Checklist for Engaging Health Centers

Checklist for Engaging Health Centers to Integrate HIV Prevention, Care, and Treatment Services o Provide a clear description of project methodology, goals, objectives, activities, and amount of time required from the health center (HC) staff to fully participate. o Quantify the need for HIV services in their communities. o Understand the environment (political, socioeconomic, demographic) both within the HC and the communities they serve to provide the most relevant CBA. o Clearly communicate each step in the process (assessment, training, and evaluation) in a time frame that fits the schedule of busy providers. o Develop a strong working relationship by facilitating regular communication between project and HC staff, discussing and monitoring overall project progress, addressing barriers to participation, and proposing solutions to those barriers. o Promote an interdisciplinary team approach. o Assure mutually agreed upon capacity level and goals for CBA by actively collaborating with the HC through the assessment process and training plan development. o Treat the HC team as partners, not trainees. o Avoid overwhelming or discouraging the HC staff by ensuring the training plan is realistic and achievable within the time frame of engagement. o Develop easy to use, interactive tools for engagement. o Conduct in-person visits to develop relationships and show commitment to building their capacity o Provide a tangible cost-benefit for HCs to engage in an environment where resources and time are limited and HCs operate using a business model. o Be patient and cognizant of competing priorities. o Keep HCs moving forward with HIV integration after engagement is complete by identifying other local and national resources, and communicating goals and next steps to ensure continuity of CBA and avoid duplication of activities already conducted.