Community Planning

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  expects HIV prevention community planning to improve HIV programs by strengthening the : (1) scientific basis, (2)  community relevance , and (3) population- or risk-based focus of HIV prevention interventions in each project area. The intent of involving representatives of affected communities and other technical experts in developing a comprehensive HIV prevention plan has been threefold: to increase meaningful community involvement in prevention planning, to improve the scientific basis of program decisions, and to target resources to those communities at highest risk for HIV transmission/acquisition.

This page is designed as a technical resource used to assist HIV prevention community planners meet the expectations of the CDC by providing capacity-building materials that develop key competencies around the production of a comprehensive HIV prevention plan.


Community Assessment

Community Assessment Methods
This course provides an opportunity for participants to understand what community is and how it can be used to understand a population in order to find the best interventions to include in plans. The course provides participants step-by-step information on how to conduct an assessment and introduces them to different data collection methods. In addition to learning the basics of developing a question guide for a focus group or individual interviews, participants will practice other "visual techniques," that include mapping, diagramming, and analyzing problems and situations through flow charts and "problem trees." Such methods provide valuable insights into problems, but also offer an opportunity for community members to identify and highlight community strengths and assets. One or one-and-one half day course.

          Community-Based Assessment: A Guide for HIV Prevention Workers [pdf]
          Community-Based Assessment Methods: Participant's Supplemental Guide [pdf]   

Focus Groups and Individual Interviews
This course is for individuals planning to facilitate a group interview (focus group) or to conduct individual interviews. Participants learn how to create an interview guide, how to facilitate a question-and-answer format and how to implement visual techniques in a group setting or with individuals. Participants practice their interview skills and engage in peer feedback sessions. Half-day course.

          Focus Groups (Participants Manual) [pdf]    
          Guide for Focus Group Analysis [pdf]    
          Seven Steps to Analyzing Focus Group Data [pdf]

Party, Inclusion, and Representation

The Logic of Planning
Logic models are helpful tools to work through an issue from problem statement to hoped-for solution. Planning members can use logic models to develop action plans for membership recruitment and retention and/or to analyze outcomes for service categories. Half-day course.

          The Logic of Planning (Participants Manual) [pdf]  
          The Logic of Planning (Slides) [pdf]

Behavioral Science/Intervention Effectiveness

Bridging Theory and Practice/Interventions
This course provides an overview of tested theories that help to explain how people change their behavior. Participants learn practical ways to use these theories as tools in their work, whether it's addressing HIV/STD risk reduction, treatment adherence, or keeping scheduled appointments. At the end of the course, participants will have completed an eight-step process to be used in developing appropriate and relevant interventions based on theory. One or two-day course.

          Bridging Theory & Practice/Interventions (Participants Manual) [pdf]


Community Planning Web Modules - Coming Soon!!
Module 1: Orientation to Community Planning
Module 2: Epidemiology and Surveillance
Module 3: Community Assessment and Priority Setting
Module 4: Factors that Influence Behavior (FIBS)
Module 5: Behavioral Theory
Module 6: Developing the Plan