Office of AIDS - What is ELI? (Page 1)

What is ELI?

ELI is a Web-based information system that enables California’s prevention providers to systematically collect and access information critical to effectively prevent HIV infection.  In collaboration with the California HIV/AIDS Research Program (CHRP), Office of AIDS (OA) has worked with providers statewide to develop ELI’s core measures that target program implementation and risk behavior data collection.  ELI builds capacity for local prevention evaluation and will be replacing the currently required statistical information questionnaire (SIQ) and will streamline the way programs report information on the services that they are delivering.

Why have ELI?

The California Department of Public Health, Office of AIDS (CDPH/OA) and its HIV prevention contractors have long recognized the need to support strategic planning for evaluation HIV prevention programs.  In December 1999, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released an "Evaluation Guidance" outlining steps for planning and implementing HIV prevention program evaluation in local settings.  The purpose of the guidance is to help states, local health departments and community-based organizations implement evaluations of both the processes and outcomes of CDC-funded prevention programs.  CDC guidance suggests evaluation of all HIV prevention activities including:

• Individual-level counseling interventions;
• Counseling and testing;
• Group-level counseling interventions;
• Outreach interventions;
• Health communication interventions;
• Comprehensive Risk Counseling and Services; and 
• Community-level interventions.

How has ELI been developed?

During 2000 and 2001, CDPH/OA had sought feedback on ELI’s measures and system design from providers across the state.  Several informational forums were held across the state during the Summer 2000, and project staff have subsequently traveled to local health jurisdictions to discuss in depth plans for the new system, which will measure both processes and outcomes of programs.  ELI was piloted in five California counties from Fall 2001 through Spring 2002.  ELI incorporates and extends current reporting requirements, such as the SIQ, which programs complete to reflect the numbers and characteristics of clients served along with other programmatic information.  Because this effort has the potential to benefit many stakeholders, CDPH/OA is working to ensure that the development of the system incorporates input from all of California’s diverse constituencies.

What is ELI? - Page 2