The CBO Evaluation Guidance--a document on HIV/AIDS prevention program evaluation for CBOs directly funded by CDC-- is under development, and health department representatives are involved. The intent is that the CBO Guidance be consistent with the Evaluation Guidance for health departments, including consistency between the data to be collected from directly funded CBOs and the data collected from health department grantees.

The Evaluation Guidance pertains to prevention programs currently funded under Program Announcement 99004. The ideas, principles, and methods outlined in the Guidance may also be useful for evaluating prevention and/or care activities undertaken with state or city revenues, with other federal funds, or with other resources. However, the Evaluation Guidance does not ask that efforts funded outside of CDC cooperative agreement funds be evaluated.

Health departments may be asked by funders other than CDC for HIV/AIDS program evaluation. The Program Evaluation Research Branch (PERB) is working with other branches in CDC and with HRSA to develop a common language for evaluation; for example, by standardizing definitions of populations and interventions.

PERB and the Prevention Program Branch (PPB) are working together to reconcile any differences between program announcements and the Evaluation Guidance, including differences in the definitions of interventions and populations.

PERB is working to standardize definitions of interventions and populations. However, it is important to note that definitions in the Evaluation Guidance do not have to replace local taxonomies. Jurisdictions may use definitions of interventions and populations already in place locally. They just need to make sure local taxonomies are used consistently and that they fit categories in the Guidance.

Progress reports submitted in April will undergo a "technical review" by project officers. However, external reviewers may have the opportunity to refer to progress reports.

Chapter 5 of the Evaluation Guidance discusses the importance of linkages between the comprehensive HIV prevention plan and the allocation of resources. "Epi" or surveillance data should inform the prevention plan and there should be a strong and logical linkage between the plan and interventions and populations that get funded. PERB and PBB are discussing how Evaluation Guidance data, including budget tables and surveillance/ "Epi" data in the comprehensive plan, will be reviewed with the objective of improving community planning and prevention programming.

No. At this time, budget tables will continue to be submitted, but in April, rather than September. The form will be revised for health departments to reflect actual expenditures, to the extent possible. The revised table will be due in April 2001 to reflect the period, January-December 2000.

The Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention appreciates the challenges for program evaluation in rural areas, plans to discuss the issue, and will request feedback from rural states.