The purpose of this section is to make explicit the critical attributes of the community planning objectives. These attributes were developed through a collaborative process that has included input from a variety of prevention partners including community and health department co-chairs, community planning technical assistance providers, the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, and CDC staff.

This Appendix groups attributes according to the objectives of community planning. If the designated attributes of an objective for a given jurisdiction are present in a community planning process, then one may with some level of confidence say that this objective is being met.

For evaluation purposes, designated indicators (Section VI: Accountability) have been explicitly developed based on these attributes. It is important to note that jurisdictions are not required to individually report on each attribute listed here. However, in the case of a letter of nonconcurrence, programmatic reviews conducted by CDC or a jurisdiction identified as having significant community planning challenges, the jurisdiction may be asked to provide evidence of applicable attributes.

Objective A: Implement an open recruitment process (outreach, nominations, and selection) for CPG membership. The presence of the following attributes are critical to achieving this Objective:

Attribute 1 (Nominations): Presence of written procedures for nominations to the CPG.

Attribute 2 (Nominations): Evidence that written procedures (above) were used for nominations to the CPG.

Attribute 3 (Nominations): Evidence that a nominations committee has been established.

Attribute 4 (Nominations): Evidence that nominations targeted membership gaps as identified by the community planning group

Attribute 5 (Selection): Evidence that membership decisions involve more than the health department staff.

Attribute 6 (Selection): Written documentation of the process for selection of CPG members.

Attribute 7 (Selection): Evidence that the process (above) was used in selection of CPG members.

Attribute 8 (Representation): CPG includes: (a) members who represent populations most at risk for HIV infection as reflected in the current and projected epidemic, as documented in the prior year’s epidemiologic profile, and (b) persons living with HIV/AIDS.

Attribute 9 (Representation): CPG membership includes members who represent the affected community in terms of race/ethnicity, gender/gender identity, sexual orientation, and geographic distribution.

Attribute 10 (Representation): CPG membership includes, or has access to, professional expertise in behavioral/social science, epidemiology, evaluation, and service provision.

Attribute 11 (Representation): CPG membership includes, or has access to, key government agencies, including: health department HIV/AIDS program and the state/local health department STD program staff.

Attribute 12 (Representation): CPG membership includes, or has access to, key governmental and non-governmental agencies with expertise in factors and issues relative to HIV prevention.

Attribute 13 (Inclusion): Evidence of that to gain input from representatives of marginalized groups, who would be hard to recruit and/or retain as CPG members, the CPG convened ad hoc committees, panels, and/or focus groups.

Attribute 14 (Inclusion): Evidence that efforts were undertaken to accommodate or facilitate members who face challenging barriers (e.g., health care or economic needs) to their continued participation in the CPG.

Attribute 15 (Inclusion): Evidence of a clear decision-making process, including conflict of interest rules.

Attribute 16 (Inclusion): Evidence of an orientation, mentoring or training process for new CPG members.

Attribute 17 (Inclusion): Evidence that CPG meetings are open to the public and allow time for public comment.

Attribute 18 (Parity): Evidence of ongoing training process for all CPG members.

Attribute 19 (Epidemiologic Profile): The epidemiologic profile provides information about defined populations at high risk for HIV infection for the CPG to consider in the prioritization process.

Attribute 20 (Epidemiologic Profile): Strengths and limitations of data sources used in the epidemiologic profile are described (general issues and jurisdiction-specific issues).

Attribute 21 (Epidemiologic Profile): Data gaps are explicitly identified in the epidemiologic profile.

Attribute 22 (Epidemiologic Profile): The epidemiologic profile contains a narrative interpretation of data presented.

Attribute 23 (Epidemiologic Profile): Evidence that the epidemiologic profile was presented to the CPG members prior to the prioritization process.

Attribute 24 (Community Services Assessment): The Community Services Assessment (CSA) focuses on one or more high priority populations (i.e., substantially contributing to new HIV infections in a jurisdiction) identified in the epidemiologic profile.

Attribute 25 (Community Services Assessment): Data are gathered that define populations’ needs in terms of knowledge, skills, attitudes, and norms.

Attribute 26 (Community Services Assessment): Data are gathered that define populations’ needs in terms of access to services.

Attribute 27 (Community Services Assessment): The CSA details the target populations being served.

Attribute 28 (Community Services Assessment): The CSA details the interventions provided to each target population.

Attribute 29 (Community Services Assessment): The CSA describes the geographic coverage of interventions or programs.

Attribute 30 (Community Services Assessment): The CSA was utilized in demonstrating linkages between the application and funded interventions.

Attribute 31 (Community Services Assessment): Evidence that prior to the prioritization process, the CPG was provided with a summary of the CSA.

Attribute 32 (Gap Analysis): The gap analysis includes data from the epidemiologic profile and CSA.

Attribute 33 (Gap Analysis): A gap analysis specifically identifies both met and unmet needs.

Attribute 34 (Gap Analysis): The gap analysis identifies the portion of needs being met with CDC funds.

Attribute 35 (Gap Analysis): Evidence that prior to the prioritization process, the CPG was provided with a summary of the gap analysis findings.

Attribute 36 (Gap Analysis): The gap analysis was utilized by the CPG in demonstrating linkages between the application and funded interventions

Attribute 37 (Target Populations): Evidence that the size of at-risk populations was considered in setting priorities for target populations.

Attribute 38 (Target Populations): Evidence that a measurement of the percentage of HIV morbidity (i.e., HIV/AIDS incidence or prevalence), if available, was considered in setting priorities for target populations.

Attribute 39 (Target Populations): Evidence that the prevalence of risky behaviors in the population was considered in setting priorities for target populations.

Attribute 40 (Target Populations): Target populations are defined by transmission risk, gender, age, race/ethnicity, HIV status, and geographic location.

Attribute 41 (Target Populations): Target populations are rank ordered by priority, in terms of their contribution to new HIV infections.

Attribute 42 (Prevention Activities/Interventions): Demonstrated application of existing behavioral and social science, and pre- and post-test outcome evidence (including evaluation date, when available) to show effectiveness in averting or reducing high-risk behavior within the target population.

Attribute 43 (Prevention Activities/Interventions): Evidence that the prevention activity/intervention is acceptable to the target population (e.g., testing, focus groups, etc.).

Attribute 44 (Prevention Activities/Interventions): Evidence that the prevention activity/intervention is feasible to implement for the intended population in the intended setting.

Attribute 45 (Prevention Activities/Interventions): Evidence that the prevention activity/intervention was developed by or with input from the target population.

Attribute 46 (Prevention Activities/Interventions): Prevention activities/interventions are characterized by focus, level, factors expected to affect risk, setting, and frequency/duration.

Attribute 47 (Prevention Activities/Interventions): Each prevention activity/intervention is also characterized by scale and significance.

Attribute 48 (Prevention Activities/Interventions): Prevention activities/interventions are prioritized by risk population and their ability to have the greatest impact on decreasing new infections.

Attribute 49 (Comprehensive Plan): Explicit demonstration of linkages between the comprehensive HIV prevention plan and the health department application to CDC for federal funding.

Attribute 50 (Comprehensive Plan): Letter of Concurrence.

Objective H: Demonstrate a direct relationship between the Comprehensive HIV Prevention Plan and funded interventions. The presence of the following attributes are critical to achieving this Objective:

Attribute 51 (Comprehensive Plan): Explicit demonstration of linkages between the comprehensive HIV prevention plan and funded interventions.

Attribute 52 (Community Services Assessment): Explicit demonstration that the CPG has used the CSA to determine whether interventions were funded according to the comprehensive HIV prevention plan.