Since 1985 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have entered into a series of cooperative agreements with the states and territories of the United States to fund human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention activities. In 1994, the CDC mandate shifted from using a central entity to plan HIV prevention programs throughout its jurisdictions to fostering partnerships among a central state or territorial agency, health departments in local counties, and community-based organizations. This article discusses and applies a model developed by social workers to facilitate HIV prevention community planning at the local level. The model used to facilitate community planning emphasizes the use of the social principles of empowerment, self-determination, ownership, and inclusion to foster the development of community-relevant HIV prevention plans. This approach resulted in the completion of a successful HIV prevention plan, and application for continuing and supplemental funds ($6.6 million and $1.2 million respectively) from the CDC for HIV prevention efforts, the continued use of the model in HIV prevention planning, and the ability to use the principles of the model as a basis for providing future technical assistance in community planning.

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