HIV/AIDS Bureau - Consumer Digest: Making A Difference

Publications:

Consumer Digest: Making A Difference
Participation of Persons Living with HIV (PLWH) on CARE Act Title I and Title II Planning Bodies

<Previous | Home

Chapter 4 Getting Better All the Time

The longer you are involved in your planning body, the more effective you will become at representing PLWH in your community. To keep getting better, however, it is important for you to evaluate yourself and establish personal goals. Are there issues or topics that you wish you understood better? Are there skills that you would like to gain or strengthen?

Do you know how to build your skills, so that you continually improve your effectiveness as a more effective planning body member?

Use the following questions to identify where you might begin to look to find information that can help you build your skills. After you have read this chapter, you may have ideas about areas that you would like to focus on over the next year to enhance your knowledge and skills. Complete the goals and steps exercise listed below.

Yes	No
		Do you know where to find information on the Internet and other places to help you in your planning body work?
		Do you know how to contact HRSA or other Federal agencies to find answers and get information on Federal programs to help you in your planning body work?
		Do you know how to contact national HIV/AIDS advocacy groups that support the CARE Act planning process through training and technical assistance?

Once you have completed reviewing this chapter, list two goals for personal growth for the next year and identify steps that you can take to achieve these goals. An example of a goal is provided as an illustration.

EXAMPLE:
Goal: Learn more about HIV prevention planning in my community

Step 1: Identify and talk to individuals on the HIV Prevention Community Planning Group (CPGs) to learn about my community's prevention issues.

Step 2: Explore Web sites, e.g., CDC Web site, and sign up for Kaiser Family Foundation HIV/AIDS Policy Report E-mails to remain current on issues.

Step 3: Attend CPG as observer and consider serving on the CPG.

Goal:
Step 1:
Step 2:
Step 3:

Chapter 4 Getting Better All the Time
This chapter is intended to help you learn how to gather and use information that will be useful to you as a PLWH member of a Ryan White planning body. It provides resources and contacts that will help you gather more detailed and specific information, improve your knowledge and skills, and be a better informed and independent decision-maker. This chapter has the following parts:

I. How Can HRSA's HIV/AIDS Bureau Help PLWH Be Better CARE Act Planners?
Read this part to find contact information for different parts of the HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) and information on how to get technical assistance and training materials. Look here for information on:

How To Contact HAB and its Division of Service Systems (HAB/DSS)
Technical Assistance Materials Available from HRSA/HAB
A Description of HRSA/HAB Cooperative Agreements With National HIV/AIDS Organizations