrill
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Singer
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bates
authors.forename: J Bryan
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Page
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Metzger
authors.forename: Louis H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Marcelin
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D018672:Community Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003256:Community Participation; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission; D006292:Health Priorities; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology*; D015980:Public Health Practice; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000145:classification; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012494:Sampling Studies; D011477:Sex Work / Q000208:ethnology; D017062:Small-Area Analysis; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000821:virology; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014483:United States Dept. of Health and Human Services; D019037:Urban Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*