Title: AIDS Collaborative for Excellence in Philadelphia (ACE Philadelphia)
Project Period: September 1, 2005 - August 31, 2008
Project Amount Funded (FY 2005): $278,250
Project Director: Katherine M. Lupton

The AIDS Collaborative for Excellence in Philadelphia (ACE Philadelphia) project reaches 31 organizations serving Black and Latino communities within Philadelphia. Working in partnership with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health’s AIDS Activities Coordinating Office (AACO), the project seeks to bridge critical gaps in services by providing technical assistance and capacity building services to these minority-serving community-based organizations.

Early activities of the project focus on reviewing and synthesizing existing data regarding HIV/AIDS service gaps and technical assistance needs. Focus groups and key informant interviews with AACO staff, in addition to focus groups and needs assessments with executive directors or senior staff of participating organizations, assist the project in prioritizing gaps in infrastructure and programmatic capacity. Eight seminars are conducted on topics related to infrastructure, such as technology and information systems, financial administration, marketing and communications, human resources, organizational assessment and planning, and fundraising/development. Another eight seminars are conducted on programmatic areas such as service delivery, rapid testing, research and evaluation, and resource development. Project staff with experience and expertise in specific areas serve as Core Content Experts, providing relevant infrastructure and programmatic technical assistance. Work plans are developed based on the type of technical assistance requested, including time frames and staffing plans for meeting anticipated outcomes. The work plans serve as baseline instruments, with surveys conducted at one, six and 12-months to assess the impact of technical assistance on the targeted infrastructure or programmatic area. A technology fund allows participating organizations to apply for support in purchasing computer hardware and software; the project coordinates these purchases with capacity building and technical skills training to ensure that equipment and software is utilized to further the ability of the organization to deliver HIV/AIDS services. An ACE Philadelphia project website enhances communication among participants, and includes project announcements, funding announcements, technical assistance tips, resource links, and other web-based tools.

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