Date: Wed, 23 Aug 1995 09:43:26 +0500
From: ghmcleaf{CONTRACTOR/ASPEN/ghmcleaf}%NAC-GATEWAY.ASPEN@ace.aspensys.com
Subject: HIV/AIDS Work Group On Health Care Acces


Title:    HIV/AIDS Work Group On Health Care Access Issues For
               African Americans             
Author:   HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
Date:     June 1994

     The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA),
     Bureau of Health Resources Development (BHRD), sponsored a
     two day Work Group on Barriers to HIV Care for African
     Americans living with HIV disease.  Nineteen African
     American participants, as well as six Federal
     representatives, discussed issues related to barriers of
     HIV/AIDS services to African Americans and strategies to
     reduce or eliminate these barriers.  Several participants
     were people living with HIV disease.

     Work Group members were asked to help the Bureau to: (1)
     understand issues related to African Americans' access to
     HIV/AIDS care funded under the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS
     Resources Emergency (C.A.R.E). Act; (2) propose and draft
     evaluation study designs; and (3) identify areas for
     technical assistance to improve the implementation of the
     CARE Act.

     The Work Group identified seven areas for proposed technical
     assistance and evaluation studies:
          *    identifying characteristics of information systems
               that work for African American communities;
          *    developing minimum standard of services to
               increase effective access, utilization and
               evaluation;
          *    identifying community-based training and technical
               assistance models;
          *    identifying resources of and for African Americans
               and developing a directory of services and skills
               and a dissemination plan;
          *    identifying characteristics of effective
               organizations;
          *    assessing whether African Americans needs are met
               in decision-making arenas; and
          *    comparing African American effectiveness of
               community-based organizations (CBOs) and non-
               minority AIDS service organizations (ASOs)that
               have African American componets.

     These finding were also shared with public and private
     agencies at an afternoon closing session.

     For a copy of this report,  contact Ms. Vanessa Briggs,
     (301) 443-6563, Human Resources and Services Administration,
     5600 Fishers Lane, Room 7A-07, Rockville, MD 20857.  Please
     include  your name, title, and mailing address, and a copy
     will be sent to you.