ABSTRACT
This research examines the collaborative engagement of target populations, service providers, and non-elected community leaders following a legislative mandate to provide care and treatment to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-infected and HIV/AIDS-affected populations with the Grantee as the critical variable. The study relies mainly on in-depth interviews of key stakeholders in 2016 and is complemented by observations in 2013–2014 to generate relevant data for analysis and interpretation. Findings point to the Grantee’s essential role in allocation priorities, stakeholders’ capacity building, conflict resolution, strategic engagement and planning, contracts with a network of providers, and attendant execution and performance measures. The study highlights the Grantee’s pivotal role in the convergence of community and county administration in collaborative governance toward purposeful ends with collective impact on some vulnerable segments of the population. The study also exemplifies a rare case of public policy addressing a public problem consistently over the years despite some resource challenges.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
James Agbodzakey
James Agbodzakey is an Associate Professor of Public Leadership and the Director of the Urban SERCH Institute at the University of North Texas at Dallas. Dr. Agbodzakey has extensive teaching experience across public administration subfields such as public policy, public finance, nonprofit management, organizational studies, public administration theory and inquiry, and public personnel/human resource management. His research focuses on governance, collaborative governance, public procurement, HIV/AIDS, program evaluation, nonprofit governance and succession planning, leadership and management, and social change among others.
Leslie Taylor
Leslie Taylor works at the Broward Sheriff’s Office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He earned his master’s degree in Public Administration and Management from the University of North Florida and received his PhD in Public Administration from Florida Atlantic University. His specialization is in public policy with teaching and research interests in justice policy, evaluation and emergency management.