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This essay addresses challenges in evaluating collaboration by examining two distinct approaches to its measurement. Evaluators frequently assess collaboration on the basis of relationships, climate, and expectations (RCE), and, less often, via extent of collaboration (EC). RCE measures are based on perceptions by coalition members regarding satisfaction with the collaboration, representativeness of the surrounding community, confidence in the leadership, and related areas. EC measures reflect more direct and concrete features of coalitions, such as regularity of communication and commitment of resources. An illustrative study of programs sponsored by a private foundation and a federal agency compares these approaches, finding that RCE and EC measures reflect different underlying features of collaboration and that higher levels of collaboration are likely to be found when evaluators use RCE indicators. Substantively, the study finds large differences in extent of collaboration across areas of operation within each program and a rarity of very high levels of collaboration in most areas. Both face validity and findings from the illustrative study suggest that EC is the more essential measure of collaboration. Comparison of these measures raises issues for both evaluation and grant making.

The sexual health needs of young males have been largely ignored in the field of reproductive health. Until recently, the health care needs of females have received the vast majority of attention from public health professionals and organizations with services focused on the prevention of teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and HIV/AIDS. Involving men in responsible sexual decision-making has tremendous potential to reduce teen pregnancy, STIs, and HIV/AIDS infection rates for both men and women. A new strategy has been to provide reproductive health services and education to males. This has been termed "male involvement." This article discusses the sexual and reproductive health needs of young males, including discussion of their sexual development, their engagement in risky sexual behavior, their reproductive health risks, and racial and ethnic disparities. Practical steps for planning and implementing effective male sexual health education and services are then discussed, including involving males in the planning and implementation process, partnering with organizations that already work with males, providing skill-based education, and creating gender-neutral (male and female supportive) environments. (Contains 2 tables and 1 figure.)

Little is known about how people living with HIV in low prevalence contexts face the challenges of stigma and discrimination. Low prevalence and rural communities are unique environments in which HIV-related stigma and discrimination may be intensified due to lower tolerance of differences among people and greater fear of HIV. This study examined the experiences of 16 individuals living with HIV who reside in a predominantly rural area with low HIV prevalence. We used in-depth interviews to explore participants' experience with stigma and discrimination in social and health care settings and their behavioral and emotional responses. In their day-to-day lives, participants described feeling social rejection, being forced to follow different rules of social contact, and being treated differently. In health care settings, participants described specific instances when they felt providers were afraid of them and when they were refused or discouraged treatment or treated differently based on their HIV status. Participants experienced stigma and acts of discrimination in different settings (e.g., physician and dentist offices and hospitals) and from a range of types of providers (e.g., physicians, nurses, and dentists). Behavioral and emotional responses to perceived acts of stigma and discrimination included anger, shame, social isolation, and self-advocacy. Findings point to a need to develop tailored interventions to address stigma and discrimination for individuals, health care personnel and the community-at-large.

Discusses governance and management characteristics that help community health partnerships succeed. Management of size and diversity; Leadership; Conflict management.