3.2 Developing an Organization's Program Plan for PCM

3.2.1 HIV Prevention Community Planning

In 1994, the 65 state and local health departments that received CDC federal funds for HIV prevention began a participatory HIV prevention planning process. The goal of HIV prevention community planning is to improve the effectiveness of HIV prevention programs by strengthening the scientific basis, targeting, and community relevance of HIV prevention interventions. Together, representatives of affected populations, epidemiologists, behavioral scientists, HIV/AIDS prevention service providers, health department staff, and others analyze the course of the epidemic in their jurisdiction, determine their priority prevention needs, and identify HIV prevention interventions to meet those needs. Community planning groups are responsible for developing comprehensive HIV prevention plans that are directly responsive to the epidemics in their jurisdictions.

To proceed in developing a PCM program, the intended target population and PCM as an intervention should be consistent with the HIV prevention priorities identified in a jurisdiction's comprehensive HIV prevention plan.

3.2.2 Needs Assessment

In developing and planning a PCM program, a needs assessment is an essential first step. The needs assessment will assist in (1) establishing appropriate goals and objectives; (2) defining the purpose and scope of the program; (3) identifying social and behavioral attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions of the target community; (4) providing the basis for evaluation; and (5) establishing community-based support for the PCM program. This assessment should augment the epidemiologic profile and needs assessment described in the jurisdiction's comprehensive HIV prevention plan by providing additional, specific information needed for program design and implementation. These population characteristics will influence the range of PCM activities provided, the case manager's caseload, and recruitment and delivery strategies for a program. [More detailed information on conducting a needs assessment can be found in "Chapter 5: Assessing and Setting Priorities for Community Needs," Handbook for HIV Prevention Community Planning, Academy for Educational Development, April 1994. State and local health department program managers will also find information on conducting needs assessment in Planning and Evaluating HIV/AIDS Prevention Programs in State and Local Health Departments: A Companion to Program Announcement 300, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Reissued October 1996.]

3.2.3 Assessment of Community Resources

An assessment of community resources, including other HIV prevention programs and diagnosis and treatment services for substance abuse and for other STDs, is also essential - Results may influence the range of services provided by a PCM program and the skills needed by program staff. For instance, if a program is serving injecting drug users and few substance abuse treatment and prevention services are available, having program staff who are well trained in a variety of harm-reduction strategies is important. In other words, a PCM program should be tailored to the needs and characteristics of the population to be reached as well as to the available community services.

3.2.4 Goals and Objectives

A detailed program plan should be written that includes specific, time-phased, and measurable objectives for the PCM program. This plan should clearly define the goals and boundaries of the PCM program, including the roles to be assumed by prevention case managers. This has implications for staff training and resources. The plan should detail all parts of the PCM program including quality assurance and process evaluation measures.

Go to 4.1 Client Eligibility