Regional Resource Network (RRN) CAI offers other programs related to HIV/AIDS.  The Regional Resource Network Project 1999 - 2006 After seven years, the Regional Resource Project (RRN), a public–private partnership between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Cicatelli Associates Inc., has transitioned to a community mobilization campaign.  From September 1999 to September 2006, CAI was the coordinating center for the national Cooperative Agreement with DHHS.   Under CAI, the project was focused on building the capacity of local communities to provide HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment services to minority communities disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS.  In meeting this goal, the Regional Resource Network Coordinators (CAI staff) traveled to states in each region of the country and worked with state health departments and community-based agencies to provide hands on tools, skills,  mini-grants, one-on-one technical assistance and group workshops. We are proud of the work of the RRN.  An independent evaluation of the project submitted to the Office of the Secretary of DHHS, identified the following: Strengths and Best Practices The Regional Resource Network has provided extensive and valuable services and has increased the capacity of small, community-based organizations working on HIV/AIDS in minority communities through an average of nearly 4,000 hours of technical assistance, intensive technical assistance to over 100 agencies, and more than $2 million in capacity-building awards. The RRCs (Regiona Resource Coordinators) played an important liaison role between the community and the federal system, presenting an approachable face to CBOs, and linking them to technical assistance and other regional offices and programs. The RRCs have filled a special niche: finding and working with small, minority CBOs that would otherwise be unlikely to come to the attention of federal agencies – including faith-based organizations and non-traditional organizations that serve people living with HIV/AIDS. RRCs have successfully used a variety of methods and partners to reach out to CBOs in their regions, including linkages to state health departments, participation in HIV/AIDS community planning bodies, direct community outreach, and word of mouth. RRCs in all regions have available a similar mix of TA approaches, but have refined their approaches and service mix to fit the needs of their regions – including one-on-one technical assistance, large-scale training sessions, and collaborative partnerships and programs. The RRN has had consistent internal management and oversight through its transition from OPA to OMH and OMH to OHAP. Placing the RRN program within OHAP has created opportunities for OHAP and the RRN – including the opportunity to be in an office that has responsibilities that cut across all DHHS agencies and all aspects of HIV/AIDS, from prevention to care and treatment. The RRCs have had a generally good working relationship with the Regional Health Administrators, state health departments, and relevant federal agencies, receiving support that was key to providing effective assistance in the region. The Regional Resource Network has provided a service unique in the regions, working across all federal agencies, serving as a resource on HIV/AIDS in the regional offices, and providing an expanded reach into communities for other regional staff.” As stated in the national evaluation, the project was innovative in two key ways.  First, it placed ten employees of CAI in the ten regional office of DHHS to work along with the regional office staff and state health departments to reach the needs of local communities.  Secondly, it was also innovative in the manner in which it engaged the community and adapted federal technical assistance tools and partnerships to support communities in providing services. In keeping with the mission of CAI to meet the needs of vulnerable populations, the majority of those receiving capacity building funding and technical assistance were from communities of color, representing a full gamut of the communities including faith-based, rural, urban local providers. Among the many successes of the project were: Providing over $3.1 million in funding to 964 agencies RRCs having 16,716 documented contact incidents.  Reaching more than 3,350 individuals at 2,190 offices or agencies with TA and mini-grants to support HIV/AIDS services Authoring two CDC abstracts Using innovative partnerships with social service and federal agencies; faith-based, private and non-traditional service providers to address community needs. CAI would like to thank the three offices of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services that funded the program over the last seven years: OPA, OMH and OHAP.  In addition, we would like to thank the many federal and state staff members who supported our regional team and worked in partnership with us as trainers. They helped make this project a success in building t our collective capacity to meet the needs of communities impacted by HIV/AIDS.   We look forward to continuing our technical assistance in partnership with local communities through our new office in Atlanta: The Center for Capacity Development (www.cicatelli.org/ccd)   Regional Resource Directory of HIV/AIDS Services (www.cicatelli.org/rrn) Cicatelli Associates Incorporated, 505 Eighth Avenue, Suite 1600, New York, NY  10018 phone: (212) 594-7741 / fax: (212) 629-3321 http://www.cicatelli.org If you experience problems browsing this page, please send e-mail to webmaster © Copyright 2004, Cicatelli Associates Inc. site map