Committee Members Present: Billie-Jean Kanios (co-chair); Catherine Geanuracos;
Ken Pearce; Dorothy Kleffner; Laura Thomas; Bill Blum;
Committee Members Absent: Anita Booker, Joe McMurray
Other Council Members Present:
Council Support Present: Jack Newby; Leah Crask; Skot Jonz
Others Present: Kim Pickens; Jen Sareche, Tracey Packer (SF Dept of Health);
Michelle Magee, Erika Takada, David Macias
1. Introductions
2. Review/Approve Agenda
The Committee reviewed the agenda. CM Kleffner asked to discuss the issue with
regard to clarifying who decided the use of unique identifiers.
CM Pearce asked for time to discuss the recent Community Forum.
Harder and Company would like to table Item 7 for another time.
With those changes the agenda was approved.
3. Review and Approval of Minutes- March 16, 2005
The Committee reviewed the minutes from the March 16, 2005 Needs Assessment
Working Group meeting.
There were no objections to the minutes. Minutes were approved.
4. Announcements
CM Kanios must leave early to participate in a smoking cessation program.
CM Geanuracos April 9-May 8 for an out of town trip.
CM Kleffner asked when it was decided to use a confidential ID instead of names
on the survey instrument, and wants clarification on when this was decided.
Representatives from Harder & Company clarified.
Discussion of Community Forum: [Added agenda item].
Committee discussed with Harder & Company that the information gathered
would be usable.
CM Geanuracos reviewed for Committee and those present the activities that
took place during the Community Forum, the large number of people in attendance,
people turned away, discussions among the groups.
Jack Newby reviewed the surveys and explained that the dot exercise showed
that housing, food, and primary care were the top three priorities which was
reflected on the written surveys, and offered suggestions for obtaining usable
data.
CM Pearce offered comments about rethinking the issue of incentives, which
may have drawn participants for the wrong reason. Regarding no question asked
about HIV status, CM Pearce suggested that this be factored into the results.
He felt that the results were more representative of the Tenderloin community
rather than the targeted community. CM Pearce also indicated that several people
left as soon as the meal was served, as well as some people who were turned
away who wanted only to participate and offer input and not concerned about
the meal.
Committee discussed looking carefully at the group represented and how the
next forum in the Tenderloin will offer a representative sample, and suggested
asking HIV status on the questionnaire. Committee discussed that the number
of HIV-negative people participating in the forum could definitely skew the
results.
CM Kanios indicated that he had to shout and the atmosphere was not conducive
to a proper conversation.
CM Pearce added that he is not critical of the planners, but nobody could assume
that the venue would draw people from the neighboring Tenderloin rather than
the community from the Castro.
Jack indicated that the survey did ask how people heard about it. No respondents
mentioned the B.A.R. where it was advertised. He would like to see another
forum at MCC. Many participants were referred by Tenderloin AIDS Project and
TARC (which serves HIV-negative people).
CM Geanuracos suggested that someone convey the information discussed at the
next Community Outreach and Advocacy Meeting.
5. Public Comment
There was no public comment.
6. Update from Harder & Co. Consultants
Harder & Company Consultants will give the group a brief progress update.
Representatives from Harder & Company provided a progress update on their
activities, and would like to move on to working through two sections of the
survey instrument today.
7. Discuss Web Updates
The group will discuss web updates for the Needs Assessment.
[This item tabled for a future date].
8. Review and Revise Survey Instrument from 2002
The group will review the past survey instrument and make changes for the current
tool in collaboration with the Harder & Co. consultants beginning with
the Demographics and Health Status sections.
Harder & Company mentioned looking at the data and determining if lack
of data was due to no response or lack of consistency in administering, or
other issues. This will help determine if this question needs to be eliminated
or re-worded.
CM Geanuracos discussed that the survey instrument is already too long, and
instead of thinking of things to add, perhaps Committee members should consider
shortening it anyway possible. If it is overloaded with too much information
or repetitive it will not provide any better data. She suggested that discussions
resist adding as much as possible and try to think of which items could be
eliminated.
CM Thomas also added to be conservative in making changes. The fewer changes
made, the better track record will be used to compare data from previous Needs
Assessments.
Harder & Company agreed, and pointed to specific questions that produced
little or no information that could be eliminated. Harder & Company reviewed
the last meeting’s discussion about what is and what is not a Needs Assessment
Process:
An update of the current environment of PLWH/A in the SFEMA. It is cross sectional
point in time.
Provides demographic information.
Describes use of existing services.
Describes barriers to and gap in existing services. Sheds some light on health
status, quality of life of those affected by HIV/AIDS.
IT IS NOT an assessment of satisfaction of services, but an indication of program
success.
Harder & Company distributed a sample survey from previous Needs Assessment with highlights and italics and strikethroughs to suggest their recommendations. (Document on file at Council Support Offices).
Harder & Company began with Demographics and Health Status.
1. Committee discussed that this is a screening question, so that they do
not complete part of the survey and discover that someone is not qualified
to participate. Committee discussed that it should ask HIV+ or HIV negative,
and leave out the reference to symptoms.
2. Committee asked why the question referring to date of birth was removed.
H&Co. indicated that it was just accidentally eliminated during the transfer
into a word document and will be left in.
3. The question referring to gender will remain the same.
4. The question referring to racial background – Committee discussed
the inclusion of an “Other” or “Mixed Race” category,
and H&Co indicated that it will significantly change the trend data. Indicated
that there are special needs with regard to Hispanics or African American.
