TABLE 3.

Description of AIDS-Competence Themes

Theme	Definition	Example Quote(s)
Skills and knowledge	Members evidence increasing skills and knowledge related to HIV and the prevention of HIV among adolescents. This may manifest itself in increasing knowledge of the local HIV epidemic, enhancement of their ability to interact with and serve youth or their target population, or skills related to prevention.	I always find out about something I didn’t know about before every time I go to a meeting.
Enhanced dialogue	Members have opportunities to talk to one another and identify barriers to prevention and discuss how they can work together to tackle these issues. These dialogues should enhance critical thinking and deepen understanding of prevention practices and service provision. Membership may also enhance communication between members or between members and youth.	I think also the coalition, like our working-group meetings, where we all come together is just a good venue for people to just be able to discuss concerns and what is going on in the community in a safe and open environment.
Ownership and responsibility	Members develop a sense of ownership of the problem and a sense of responsibility for contributing to its solution as evidenced by increased civic participation. The coalitions enhance a sense of ownership and responsibility for contributing to HIV prevention within other relevant sectors of the community.	The community needs to see you, needs to know who you are, and in order to do that, you need to play with them. I think that’s very important. And you need to support them you need to do hours outside the 9–5. You need to do weekends in order to be successful with this.
Confidence in local strengths	Members have faith in their individual and collective abilities to make an effective contribution to HIV prevention among youth.	I have learned that there are more people interested in HIV prevention than I would have imagined. There is really a large cross-sector of folks who have a commitment.
Solidarity or bonding capital	Members form trusting and mutually supportive relationships that enhance their ability to work collectively.	C2P has been instrumental in building communication between agencies and linking agencies that might be able to work together. It also gives a social connectedness to each other, which builds a support system for all.
Bridging partnerships	Members build relationships with people who have political or economic power to facilitate their local response to HIV/AIDS.	There will be a new “mayor liaison to LGBT community.” This was previously an ineffective position, but now the new person will be a part of the mayor’s office. The liaison is [name] from [organization], which is a C2P partner.