Current Research > CAPS TA > Technical Assistance at CAPS and PAETC

Technical Assistance at CAPS and PAETC

What is TA?

Technical Assistance (TA) is the exchange of specialized knowledge between a provider and a requester in order to fulfill a specific need and meet a desired outcome. TA happens via phone and email consultations, newsletters and listservs, site visits, trainings, how-to manuals, expert reviews, sample surveys and curricula, ongoing mentoring and other skill-building, and referrals.

At CAPS, our TA helps community-based organizations, health departments and others apply HIV prevention research findings in their programs. These findings may relate to a specific area like evaluation, a population like Asian Pacific Islander clients, an intervention like MPowerment, or be for a specific audience like health professionals.

Provision of effective TA involves knowledge, flexibility, and strong listening skills on the part of the provider (us), and a clearly defined request combined with openness to new ways of doing things on the part of the requester (you). Our job as TA providers is to attend to both content (information) and process (how you best assimilate that information). In addition, research shows that the most effective TA is intensive and sustained and, therefore, involves a trusting long-term relationship between provider and requester.

What is Capacity Building Assistance (CBA)?

Some of our projects provide Capacity Building Assistance (CBA)—a large set of activities aimed at helping a program or organization sustain positive change over time, including developing infrastructure and resources to do so. This is typically a formal and intensive relationship defined by a contract or memorandum of understanding.

Whereas the typical TA relationship is built on numerous responses to specific requests, the CBA relationship will end once the desired sustainability is achieved. CBA providers identify people within an organization and help develop their skills, thereby “putting themselves out of a job.”

Projects at CAPS

Project What can you get? Who’s eligible? Cost? Whom do I contact?
Center of Excellence for Transgender HIV Prevention Transgender HIV prevention and care resources, regional trainings, tailored one-on-one consultations, capacity building assistance and referrals California-based HIV prevention and care providers, researchers, policymakers, health departments, CBOs, and educational institutions Free JoAnne Keatley, MSW, Director
415-597-4960
MPowerment (MP) - Community-level HIV prevention intervention for young gay and bisexual men Implementation support, including training, email and phone consultations CBOs serving young gay men funded to implement MPowerment, health departments and other funders supporting MP, CBA providers working with local MPs Free MPowerment website
National Evaluation Center (NEC) Evaluation support, trainings, and individual consultation. National and Regional AIDS Education Training Centers Free Kevin Khamarko
TIE Core—Technology Information Exchange Core TA HIV prevention research information, survey samples, referrals, proposal reviews and other individualized consultation HIV prevention providers, researchers, policymakers, health departments, and CAPS scientists and staff Free Carolyn Hunt
TIE Core Spanish Language TA See above, as related to Latino/Spanish-speaking communities HIV prevention providers, researchers, policymakers, health departments across the country, and CAPS scientists and staff Free Carolyn Hunt
Transitions—TA and CBA program for transgender communities of color and HIV+ transgender people Skills building workshops, tailored one-on-one consultations; assistance with needs assessments and adaptation, tailoring and implementation CBOs and health departments throughout the US that are working with Transgender populations Free Carolyn Hunt

How to Get TA or CBA

  1. Make Contact. Refer to the grid above to see if you or your organization is eligible, and then email or call the person listed.
  2. Provide Information. In order to give you the most effective and timely assistance, providers will need more about you and the problem you hope to solve. Be prepared to provide answers to questions (via email or phone) such as: What is your timeline? What type of expertise would be most helpful? What is the best way to contact you?
  3. Engage in a Dialogue. Your provider is looking for the best match between your need and our knowledge. This may take time to discuss and refine. Be prepared to invest in arriving at a mutual understanding of the problem and proposed solution.
  4. Articulate Your Problem and Goal. As you engage in discussion with your provider and become more familiar with what we offer, be prepared to revise your original request and expected outcome.
  5. Do Your Homework. We will ask you to put effort into the process by gathering more information, talking to more people in your agency, reviewing materials, or responding to suggestions.
  6. Keep in Touch. Don’t hesitate to contact us with more questions, or to communicate the ultimate outcome of the assistance we provide. We want to hear from you and we appreciate feedback!

FAQs

These are some of the most common requests we receive. Please see our FAQs page for answers to these questions.

  1. Do you have survey instruments assessing attitudes, knowledge, and behavior?
  2. Do you have any educational materials (videos, posters, pamphlets) that can be used in prevention programs?
  3. Where can I get basic information about HIV transmission?
  4. Where can I get AIDS/HIV statistics and epidemiology?
  5. Do you have model programs that work for specific populations?
  6. Do you have prevention programs for HIV+ persons?
  7. What are the current studies at CAPS?
  8. How do I find a researcher to collaborate with?
  9. Do you have resources in Spanish?
  10. Do you have training programs and internships?