H&Co. suggested offering a separate question that narrows it down. H&Co.
added “Select one that you most strongly identify with”. Committee
discussed the importance of giving people the opportunity to choose more than
one, but there was some concern about using the “other” category.
H&Co. suggestions include eliminating Other non-Hispanic Black, South Asian,
Southeast Asian, Cape Verdean, and South American because of zero responses
or very, very few responses. Vietnamese and Hmong were added to replace Southeast
Asian. CM Geanuracos suggested two columns, and H&Co. indicated they would
work out the logistics, and if it is necessary to code “Other” they
will do so. Committee discussed collapsing Cuban/Puerto Rican, and working
with the category Mexican/Mexican American to reflect Chicano. H&Co. indicated
that some immigration issues may prevent people from answering this question
honestly which could also affect the data and any relevant trends.
5. With regard to question #4 about language most frequently spoken at home,
Committee discussed that by asking “If not English, what language do
you speak” would speed up the process.
6. With regard to the question about sexual orientation, Committee discussed
the issue with MSM who do not identify as gay. Committee discussed that this
could be cross-referenced to the mode of infection. CM Blum indicated that
the term “homosexual – lesbian” was redundant.
7. With regard to question about education. Committee had no changes or comments.
8. With regard to zip code and city/neighborhood question. Committee discussed
that if this is a screening question to eliminate people who were from out
of state why not put it first. H&Co. indicated that no out of state people
participated in the previous N.A. but there were a few from other counties.
H&Co. indicated that this question could be moved to #2. CM Thomas suggested
that if people in other counties receive services in the San Francisco EMA,
she would want to know this information. H&Co. indicated that there is
a level of screening that takes place over the phone before the survey. H&Co.
indicated that the out-of-county numbers were very small, but several committee
members indicated that even if it was small they would want to know this information.
CM Pearce suggested that a random sample of out-of-county people surveyed would
not offer a true reflection of those non-residents who access services in SF.
Committee discussed that San Mateo and Marin County responders would be left
in.
9. With regard to current living situation – H&Co. indicated that
there was significant response to all categories so none have been suggested
for removal. Committee asked about jail or correctional facility and H&Co.
stated that this was missed, and it was not responded to afterall and it could
be eliminated. Hospital/Institution also removed as it is not necessarily a
residence or place to live. Committee agreed to separate living/crashing with
someone and not paying rent into two choices. CM Blum asked where “hotel” would
be included and H&Co. discussed that for San Mateo the specific wording
could be used to identify this as it is different in San Mateo County than
the SRO situation in San Francisco, or use the word “hotel” in
parenthesis. Committee also suggested changing the San Mateo and Marin County
surveys to delete the “with tenancy” or “without tenancy” wording.
CM Blum also suggested adding a “clean and sober living” situation
for San Mateo County.
10. With regard to payment for monthly housing. No changes recommended.
11. With regard to living situation. H&Co. indicated that this would be
cross-referenced to previous question about where they were living. Committee
discussed the purpose of this question was to determine if housing was stable
or instable. Committee discussed that this was one question that could be eliminated.
COMMITTEE AGREED THIS QUESTION TO BE ELIMINATED.
12. With regard to question (11) If you lived in San Francisco, are you on
the housing wait list? Committee discussed the detailed questions on the previous
survey instruments could be eliminated. This question to remain the same.
13. Regarding household makeup. No changes.
14. With regard to HIV-positive household members. No changes.
15. With regard to question (13) about total time lived in places below. Committee
discussed that perhaps it was not necessary to ask for so much specific information.
H&Co. indicated that this information will be collapsed anyway, and it
could read “in the last two years” and be a simple yes or no. CM
Thomas asked to specify with regard to county jail or detention center and
state or federal prison.
16. With regard to current job situation – suggested adding volunteer.
17. With regard to yearly income – adjust to federal poverty and capture
the 400% of poverty levels. CM Thomas suggested putting the monthly income
first, but Committee agreed to leave it as is.
18. With regard to Health Insurance – H&Co. reworded to eliminate
16a and reworded the question to read “Do you have health insurance yes
or no? IF yes, what kind of health insurance do you have? Jack Newby suggested
adding a category of “unsure”. Committee discussed adding Veteran’s
in this question even though it is included in the next question. CM Blum also
suggested adding CARE/HIPP, and County Programs. Committee discussed changing “health
insurance” to “health coverage”. H&Co. indicated they
would change the language.
19. With regard to Other benefits – H&Co. indicated there would be
future opportunities to go through all of these again. CM Thomas suggested
asking experts at PRC for a quick assessment of this question. Committee discussed
adding HOPWA subsidy to the Subsidized Housing category.
20. With regard to question about different case managers, that it would be
consistent with previous survey instrument to change this to “different
agencies”. H&Co. indicated that this was merely a typo and would
be changed.
H&Co. indicated moving forward in next meetings rather than rehashing items
already discussed. H&Co. asked if there would be the possibility of working
with a smaller group to move through these faster. Jack Newby indicated that
there is a search for meeting location without such time constraints. Jack
also encouraged people to send comments and suggestions.
H&Co. identified the next two sections “Health Status” and “Service
Utilization” to be reviewed. Committee discussed completely eliminating
specific questions and shortening others. H&Co. indicated that there were
many of these that received no response. H&Co. will send sections to Committee
Members with comments and suggestions for review.
H&Co. indicated that they might have meeting space available and would contact Council Support about arranging to meet there.
12. Next Meeting Date & Agenda Items
There were no other agenda items discussed.
The meeting adjourned at 5:55 pm.
Audio recording for this meeting is saved as DS330193
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