Technical assistance for the evaluation of community-based HIV prevention programs.
Funding agencies are using technical assistance (TA) to strengthen the evaluation capacity of community-based organizations (CBOs) engaged in HIV prevention efforts. The authors used qualitative methods to identify the types of evaluation TA needed by CBOs, to understand CBOs' past experiences with evaluation TA, and to elicit ideas for optimal delivery of evaluation TA. Assistance in developing evaluation tools and data analysis were the most commonly cited needs. Preferred TA providers were characterized as having practical expertise, accessibility, cultural competence, communication skills, and collaboration skills. Critical elements of an ideal TA system were adequate funding, program-specific TA, and extensive interaction between TA providers and CBO staff. Study data were used to generate a set of recommendations for health educators and others who may provide CBOs with TA for evaluating prevention programs.
Department of Health Education, North Carolina Central University, Durham, USA. djolly@wpo.nccu.edu
David
D
Jolly
Deborah
D
Gibbs
David
D
Napp
Bonita
B
Westover
Gary
G
Uhl
D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006290:Health Planning Technical Assistance; D006801:Humans; D011361:Professional Competence; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D014481:United States