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The systematic use of the Strategic Framework, performance measurement and evaluation tools, and the other resources on this website is intended to improve the ability of OMH, its grantees, and others to identify those strategies and practices that "work" in achieving desired or intended program results.
In FY 2010, OMH established an Evaluation Technical Assistance Center (ETAC) with skilled evaluators available through contract support to provide training and technical assistance to ensure that its grantees and other funding recipients complete project evaluation plans consistent with OMH's guidelines and protocols, implement plans, and report their successes and other results. As a consequence of systematic monitoring, documentation, and reporting by ETAC personnel of the data collection and evaluation efforts conducted by grantees in OMH grant programs funded since ETAC’s establishment, OMH has been able to identify those projects with the strongest evidence of intervention effectiveness and associated ‘best practices’ as each grant program undergoing ETAC protocols comes to the end of its funding cycle. In addition, through the ETAC, OMH has also been able to identify additional completed grant projects with moderate evidence of intervention effectiveness indicative of ‘promising approaches’ in addressing racial and ethnic minority health.
The following projects represent those with sufficient evidence of intervention effectiveness from seven OMH grant programs initially funded in FY 2009 or FY 2010, continuously funded for the next three or four years, and completed at the end of FY 2012 or FY 2013 depending on the duration of the grant program funding cycle (usually 3, but in 1 case 4, years). These projects were selected from the following grant programs: the FY 2009-FY 2012 Curbing HIV/AIDS Transmission among High-Risk Minority Youth and Adolescents (CHAT) Program; the FY 2009-FY 2012 HIV/AIDS Health Improvement for Re-entering Ex-offenders (HIRE) Program; the FY 2009-FY 2012 Youth Empowerment Program (YEP); the FY 2009-FY 2013 Delta Regional Institute (DRI) Project for the Improvement of Minority Health and Health Disparities in the Delta Region; the FY 2010-FY 2013 Minority Community HIV/AIDS Partnership (MCHP); the FY 2010-FY2013 Partnerships Active in Communities to Achieve Health Equity (PAC) Grant Program; and the FY 2010-FY 2013 State Partnership Program to Improve Minority Health (SP).
For each of these programs, the projects presented below are organized so that those with the strongest evidence of intervention effectiveness which enabled identification of ‘best practices’ are presented first, followed by those projects with moderate evidence of intervention effectiveness which reflected potentially ‘promising approaches’ to improve racial and ethnic minority health and address racial and ethnic health disparities.
FY 2009-FY 2012 Curbing HIV/AIDS Transmission among High-Risk Minority Youth and Adolescents (CHAT) Program
Name of OMH Grant Program: Curbing HIV/AIDS Transmission Among High-Risk Minority Youth and Adolescents (CHAT) Initial Year of Funding: FY 2009 Project Period (Number of Years): 3 Brief Description of OMH Grant Program: The purpose of CHAT is to improve the HIV/AIDS health outcomes of high-risk minority youth by supporting community-based efforts to increase HIV/AIDS prevention, education, testing, and referrals. CHAT's target population is minority high-risk youth including runaway youth, homeless youth substance abusers, youth involved in prostitution, youth in alternative schools, youth in juvenile detention centers, and youth in alternative living arrangements ordered by the courts. CHAT is intended to test the effectiveness of the collaborative partnership approach in: supporting ongoing HIV/AIDS prevention/education and testing initiatives aimed at at-risk youth in alternative educational settings, juvenile detention facilities, and alternative living arrangements ordered by the courts; using innovative technology-based approaches and social networking sites as a tool to support instant communication with the target population to increase access to safer sex information and HIV/AIDS prevention and education; utilizing youth peer educators to reach and influence young people with information, education and prevention messages, following the six elements (i.e., knowledge, critical thinking, identity and solidarity, empowerment, motivation and confidence, supportive social networks, and access to services and resources) of an "AIDS-Competent Community" as a guide for a supportive community.
CHAT BEST PRACTICES California Prevention & Education Project (CAL-PEP) Cascade AIDS Project (CAP) Lutheran Family Health Centers Sasha Bruce Youthwork, Inc.
