Many community planning groups have been or are starting to address the
issues of PIR for Latinos. The following are some examples of how health
departments and community planning groups are addressing PIR for Latinos the
community planning process. The four examples below come from responses to a
questionnaire sent to a number of jurisdictions with large Latino populations.
The survey asked for a description of activities and strategies used to recruit
and retain Latino CPG members. (Please refer to the appendix for contact
information.)
Texas: Regional Representation
In 2000, Texas completed a restructuring from 11 prevention planning groups
to 6. The resulting six CPGs represent a widely diverse population and epidemic
across this large state. Each group strives to achieve CPG representation that
reflects that area’s unique epidemic; therefore, Latino representation is more
crucial in some areas of the state than in others. In the most recent PIR report
sent to the CDC, Latino representation on all six CPGs met or exceeded
population and epidemic profile estimates by geographic area, reflecting success
in recruitment of Latinos to community planning.
Texas conducts community planning through the partnership of the CDC, the
Texas Department of Health (TDH), a contractor to provide technical assistance
on community planning processes, and CPG leadership comprised of one TDH-appointed
co-chair and one community elected co-chair for each of the six areas. Two
contractor consultants who are Latino also serve these three plan areas. All six
areas have Latinos in leadership roles, such as community co-chair-elect,
intervention selections committee, and core group leaders (for defined areas
within the larger planning areas). A Price Fellowship was awarded to a Latino
CPG member from Texas in 1999. (The fellowship allows representatives from three
non-governmental, community-based organizations to spend a month at the CDC in
Atlanta. Price Fellows explore with CDC professionals the latest, most effective
approaches to HIV prevention.) Latinos are also recruited as CPG members through
involvement with CBOs who target Latinos and/or address Latino issues related to
HIV and STD prevention.
New Jersey: Recruitment Efforts
New Jersey has steadily maintained a 15-20% Latino representation on its CPG.
This is equivalent to the Latino proportion of the epidemic in New Jersey.
Representation includes Latinos at risk for infection and those living with
HIV/AIDS.
There are generally adequate numbers of applications for CPG membership from
the Latino community in New Jersey. As a result, when nominations occur, and
Latino representation needs to be maintained, there are community members
waiting to fill vacancies. Latinos have served as community co-chairs, and
Latino committee chairs serve as leadership role models. One reason for the
proportional representation on the New Jersey CPG is that the CPG makes an
effort to maintain strong collaborations with CBOs and community leaders.
Michigan: Membership Committees
The Michigan HIV/AIDS Council (MHAC) – the statewide planning group – and
regional planning groups rely on membership committees and individual members
and member organizations for recruitment of Latinos to the community planning
process. Members identify and invite potential members to attend CPG meetings.
They try to assess potential members’ interest in joining and encourage those
interested to submit a formal application. The Latino workgroup, a membership
committee, provides recommendations to the MHAC on issues affecting Latinos. In
addition to providing important input to the larger body, the Latino Workgroup
facilitates recruitment and retention of Latino members by providing an
opportunity to influence policies that affect Latinos.
The Latino Workgroup is currently compiling a resource inventory of health
and human service agencies serving Latino communities. The inventory will serve
as a foundation to assess gaps in HIV-specific resources and guide priorities
for capacity building relative to HIV services targeting the Latino community.
Florida: Minority Network
In Florida, they recruit members into the community planning process through
newsletters, newspaper advertising, posters and flyers, television, outreach
workers, radio, word-of-mouth, and sponsorship of public events at parks and
other social gathering places. Another recruitment strategy the community
planning partnerships have used is rotation of meeting sites throughout an area
to facilitate accessibility by community members who may not have a means to
travel to a meeting due to financial, health or other reasons.
The Florida HIV/AIDS Minority Network actively recruits Latinos into the
Network from areas of the state where they represent a significant proportion of
the total population or where HIV prevention efforts among the Latino population
are minimal and warrant local initiatives. These volunteers, who act as
liaisons, are responsible for a number of activities that include participating
in the local community planning process. Once active on the local level,
liaisons are in a position to be nominated and appointed to the Florida
Community Planning Group (FCPG).
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