Abstract
Considerable resources have been spent developing and rigorously testing HIV prevention intervention models, but such models
do not impact the AIDS pandemic unless they are implemented effectively by community-based organizations (CBOs) and health
departments. The Mpowerment Project (MP) is being implemented by CBOs around the US. It is a multilevel, evidence-based HIV
prevention program for young gay/bisexual men that targets individual, interpersonal, social, and structural issues by using
empowerment and community mobilization methods. This paper discusses the development of an intervention to help CBOs implement
the MP called the Mpowerment Project Technology Exchange System (MPTES); CBOs’ uptake, utilization and perceptions of the
MPTES components; and issues that arose during technical assistance. The seven-component MPTES was provided to 49 CBOs implementing
the MP that were followed longitudinally for up to two years. Except for the widely used program manual, other program materials
were used early in implementing the MP and then their use declined. In contrast, once technical assistance was proactively
provided, its usage remained constant over time, as did requests for technical assistance. CBOs expressed substantial positive
feedback about the MPTES, but felt that it needs more focus on diversity issues, describing real world implementation approaches,
and providing guidance on how to adapt the MP to diverse populations.
do not impact the AIDS pandemic unless they are implemented effectively by community-based organizations (CBOs) and health
departments. The Mpowerment Project (MP) is being implemented by CBOs around the US. It is a multilevel, evidence-based HIV
prevention program for young gay/bisexual men that targets individual, interpersonal, social, and structural issues by using
empowerment and community mobilization methods. This paper discusses the development of an intervention to help CBOs implement
the MP called the Mpowerment Project Technology Exchange System (MPTES); CBOs’ uptake, utilization and perceptions of the
MPTES components; and issues that arose during technical assistance. The seven-component MPTES was provided to 49 CBOs implementing
the MP that were followed longitudinally for up to two years. Except for the widely used program manual, other program materials
were used early in implementing the MP and then their use declined. In contrast, once technical assistance was proactively
provided, its usage remained constant over time, as did requests for technical assistance. CBOs expressed substantial positive
feedback about the MPTES, but felt that it needs more focus on diversity issues, describing real world implementation approaches,
and providing guidance on how to adapt the MP to diverse populations.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-17
- DOI 10.1007/s10464-011-9451-0
- Authors
- Susan M. Kegeles, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco, 50 Beale Street, Suite 1300, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA
- Gregory Rebchook, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco, 50 Beale Street, Suite 1300, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA
- Lance Pollack, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco, 50 Beale Street, Suite 1300, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA
- David Huebner, Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Scott Tebbetts, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco, 50 Beale Street, Suite 1300, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA
- John Hamiga, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco, 50 Beale Street, Suite 1300, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA
- David Sweeney, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco, 50 Beale Street, Suite 1300, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA
- Benjamin Zovod, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco, 50 Beale Street, Suite 1300, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA
- Journal American Journal of Community Psychology
- Online ISSN 1573-2770
- Print ISSN 0091-0562