AGENCY LEVEL COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARDS PROVIDING RYAN WHITE

AGENCY LEVEL COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARDS PROVIDING RYAN WHITE HIV/AIDS PROGRAM SUB-RECIPIENTS WITH CONSUMER PERSPECTIVES ON ACCESS, DELIVERY AND QUALITY OF AGENCY SERVICES

Charles Henley, MSW February 22, 2018 “As advisory bodies to agencies, agency CABs require active engagement and support of agency staff. Agencies bear the responsibility for their CAB’s actions and for the needs and safety of its members. The agency CAB is responsible to the agency itself as it represents an aspect of the agency’s work and reflects the agency’s goals and mission. ” Courtesy of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Office of HIV/AIDS via the TARGET Center

Charles Henley, MSW February 22, 2018 COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARDS (CAB) • A primary purpose of an agency-based CAB is to provide agency leadership consumer perspective in making sure services are provided in a way that best meets their needs • The CAB can serve as a link between the agency, consumers and the larger community, giving the larger community information about agency services and bringing consumer concerns and ideas back to the agency • CAB members can an provide an agency with expert assistance and guidance based on their knowledge and experience as consumers • CABs may also be tapped by an AA for quality improvement and needs assessment activities, dissemination of information on resources and serve as sounding board for system changes

Charles Henley, MSW February 22, 2018 ELEMENTS OF A CAB • The CAB is an advisory board that cannot tell a provider how to run an agency • A CAB is a formal group with a clear purpose, a set of rules, and a structure that outlines when and how meetings are held and defines the roles and responsibilities of CAB members and agency staff • CAB members can provide expert assistance and guidance based on their knowledge and experience as consumers but are not Agency staff or representatives • CAB meetings are open to the public and may serve to engage new consumers • The CAB is not a support group

Charles Henley, MSW February 22, 2018 CAB MEMBER ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE • Identifying challenges and successes of Agency operations affecting PLWH and others • Looking at ways an Agency can recruit and retain hard-to-reach populations or populations with special needs • Reviewing Agency signage, brochures, forms and other documents to see if they are understandable by consumers, culturally appropriate and relevant to the needs of PLWH

Charles Henley, MSW February 22, 2018 THE BENEFITS OF A CAB INCLUDE • The development of consumer independence through increased knowledge, the fellowship and support of other consumers (peer support), and fostering an environment of decreased stigma and isolation • The development of leadership skills and a sense of empowerment among consumers • The maintenance of a partnership between Agency and program consumers in improving outcomes • Helping improve service quality and focusing programmatic policies on consumer needs and concerns • Networking opportunities that increase consumer knowledge and Agency sensitivity to consumer needs. • Offers a venue where an AA can learn more regarding consumer perspective and share key information

Charles Henley, MSW February 22, 2018 CONSIDERATIONS • AAs should keep a current inventory of Agency CABs in their jurisdiction, including meeting dates/times and By-laws • Consider requiring all primary service delivery sites to support a CAB (e. g. ≥ 100 UDC) • metropolitan areas with several key, large providers may support multiple CABs • areas with fewer consumers may face challenges implementing even a single Agency CAB • Agency CABs need resources to implement and sustain, which may cause pushback • some costs may be proportionally covered with RWHAP funds (under admin) • discuss what costs may be allowable with your Services Consultant before approving budget • AAs need to be as supportive as possible if mandating an Agency institute a CAB

Charles Henley, MSW February 22, 2018 RESOURCES • Your colleagues at other RWHAP funded AAs and agencies • The TARGET Center https: //careacttarget. org/category/topics/consumer-advisoryboards • http: //www. mass. gov/eohhs/docs/dph/aids/swcab-handbook. pdf • https: //careacttarget. org/sites/default/files/file-upload/resources/cab-manualgettingstarted 2005. pdf

Charles Henley, MSW February 22, 2018 DISCUSSION Charles Henley, MSW charleshenley 9@gmail. com