As we prepare to
conduct a preliminary site visit in your area, we hope that this
information will help you in planning for our visit. The purpose
of this visit is to get a general idea of how the HIV/STD system
works in your district/unit. To better understand the system in
your area, we will be asking questions in the seven focal areas
of the evaluation that best describe the HI V/STD Healthcare
System. Listed below are the focal areas of the evaluation and
outlined under each is our take-away goal after conducting the
visit. We would like to meet with any individual/area that you
feel will help us get an overview of these focal areas.
COUNSELING, TESTING, REFERRAL, & PARTNER NOTIFICATION
Goal: To understand how counseling, testing, referral,
and partner notification activities are performed in your
district with respect to HIV and STD's with high incidence rates
that you follow.
RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER STATE AGENCIES
Goal: To understand the nature and extent of
collaborative efforts with other state agencies such as
Department of Education, DFACS, Juvenile Justice, State and local
correctional institutions, Mental Health/Mental
Retardation/Substance Abuse agencies etc.. that enhance HIV
prevention and STD prevention efforts.
RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE AND OTHER
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS Goal: To understand how the role
and services of your health district/unit are perceived by
members of the community, those who utilize your services as well
as those who do not. To understand the nature and extent of
collaborative efforts with community organizations such as CBO'S,
ASO'S, colleges and universities, hospitals and clinics,
churches, aftercare treatment centers etc... that enhance HIV
prevention and STD prevention efforts.
SURVEILLANCE
Goal: To understand how HIV and STD surveillance activities
(data collection, analysis,
interpretation, reporting) are performed in your district/unit.
DATA COLLECTION AND UTILIZATION
Goal: To understand the nature and extent (what data, how
collected, who collects) of other data collected and utilized in
your district/unit that enhance HIV prevention and STD prevention
efforts.
ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE
Goal: To understand how patients seeking STD and HIV services are
routed through the
health system, and what things facilitate and impede access to
care.
TRAINING
Goal: To understand training and development opportunities
available (lack of availability)
for HIV and STD staff.