1. Let’s Get Engaged Active Community Engagement(ACE) Let’s Get Engaged Active Community Engagement (ACE) Nancy Russell The ACQUIRE Project Global Health Council Auxiliary Meeting May 28, 2008

2. You will learn about the different levels of community engagement for health You will be familiar with the ACE continuum to aide you in your project work You will come to understand that empowerment influences health outcomes…. And more!!! Session Objectives

3. Community Engagement Defined Active Community Engagement (ACE) continuum ACQUIRE Lessons Learned Program implications Moving Forward ACE Game Presentation Content

4. Community Engagement Defined “The process of working collaboratively with groups of people who are affiliated by geographic proximity, special interests, or similar situations with respect to issues affecting their well-being.” CDC, “Principles of Community Engagement”, 1997

5. Community Engagement “Are we there yet?” Why do we ask this question? –Lack information –Lack control When we are engaged in the process we have –More information –More choice –More decision making –More often As communities are more engaged, communication moves from vertical to horizontal –From messages to dialogue to decision making

6. What is the ACE continuum? A framework based on ACQUIRE experience and literature Shows empowerment increases with each level of engagement Shows all community engagement is valid - and levels depend on multiple factors (time, $, expectations) ACE builds joint vision and indicators for success

7. Overview of ACE Continuum Framework for planning and assessing community engagement Three levels of Engagement 5 characteristics of Empowerment* –Community involvement in assessment –Access to information –Inclusion in decision making –Local organizational capacity to advocate –Accountability of institutions to public * Narayn, D, World Bank, 2oo2 and Dr. Michael Hatcher, CDC, 2007

9. Need to value partnerships Be clear about the purpose of community engagement Define terms Collaboration and flexibility Determine level of engagement from beginning Clear indicators and expected outcomes Engage and re engage Budget for maintaining community engagement Principles of Community Engagement

10. Quality client-provider interaction Leadership and champions fostered Supportive service policies promoted Human and financial resources allocated Leadership and champions fostered Supportive service policies promoted Human and financial resources allocated Service sites readied Staff performance improved Training, supervision, referral, and logistics systems strengthened Service sites readied Staff performance improved Training, supervision, referral, and logistics systems strengthened Accurate information shared Image of services enhanced Communities engaged Accurate information shared Image of services enhanced Communities engaged Fundamentals of Care Stakeholder Participation “More More More Services People Places” Services People Places” to in to in Data for Decision Making Increased knowledge + acceptability Increased availability Improved policy + program environment DemandSupply Advocacy Increased Access, Quality and Use Gender Equity Communities engaged

11. ACQUIRE Lessons Learned Engagement moves from passive to active at each level. Power sharing increases with each level of engagement.

12. ACQUIRE Lessons Learned One, two or three levels of ACE can exist in one project. Adopting shared language and expectations critical to partnerships Champions are critical.

13. Project Lessons Learned Empowerment outcomes emerge with health outcomes Use of participatory processes and tools important

14. Moving Forward FP/RH service delivery programs define community engagement along a continuum Time of reduced resources can build on community linkages Decentralization is opportunity to become less vertical in planning community interventions The ACE framework is used to initiate discussion and build a way forward with a common vision

15. Let the Games the Begin!!! ACE cards will be distributed Each table will work as a team – or divide into teams Review the outcomes for each level and each category of ACE on one side of the card Choose activities from the set of labels – place a label where you think it belongs – forming an A, C or E with the filled spaces on the card First group to form a letter will get a prize.