Toolbox
The Community Readiness Model
The Community Readiness Model (CRM) is a nine stage, multi-dimensional model to facilitate community change. The model was developed 15 years ago at Colorado State University (Plested, Jumper-Thurman, Edwards & Oetting, 1998). The model is community-specific, issue specific and is designed to build cooperation among systems and individuals as well as mobilizing a community into action. The CRM has been used in Native communities throughout the United States and Canada. It has been used for development of more successful and effective intervention strategies for prevention of HIV/AIDS, drug and alcohol use, intimate partner violence, suicide, and many other topics around social issues. It has been published in over 30 articles and has documented numerous success stories. In 2006, the First Nations Behavioral Health Association awarded CASAE a plaque for the contribution of the CRM and its selection as one of the ten "effective practices" which addresses the behavioral health needs of children and adolescents across Indian Country.
The following resources and tools are courtesy of the Mountain Plains AIDS Education and Training Center. We thank them for their hard work and commitment to the fight against HIV in the American Indian /Alaska Native population.
Risk Reduction Notepad [PDF - 392 KB]
This simple, yet thorough risk-reduction “notepad” is a document that can be utilized by providers, case managers, counselors, etc. to begin discussion about prevention topics and agree to specific risk reduction strategies with their patients.
2022 Pocket Antiretroviral Medication Chart Guide [PDF - 1.9 MB]
This colorful one-page chart to HIV Antiretroviral medications is a quick visual guide to the many drugs available in both brand and generic nomenclature. It may also be useful in identification of current meds and potential prevention of medication errors.
2022 Pocket Primary Care Checklist for HIV Clients [PDF - 444 KB]
This colorful chart to HIV Antiretroviral medications is a quick visual guide to the many drugs available in both brand and generic nomenclature. It may also be useful in identification of current meds and potential prevention of medication errors.
Primary Care for the HIV Specialist checklist [PDF - 443 KB]
The Primary Care for the HIV Specialist checklist is a summary of the many clinical components necessary for sound monitoring and evaluation of the seropositive patient. It includes recommendations for screenings, exams, laboratory work, etc. This does not replace the Clinical Guidelines for Treatment and Care of HIV Patients.
Behavior Assessment and Discussion Prompts [PDF - 280 KB]
This assessment tool is both quick and easy to understand for patients and providers. The tool may be used by providers, case managers, counselors, etc. to assess risky behavior and to begin discussion on important prevention and behavioral issues.
Community Readiness Model Interview Questions [PDF - 67 KB]
This set of questions represents the interview portion of the readiness model and part of the tools needed for community assessment. The staff at the Center for Applied Studies in American Ethnicity (CASAE) can assist if you are interested in this type of community assessment. They are interested in building capacity in Native communities and have many useful resources and tools. More information can be found at their website.
Evaluating STD Prevention Capacity Within American Indian Tribes: A Comprehensive Assessment Tool (2006) [PDF - 560 KB]
Project Red Talon (PRT) and the Northern Plains Tribal Epidemiology Center (NPTEC) collaborated to develop a comprehensive Tribal STD/HIV Capacity Assessment Survey. The survey was administered to 37 tribes in Idaho, Oregon, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Washington.
Native American HIV/AIDS Prevention Guidelines [PDF - 1.4 MB]
These guidelines represent the first national document for HIV/STD prevention among Native American communities. The goal in the development of these guidelines was to reflect the perspectives of a diverse group of HIV/STD prevention specialists in Native communities, which include American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians.
*Plested, B.A., Jumper-Thurman, P., Edwards, R. W., & Oetting, E. R. (1998). Community readiness: A tool for effective community-based prevention. Prevention Researcher, (5)2, 5-7. www.happ.colostate.edu
Advertising and Media
The Oklahoma Native American AIDS Coalition and Oklahoma Gay Natives Organization built a culturally fluent billboard, "Be Responsible, Get Tested", by Native artist Frank Sheridan. The Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund provided the resources for the leasing of the billboards and the signs. This may be the first billboard of its kind to promote HIV screening to the American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) population and is a wonderful example of how advocacy, open discussion and raising awareness can positively impact future AI/AN health. Pictured is Ms Gloria Zuniga, RN, BSN, HIV/AIDS Program Director, Association of American Indian Physicians.
Red Talon STD/HIV Resource Directory/Media Campaign/Tribal Advocacy Materials
This page has multiple resources and information. It includes a directory, journal articles, media campaign, brochures, fact sheets, PowerPoint slides and tribal health curricula toolkits.
