RARE Web Template
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
RARE: Rapid Assessment, Response, and Evaluation Project RARE: Rapid Assessment, Response, and Evaluation
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

home | announcement | overview | examples | application

Overview

In communities across the U.S., rates of HIV/AIDS in African American, Hispanic, and other racial minority populations have reached crisis level. Each community needs to be engaged in ongoing efforts to learn as much as it can about evolving local needs and how prevention programs, treatment, and care services can be delivered and maintained for these populations.

The Rapid Assessment, Response, and Evaluation Project (RARE)…

  • Is an evidence-based, qualitative data collection and assessment method.
  • Provides a scientific structure and process for collecting local community data and for analyzing the data to develop practical, community-focused interventions and services that will change risk behaviors, knowledge, and community structures.
  • Responds rapidly to emerging public health problems based on specific local situations and actual conditions.

RARE, as legislated by the Crisis Response Team Initiative and funded through the Office for Minority Health/Office of Public Health and Science (OMH/OPHS) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, was developed to work in partnership with local community officials, public health personnel and community leaders to provide multi-disciplinary technical assistance to help fight HIV/AIDS within highly impacted ethnic/racial minority communities. By using the RARE methodology, participants in the project have been able to: conduct rapid assessments that monitor the changing dynamics of local HIV/AIDS epidemics and their impact on vulnerable populations; identify rapid responses that are tailored to maximize HIV prevention and increase access to care; and build rapid evaluation to monitor the impact of intervention efforts on targeted communities.

RARE highlights the importance of identifying the dynamic social mixing patterns of populations in high-risk areas. Understanding the behaviors, attitudes, and values of these populations illuminates how to best position HIV/AIDS and substance abuse prevention, care, and treatment interventions.

RARE has been implemented in 45 cities since 2000 with each site focusing on enhancing prevention efforts addressing the needs of specific at risk minority populations.

RARE is an initiative of the Office of Minority Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The mission of the OMH is to improve and protect the health of racial and ethnic minority populations through the development of health policies and programs that will eliminate health disparities. OMH was established in 1985 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It advises the Secretary and the Office of Public Health and Science on public health program activities affecting American Indians and Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, Blacks/African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders. Among its programs is the agency-wide Minority HIV/AIDS Initiative.

ESI is the contractor supporting OMH with the implementation of the project.

home | announcement | overview | examples | application