Branch Overview

The mission of the Program Evaluation Branch (PEB) is to evaluate processes, outcomes, and impacts of CDC HIV prevention programs and policies for their improvement and accountability; develop and enhance evaluation methods and systems; and serve as a resource for building evaluation capacity in the CDC Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention (DHAP) and among CDC-funded HIV prevention program grantees.

Within the framework of the DHAP Strategic Plan, this includes:

• Implementing a continuum of evaluation efforts to improve programs and to provide accountability for funding.
• Developing evaluation methodologies and data collection and analysis systems, including national systems for standardized data collection, to provide for national evaluation of CDC programs.
• Enhancing the evaluation capacity of other DHAP branches, health departments, community based organizations (CBOs), community planning groups, and other stakeholders.

Position Overview: Behavioral Scientist for Evaluation Studies Team, Program Evaluation Branch

The mission of the Evaluation Studies Team (EST) is to improve HIV prevention programs through targeted evaluations and dissemination of evaluation findings. EST works collaboratively with other teams in the Program Evaluation Branch (PEB), as well as with other Branches in DHAP, to conduct evaluation studies.

EST also works closely with community based organizations and health department grantees to conduct a wide range of evaluation studies. EST studies are developed by team members or initiated by a request from Branch, Division, Center, or Agency leadership. EST uses a number of different evaluation designs and primarily conducts studies using a mixed-method approach.

EST findings and results are disseminated to internal and external partners in technical reports, presentations, and peer-reviewed publications. EST evaluation studies are used by grantees to determine if they are reaching their proposed goals and objectives and to better manage and implement their programs. DHAP uses EST findings to inform strategic planning and funding decisions. The broader HIV prevention and evaluation communities use EST evaluation studies to provide insight into the characteristics of effective programs and the capacity within the HIV prevention program community to conduct evaluation.

The successful applicant for this position should have training in health, social, or behavioral sciences and training or experience with behavioral research in HIV prevention. The fellow will be expected to apply professional knowledge of the behavioral sciences and related and social and health sciences to the evaluation of HIV prevention activities. The fellow will attend in-house training on behavioral interventions for HIV prevention and HIV prevention program evaluation. The fellow will also assist in and later take a lead role in the PEB/EST project "Assessment of the Adaptation and Implementation of Mpowerment" (AAIM), including presenting evaluation findings at meetings.

Proposed Initial Projects: Assessment of the Adaptation and Implementation of Mpowerment (AAIM)

AAIM was initiated in September 2006 when CDC funded 12 CBOs for 5 years to conduct the Mpowerment Project, a behavioral intervention with evidence of effectiveness as determined in research studies. Mpowerment was designed for, and evaluated with, primarily white communities of young men who have sex with men (YMSM.) This means that the funded CBOs funded must adapt and tailor the intervention to meet the needs of their target communities of minority YMSM populations. No assessment has been conducted regarding how the intervention is adapted and implemented by the CBOs funded by CDC to target these minority populations.

To better understand how CBOs implement and adapt the Mpowerment intervention, EST will conduct an adaptation and implementation assessment. This assessment will include secondary data review, site visits, and consultation with internal and external stakeholders. The purpose is to not only to conduct the assessment but also to develop a feasible outcome monitoring and evaluation protocol for Mpowerment based on the implementation assessment findings and in consultation with internal and external stakeholders (i.e. CDC staff, State Departments of Health, and CBOs).

The fellow would first receive the appropriate in-house trainings regarding Mpowerment and then, in conjunction with their own knowledge, assist EST members to carry out program evaluation of HIV prevention interventions for communities of color. Once the fellow acquires the needed skills and becomes familiar with the projects, he or she will have the opportunity to take a lead role in one facet of the AAIM. The specific role of the fellow will be determined based on interest, expertise, and the status of this project when he or she joins the EST.