Table 2.

Chronology of ACHWRP community engagement.

Timing	Objective	Activities/outcome
2002 ACHWRP Startup	Establish community Presence	• Field office opened in Newcastle central business district
		• Community members hired as research assistants and office   administrators
	Engage with local schools to explain study objectives and seek assistance in identifying current and potential orphans	• Principals and teachers assist with identification of orphans and   children at-risk of being orphaned
		• Orphans and children at risk of becoming orphans in the near   future identified
		• Caretakers of the identified children invited to participate in   Study
	Establish community advisory committee	• Advice solicited on how best to build a relationship between the   community and research project
		• Advisory Committee made up of District Departments of Education   (DoE), Health (DoH), and Social Development (DoSD) NGOs; CBOs;   local businesses; other private sector stakeholders
2003–2007 Data collection & ongoing community engagement	Engage community in ongoing discussion about study purpose and procedures	• ACHWRP attended meetings convened by District AIDS Council and   other civil society organizations to promote project visibility and   cultivate local ownership
		• Community leaders and other key players informed about study   purpose, survey procedures, the need for informed consent, steps   taken to ensure confidentiality of data
		• Input elicited on survey instruments prior to initial piloting and   between rounds of data collection
		• Advice gathered on how to minimize inconvenience and avoid   emotional distress during interviews
		• Activities of ACHWRP team and research findings published in   isiZulu and reader-friendly format for general audience
		• Letter to the editor by ACHWRP senior researcher published in   the Newcastle Advertiser on World AIDS Day 2005 to draw   awareness to HIV’s impact on the community
		• Rumors and misinformation about study purposes and methods   responded to, and to the extent possible, dispelled
		• ACHWRP invited to attend Newcastle Municipality AIDS   Council meetings
		• ACHWRP invited to present at Dannhauser Municipality AIDS   Council meeting
		• ACHWRP invited by DoH to moderate student debate during   Sexually Transmitted Infection and Pregnancy Awareness week
		• DoE, DoH, and DoSD identified as main government agencies   needed to support work toward integrating child welfare services
	Develop and implement referral system to assist study participants in accessing government entitlements and services	• Children and families referred to social workers within DoE and   DoSD for direct assistance accessing government services (e.g.,   vaccination, birth registration, social welfare grants, school   enrollment)
		• School and Psychological Guidance and Special Education   Services (PGSES) conversations lead to further development of   referral scheme
		• Memorandum of understanding signed with District   Department of Social Development
	Convene Amajuba Family and Child Welfare Conference (November 2005, Monte Vista Casino)	• Conference Advisory Council initiated
		• Findings from first round of data collection presented
		• Over 500 community participants attend including: regional and   district government agencies, NGOs, CBOs, three municipal   AIDS councils (Newcastle, Dannhauser, eMadlangeni)
		• Funded jointly by HEARD, DoH, and Amajuba District   Municipality; additional support from Department of   Agriculture, DoE, and Newcastle Municipality
		• Breakout sessions held for participants to discuss opportunities   for and challenges to improving child welfare
		• Media attend; article is published in Newcastle Advertiser
		• Advocacy plan and associated activities developed
		• HEARD newsletter highlighting conference activities published   in isiZulu and English
	Seek feedback on conference effectiveness from Conference Advisory Committee, DoE staff, primary school teachers, 23 child and family welfare organizations, and local municipal AIDS councils	• ACHWRP staff invited to primary schools to participate in   discussion of common problems faced by learners at home and   in the classroom.
		• ACHWRP offered office space in DoE offices to provide   research support in developing child welfare plan
		• Many respondents praise conference as an important   opportunity to meet and to improve relationships with others   working with orphans and vulnerable children
		• HEARD management invited to meet with District Director of   Community Services to discuss ACHWRP’s objectives and   promote district ownership of project
	Improve networking and funding potential between CBOs and NGOs focused on vulnerable children	• Database of 400 local CBOs providing services to vulnerable   children developed and integrated with government geographic   imaging system mapping (documenting location, capacity, needs,   funding sources)
	Pilot formal referral service in three wards with goal of inclusion in District 2011 Integrated Development Plan and district-wide implementation	• Comprehensive referral card developed documenting child   demographic and socio-economic details, services required (birth   registration, vaccinations, grants) with space to record case history
		• Card developed in conjunction with district and municipal   government and non-government partners
		• Referral card piloted in 4 wards
		• 10 CBOs in pilot wards trained to implement referral system •  Referral system training manual developed for CBOs
		• Referral card database developed to capture baseline child needs   to monitor implementation and evaluate effectiveness of   program
		• Geographic information system mapping of CBOs, saturation,   and reach within pilot districts
	Communicate preliminary research findings from three rounds of data collection to general community	• Closing ceremony for research phase of ACHWRP
2007–2010 Shift from research to advocacy and social marketing	Produce and distribute advocacy communications to facilitate behavior change at the district level	• ‘Keeping the Promises’ film highlights challenges faced by   community members when attempting to access health and   government services
		• Three local newspaper articles and two radio programs feature   the film and the need for an integrated child welfare   management plan
		• ACHWRP team participates in’Community’ Voices’ Newcastle   Community Radio call-in show twice a month
		• Six monthly newsletters produced and distributed
		• Training workshops provided for local government stakeholders   to reduce defensiveness when working with advocacy groups
	Propose district child welfare management plan to integrated development planning forum	• ACHWRP team presents child welfare management proposal to   district policy makers

Acronyms: ACHWRP: Amajuba Child Health and Wellbeing Research Project; CBOs: community-based organizations; DoE: Department of Education; DoH: Department of Health; DoSD: Department of Social Development; NGOs: non-governmental organizations; PGSES: Psychological Guidance and Special Education Services.