As a founding member (since 1994) of the Virginia HIV Community Planning Committee, of the Virginia Department of Health, Edward Strickler has participated in designing, implementing, interpreting and publicizing findings of community research and community-based participatory research (CBPR) including studies and reports on:
- African American, Latino and Caucasian men who have sex with men
- Intensive street outreach with injection drug users
- African American women and HIV/AIDS risk behaviors
- HIV prevention programming with African-American clergy
A more complete list may be found at the Committee's website at http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/DiseasePrevention/Programs/HCPC/research.htm
The most recent CBPR has been a multi-year, multi-phase statewide Virginia Transgender Health Initiative Study (THIS).
THIS is a collaboration between the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), the Virginia HIV Community Planning Committee (HCPC), and the Virginia Commonwealth University Community Health Research Initiative (CHRI), responding to increasing prevalence of HIV infection in the transgender population, within communities which are poorly understood, understudied and underserved, concerns shared with other sexual minority communities.
The earlier qualitative phase of the study included development and training of a transgender community task force, an initial training and evaluation with providers of HIV/AIDS services in Virginia, and a focus group study (eight focus groups conducted around the state including largely urban and largely rural health regions).
Focus groups explored psychological & behavioral factors related to HIV risks and barriers encountered when seeking health care services, including access to routine medical care services, access to transgender care services, employment and housing barriers, violence, substance abuse and mental health issues, HIV/AID knowledge and risk perceptions, and access to and use of HIV testing and prevention services.
QUALITATIVE STUDY REPORT
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS FOR PROVIDERS AND PROGRAM PLANNERS
The subsequent quantitative survey study was conducted by Internet-based questionnaire, and a paper questionnaire available in English and Spanish. 387 total responses were received; 350 responses were accepted. Sixty percent of responses were received via the Internet; 40% responses were received on paper. Responses were received from diverse residential communities: 42.3% urban, 40% suburban, 17.7% rural.
FINAL REPORT OF QUANTITATIVE STUDY, FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Health, Health Related Needs and Lifecourse Experiences of Transgender Virginians
Additional components of this extensive community-based, participatory research included: additional provider training, publication of a Virginia Transgender Resource and Referral List, a provider education piece Transgender Health Risk Assessment: A Clinician's Guide published and distributed, and a newsletter developed by members of the Virginia Transgender Taskforce for transgender consumers, providers, and others. A Transgender Health Clinic, serving clients from around Virginia, and located in Richmond, was funded as a pilot project, and received additional funding in a competitive request for proposals process.
Members of the research team have presented on the project and begun publication from the findings. Mr. Strickler has presented on THIS at the Annual HIV/STD Conference of the Illinois Department of Health (November 2007), the National HIV Planning Leadership Summit (May 2007), and the National HIV/STD Prevention in Rural Communities Conference (April 2007).
OTHER RESEARCH
He has presented on other community-based and community-based participatory research of the Virginia HIV Community Planning Committee at various national, state and other meetings, particularly from community research with gay, bisexual and transgender men, persons living with HIV/AIDS, and the responses of faith communites and other community providers.
A current 2009 project will survey and interview young (16-24 years old) gay and bisexual men of color in Virginia, particularly African-American men, regarding behaviors, perceptions of risk, access and use of HIV testing and other health services. The paper and online survey (at Survey Monkey) takes about 10 minutes, and offers an incentive of $10 for completion. A key informant interview of about an hour offers an incentive of $25. Collection of interviews should be completed by early October 2009, for reporting out by end of December. The aim of the project is to enhance culturally and behaviorally appropriate messaging regarding HIV/AIDS risk and protective factors with young men, young African-American men, and their male and female partners. You can find out more about this project by emailing Edward Strickler at els2e(at)virginia.edu
Anti-Violence Study
Working with leadership of the LGBTQ Task Force of the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, and the Virginia Anti-Violence Project, Edward Strickler, helped review findings and present a 2008 report, The State of Violence in LGBTQ Communities in Virginia, which has been funded by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services to implement recommendations from the report. The Virginia Anti Violence Project has been been funded through 2010 to develop a strategic plan to implement key recommendations of the report.
Cultural Competency Training
Edward Strickler has provided presentations and workshops, consultation on curriculum and training program development, organizational assessment and policy review, and other support regarding cultural competency in providing services or conducting community research with with lgbt, rural, and other marginalized populations.
Recent projects have been with in seminars and with offices of the University of Virginia, the Jefferson College of Health Sciences, the Virginia Anti-Violence Project, and other agencies and groups.
His work is informed by more than two decades' commitment to bringing consumer and community perpectives to local, regional and statewide health services planning, development of innovative health services and new services for disadvantaged and underserved areas and populations, training and support for health providers, and concern for the dissemination of research relevant for improving health and health services outcomes into domains of providers, policy makers, and consumers.