Project Concern International
Project B.R.O & The Latino HIV/AIDS Needs Assessment
Project Concern International (PCI) is a global health and development organization working in the United States and abroad to prevent disease, improve community health, and promote sustainable development. PCI sought Harder+Company's evaluation and technical assistance services for two of its programs.
Need
With funding from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Family Planning, PCI's Project B.R.O. builds reproductive health and life skills among African immigrant male youth, ages 12-19, in central San Diego. Project B.R.O., which stands for Brotherhood, Responsibility, and Outreach, already had a formal evaluation plan in place. PCI sought to strengthen its ability to document program outcomes for the purposes of program improvement and reporting to the funder.
A second program, funded by the Office of AIDS Latino HIV/AIDS Prevention Initiative, is a statewide Latino HIV/AIDS needs assessment. The purpose of the needs assessment is to identify what training, technical assistance and capacity building PCI can provide HIV/AIDS providers to effectively serve Latinos living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS. PCI contracted with us to provide technical assistance in the planning and implementation of the needs assessment and to conduct the analysis of the needs assessment data.
What We Did
An initial six-week contract enabled Harder+Company to conduct an inventory of the existing evaluation processes for Project B.R.O.'s main program elements. We then made a series of recommendations and developed new tools to enable staff to streamline and strengthen their data collection and reporting processes. We were then awarded a second contract to ensure that the design, coordination, implementation and reporting activities reflected the needs of the project.
In September 2006, our team worked in close collaboration with Project B.R.O. staff, providing guidance and technical support in the areas of data collection, data entry and analysis, reporting, and staff training. We also conducted a focus group with the participants to enrich the survey responses to the project's pre and post tests, as well as to gain information on participant satisfaction, and identify areas of program improvement.
The Latino HIV/AIDS Needs Assessment was guided by seven key questions. Harder+Company worked with PCI to identify the main data collection strategies to gather the most relevant and meaningful information to respond to each question.
The first activity was a series of key informant telephone interviews with members of local health jurisdictions and other local health experts. An email survey of state funded HIV/AIDS service providers who serve the Latino community was also conducted. Then, to gain the client perspective, a series of focus groups were held with consumers who utilize services.
Results
Harder+Company analyzed and synthesized the Project B.R.O. data into a report that highlighted program strengths as well as areas for program improvement. The findings were shared with the funder and used by staff to discuss effectiveness and enhancements to the program.
Harder+Company and PCI then worked together to finalize the tools and conduct the data collection for the HIV/AIDS Needs Assessment. The findings from the assessment were compiled into a comprehensive report that was presented in June 2007.
For more information on Harder + Company, please contact us at 415-522-5400.
PCI works to improve community health, prevent disease and foster sustainable development.
“
Within a month of collaboration, we had tangible results which led to increased learning and more professional reports to our funders.”
—Lisa K. Martin, Program Coordinator, Project B.R.O.
