title: Capacity building among african american faith leaders to promote HIV prevention and vaccine research.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In light of the increasing rates of HIV infection in African Americans, it is essential that black faith leaders become more proactive in the fight against the epidemic. The study aim was to engage faith leaders in a sustainable partnership to increase community participation in preventive HIV vaccine clinical research while improving their access to and utilization of HIV/AIDS prevention services.
  
  
  METHODS
  Leadership Development Seminars were adapted for faith leaders in Rochester, NY, with topics ranging from the importance of preventive HIV vaccine research to social issues surrounding HIV/AIDs within a theological framework. Seminars were taught by field-specific experts from the black community and included the development of action plans to institute HIV preventive ministries. To assess the outcome of the Seminars, baseline and post-training surveys were administered and analyzed through paired sample t Tests and informal interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  19 faith leaders completed the intervention. In general, the majority of clergy felt that their understanding of HIV vaccine research and its goals had increased postintervention. A critical outcome was the subsequent formation of the Rochester Faith Collaborative by participating clergy seeking to sustain the collaborative and address the implementation of community action plans.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Providing scientific HIV/AIDS knowledge within the context of clergy members' belief structure was an effective method for engaging black Church leaders in Rochester, NY. Collaborative efforts with various local institutions and community-based organizations were essential in building trust with the faith leaders, thereby building bridges for better understanding of HIV/AIDS prevention efforts, including HIV vaccine research.
authors.forename: Amina P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Alio
authors.forename: Cindi A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Catherine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Bunce
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wakefield
authors.forename: Weldon G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Keefer
mesh_terms: D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D035843:Biomedical Research; D057191:Capacity Building; D002977:Clergy; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D009518:New York
chemical_list: D016915:AIDS Vaccines