CHAT PROMISING APPROACHES Indegenous Peoples Task Force The Hetrick-Martin Institute Vista Community Clinic Alternatives for Girls
Name of OMH Grant Program: HIV/AIDS Health Improvement for Re-entering Ex-offenders Initiative (HIRE) Initial Year of Funding: 2009 Project Period (Number of Years): 3 Brief Description of OMH Grant Program: The HIRE program is designed to bring together multiple stakeholders within the public health system to work together to implement a model transition process by linking the re-entry population to community-based, minority-serving organizations that provide HIV/AIDS-related services. Funded grantees under the HIRE program tested different methods or models of linking HIV-infected ex-offenders to a comprehensive array of health, social, and support services to help them make a more successful transition back into the community and to stay healthy. These methods include a combination of strategies such as conducting outreach and training activities (both prior to or just after release) that focused on HIV/AIDS awareness and healthy behaviors, the importance of testing for HIV and adhering to anti-retroviral treatment; providing on-the-spot (rapid) HIV testing and counseling; and providing referrals for testing, counseling, substance abuse and treatment, job placement, housing assistance, and other support services. This was accomplished by hiring staff to serve as discharge planners and peer navigators or educators, providing participants with transportation services on the day of release, and providing assistance in filling prescriptions following release. These strategies were implemented to assure continuity of care via successful linkage of re-entrants to service providers. Projects funded by the HIRE program are located in states with the highest incidence of inmates known to be infected with HIV or that have confirmed AIDS (Florida, Texas, and New York).
HIRE BEST PRACTICES The Long Island Association for AIDS Care, Inc. The Osborne Association Metropolitan Charities, Inc.
HIRE PROMISING APPROACHES Housing Works, Inc. FACES NY, Inc. City of Dallas Environmental and Health Services
MCHP BEST PRACTICES Cardea Center for Health and Human Services National Council on Negro Women The National Indian Women's Health Resource Center
MCHP PROMISING APPROACHES Advocates for Youth
Partnerships Active in Communities to Achieve Health Equity (PAC) grants seek to improve health outcomes among racial and ethnic minorities. OMH awarded $3.85 million to nine CBOs from 2010-2012.
PAC BEST PRACTICES CAMBA, Inc. The Family Center
PAC PROMISING APPROACHES Special Services for Groups St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center Downtown Women's Center Health Promotion Council of Southeastern Pennsylvania Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa Hispanic Health Initiatives, Inc. The Cambodian Family
SP BEST PRACTICES Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment State of Connecticut Department of Public Health Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene of Minority Health and Health Disparities Massachusetts Department of Public Health Michigan Department of Community Health Disparities Reduction Minority Health Section New Hampshire Office of Minosrity Health and Refugee Affairs New Jersey Minority and Multicultural Health Office New Mexico Department of Health Oklahoma State Department of Health Rhode Island Department of Health Vermont Department of Health Washington State Department of Health
SP PROMISING APPROACHES Alabama Department of Public Health Arizona Department of Health Services State of Hawaii Department of Health State of Kansas Department of Health and Environment Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Minnesota Department of Health Mississippi State Department of Health State of Nevada Office of Minority Health Ohio Commission on Minority Health Oregon Health Authority Office of Equity and Inclusion Pennsylvania Department of Health Office of Health Equity State of South Carolina State of Tennessee Texas Health and Human Services Commission Virginia Department of Health Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Name of OMH Grant Program: Youth Empowerment Program Initial Year of Funding: FY 2009 Project Period (Number of Years): 3 Brief Description of OMH Grant Program: The purpose of the Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) is to address unhealthy behaviors in minority at-risk youth 10 to 18 years of age, and provide them opportunities to learn skills and gain experiences that contribute to more positive lifestyles and enhance their capacity to make healthier life choices. The YEP is intended to test the effectiveness of community-based innovative approaches in promoting healthy behaviors among minority youth at risk for poor health/life outcomes. These demonstration grants require a multi-partner approach involving institutions of higher education, primary and secondary schools, community organizations and institutions, and the community at-large. It is expected that the YEP will result in: Reduction in or elimination of high-risk behaviors; Strengthening of protective/resiliency factors; Development of sustainable basic life skills needed to deal with the demands of everyday life; Development of skills and behaviors that lead to healthier lifestyle choices and to overall success in life. As a whole, these projects will focus on the reduction of high-risk behaviors and connect individuals to a continuum of care to promote healthy behavior.
YEP BEST PRACTICES Columbus State Community College Marquette University Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) Research Foundation of CUNY – Medgar Evers College Tennessee State University
YEP PROMISING APPROACHES California State University, Long Beach Foundation Chicago State University Kentucky State University Research Foundation of CUNY – Hunter College Swarthmore College The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania Towson University University of Utah Wichita State University
