CDC Community Guide Office Support for Health Equity and Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) Initiatives

Office Of The Director, National Institutes Of Health

Investigators

Abstract

Project Objective – What is the goal or the objective (or desired outcomes) of this project? Completion and dissemination of Community Guide systematic reviews of the effectiveness of community-based health promotion and disease prevention programs, services, and policies related to EHE, health disparities, mental health, and substance use. Duties of each party – What is each party responsible for? This IAA will support the work related to Community Guide systematic effectiveness reviews, which will be conducted under the oversight of senior Community Guide scientists, with the collaboration of NIH subject matter experts and scientists from CDC. The NIH holds official liaison status with the CPSTF. The ODP serves as the organizational hub for the liaison relationship, with both the primary (Elizabeth Neilson) and alternate (Bob McNellis) liaison representatives coming from ODP. The ODP liaison representatives coordinate all NIH relationships with the CPSTF and CGO. The CGO often embeds NIH scientific representation on its systematic review Coordination Teams. For example—two NIH scientists (Michael Stirrat and Greg Greenwood) from the National Institute on Mental Health, who are engaged in HIV research, are members of the Community Guide HIV Coordination Team. The CGO will also seek subject matter experts from NIH to serve on Coordination Teams related to health disparities, mental health, and substance use. The Coordination Teams provide subject matter expertise and guidance for all work on systematic reviews. For dissemination of systematic review findings and CPSTF recommendations, the CGO organizes meetings with CPSTF liaisons, CDC program staff, and members of the Coordination Team to discuss plans for maximizing outreach efforts via partners’ available communication channels. NIH liaisons have been part of Community Guide dissemination efforts and can help further spread findings to applicable stakeholders. NIH support for this IAA will be provided by ODP and the Office of AIDS Research (OAR). NIH funding will support SGO staff in conducting systematic reviews and coordinating with CPSTF members, other CDC offices, and partner organizations to disseminate the review findings, evidence gaps, and implications for practice. The reach of the scientific and promotional materials on The Community Guide website will be evaluated by monitoring website metrics monthly. NIH funds will be used to support a health communication specialist to write, edit, and format translation and promotional products. The funding will support exploratory and scoping research to identify potential intervention approaches for future Community Guide systematic reviews. The CGO will contribute the following: a Coordinating Scientist to oversee work related to systematic reviews (including exploratory research); systematic review software; technical assistance from CGO senior scientific leadership; all logistical support; all resources required for holding CPSTF Meetings where review findings may be presented to the CPSTF; and resources required for dissemination. Other CDC offices (e.g., Division of HIV Prevention) will contribute staff to assist with systematic reviews, provide subject matter expertise, and support dissemination of the review findings and CPSTF recommendation to stakeholders.