1	KEY ELEMENTS IN DEVELOPING AND SUSTAINING A COMMUNITY COALITION IN AN IMMIGRANT POPULATION The Metro Boston REACH 2010 Haitian HIV Coalition
2	BACKGROUND: HIV/AIDS affects a disproportionate number of Haitians both in the United States and in Haiti. An estimated 300,000 people (4.5% of the population) are now infected with HIV/AIDS in Haiti. In Massachusetts, 970 cumulative AIDS cases have been reported among Haitians. Haiti has the highest rate of HIV infection in the Caribbean.
3	BACKGROUND (cont.) HIV infection in the Caribbean. Encouraging community members to participate through group and community level activities Conducting passed activities have brought a threshold of HIV awareness but have not mobilized and targeted subgroups in these communities History of non-cooperative behaviors among Haitian Services Providers SOURCES: Center for Strategic and International Studies, “Developments in Haiti’s Fight against HIV/AIDS.” www.kaisernetwork.org, Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
4	REDUCING HIV DISPARITIES IN THE HAITIAN COMMUNITIES THROUGH COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION GOALS I: By 2007, expose approximately 18,000 or 25% of Haitians in the Metro Boston area to HIV/AIDS preventive education II: By 2007, increase the capacity of leaders in the Haitian community to effectively provide HIV prevention messages to the Haitian community. III: By 2004, increase the capacity of Haitian and Non-Haitian providers to effectively provide HIV prevention services to the Haitian community
5	The Metro Boston Reach 2010 HIV COALITION The Coalition is a coalition of health and social service providers, clinicians, consumers, epidemiologists and community members who mobilized to reduce HIV disparities in the Massachusetts Haitian Community.
6	REACH 2010 Implementation Stage Theoretical Framework
7	PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
8	METRO Boston Haitian REACH 2010 Coalition
9	METHODOLOGIES COALITION DEVELOPMENT Methodology for Coalition Building The Development of General Assessment and Community Action Plan. Moving from Planning to Program Implementation Developing Structures and mechanism of operations. A steering committee A RFP Process The Working Groups Model Quarterly meeting. Providing TA and Capacity Building on Coalition Building, Program Development and Program support Evaluation Formative Evaluation Process Evaluation
10	STRUCTURES AND MECHANISMS OF OPERATIONS Center for Community Health, Education & Research is the lead organization responsible for general planning, coordination and program implementation A Steering Committee representing all partner organizations The development of RFP process for subcontracting purposes based on expertise of each partner organization The Development of the working groups as design team for each targeted subgroup The implementation of a quarterly meeting for program coordination, update and planning
11	WORKING GROUP The first target action of the Metro Boston Haitian Coalition was to convene six working group. The Working Groups were organized as Inter-Agency collaborations of providers serving similar clients. Develop HIV preventive education content and intervention strategies. Conduct and constantly evaluated the delivery of content to targeted subgroups within the Haitian Population. Recommend change both in the content and the delivery of HIV Prevention Education.
12	WORKING GROUPS
13	Development & Implementation of Capacity Building Operation Plan (CB)
14	OUTCOME Evidence of ownership shown by Working Group in the implementation phase. Leadership is shared in the group building capacity for the next generation of community Leaders. Not all Working Groups are alike some require support form Lead Agency. 95% rated the process as being effective (Anna Madison, Univ. of Mass).
15	KEY ELEMENTS THAT MADE THE WORKING GROUP SUCCESSFUL Allowed organizations to share information and expertise. Provided an opportunity for agencies to become more acquainted. Provided designated time for agencies to reflect and create new ideas. Provided an opportunity for agencies to develop an trusting relationship Created leadership to guide future community wide Public Health Interventions.
16	LESSONS LEARNED Utilizing a group process approach in developing, implementing, and evaluating HIV prevention workshops has proved effective but lengthy Coalition development requires constant skills development on group processes, management development and program development Undo distrust and non cooperative behaviors necessitate shift of power and balanced decision making from the lead organization to the structure of the coalition.
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