Our Projects
Over the course of AQE’s 15-year history, we have executed multiple projects and tasks for a diverse group of clients. We seek to be challenged by the work we do as well as to have impact – serving communities and institutions here and abroad. While our project portfolio is vast, this sampling of representative projects provides information on some of the company’s key current and historical projects. These short descriptions provide a snapshot of what we can and are doing. It also provides insight into what we have to offer your organization. For more information on our previous and current projects, contact us at info@aqe-inc.com for a corporate capability statement.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND PROGRAM MANAGEMENT PROJECTS
USAID EUROPE AND EURASIA COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AND HICD PROGRAM SUPPORT
AQE is contracted to provide technical and administrative support to the USAID Europe and Eurasia (E&E) Bureau for human and institutional capacity development (HICD), training and education activities. There are currently 28 countries served under the E&E Bureau, most of which represent the former Soviet Union. AQE is responsible for focusing efforts on the 15 countries that operate a Community Connections (CC) Program. CC programs are designed to enhance diplomatic relations with the U.S. as well as expand economic infrastructure of developing nations. AQE also consults and advises USAID Bureaus and Missions on the role of HICD as a critical element in the achievement of their objectives. HICD is the science and applied technologies dealing with organizational performance. HICD addresses not only the training needs of an individual but the dynamic of integrating the newly acquired knowledge, skills and attitudes back into the trainee’s workplace. Missions are encouraged to develop their strategic plans and frameworks to incorporate HICD concepts across all sectors, with training objectives directed towards performance improvement at the institutional level. AQE’s work on this project includes: monitoring and evaluation of the E&E Bureau’s CC Exchange Visitor Program; assisting in the design, planning, administering, tracking, implementation, and evaluation of training, HICD and education activities; monitoring centrally managed HICD; and conducting HICD sector assessments and performance assessments.
CONCERNED BLACK MEN COMMUNITY COALITION FOR PANDEMIC PREVENTION
Through a cooperative agreement with the CDC, Concerned Black Men of Philadelphia (CBM) organized the Community Coalition for Pandemic Prevention as part of a national initiative to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS in the African-American community. Through this initiative, CBM collaborated with five other national organizations to conduct workshops or provide one-on-one TA to CBOs and other stakeholders providing HIV/AIDS programs and services to African Americans. CBM contracted AQE to provide assistance with the planning and implementation of the multi-tasked initiative. In support of CBM’s programs, AQE conducted a regional community needs and resource assessment of issues related to HIV prevention, leadership development, and community mobilization; developed a regional plan of action to mobilize community and agency resources to meet priority needs related to Community Capacity Building for HIV prevention; co-authored with CBM a training curriculum on HIV Community Planning, Leadership Development and Community Mobilization utilizing a “train the trainer” model; and developed and implemented a plan for targeting, engaging, and maintaining long-term capacity building relationships with CBOs serving African-American populations and African-American community stakeholders.
ASPR/OPEO MEDICAL CARE AND OPERATIONS COMPENDIUM DEVELOPMENT FOR H1N1 RESPONSE
AQE was contracted to facilitate the development, publication, and dissemination of a Medical Care and Operations Compendium for H1N1 Response. The Compendium will provide guidance on the clinical interventions for the H1N1 virus in the currently existing emergency and “first care” provider infrastructure throughout the United States. It will offer specific recommendations, consultation and clinical guidance on various matters, including but not limited to: hospital best practices, hospital intervention trigger points for pandemic responses, H1N1 clinical care guidance, and screening guidelines for community groups and equipment/supply recommendations. AQE is working with several work groups to develop component work products of the Compendium. AQE’s Project Team is adapting, formatting, and incorporating the component work products into a print-based Compendium. The Compendium will also have a heavy emphasis on the development of strategies and recommendations that are easily followed and disseminated to hospitals, clinical practitioners, and local and state public health authorities.
RESEARCH AND EVALUATION PROJECTS
SAMHSA/CSAT TCE-HIV EVALUATION
As a subcontractor to JBS International, Inc., AQE is co-leading a process and outcome evaluation of a Minority AIDS Initiative-Targeted Capacity Expansion Program for Substance Abuse Treatment and HIV/AIDS Services grants. The objectives of the project include: (1) determine the impact of the CSAT Minority AIDS-Targeted Capacity Expansion-HIV/AIDS (MAI-TCE-HIV) services programs; (2) describe the extent to which the MAI-TCE-HIV programs achieve two primary goals of the Minority AIDS Initiative of improving HIV-related health outcomes for racial and ethnic minorities disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS and reducing HIV-related health disparities; (3) describe the different MAI-TCE-HIV/AIDS program models and service delivery systems and determine which models contribute to significant changes in HIV/AIDS and substance abuse risk behaviors of the targeted drug using populations; (4) provide information useful to guide and refine the processing/monitoring system being developed and maintained by CSAT/DSI; and (5) develop a system (web-based, manual, or other) to collect, analyze and report HIV testing in MAI-TCE-HIV/AIDS programs. AQE is collaboratively engaged in the following key tasks: (1) conducting the selection of, planning for, and facilitation of meetings of an expert panel, (2) developing and designing the evaluation protocol which includes developing logic models, evaluation data collection matrix, data analysis plan, and survey instrumentation; (3) providing regular and involved technical assistance to program staff and grantees related to data collection, analysis, interpretation and reporting for the study; (4) developing and implementing training sessions for grantee organizations in evaluation design, instrumentation, and protocol; (5) providing input on design and implementation of the information system (database) for the project data; and (6) developing and implementing a dissemination plan of evaluation results with SAMHSA CSAT personnel.
SAMHSA/CSAP PREVENTION FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM EVALUATION
The CSAP Prevention Fellowship Program is a para-professional development program designed to educate and train a cadre of substance abuse prevention specialists. The goal of the program is to cultivate and enhance a prevention workforce and support SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework, a national strategy for prevention planning, program development, and prevention service delivery. Under a subcontract to DB Consulting Group, Inc., AQE conducted a program assessment of the CSAP Prevention Fellowship Program. The assessment examined the degree to which the programmatic components were being successfully developed and implemented. Building upon the data garnered and analyzed from the program assessment, AQE designed a process and outcome evaluation of the CSAP Prevention Fellowship Program. Specifically, AQE conducted a literature review focusing on the latest research and practice innovations in workforce development, developed a draft evaluation protocol, built an evaluation database, and assisted with the preparation, facilitation, and management of any necessary Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Paperwork Reduction Act (PWRA) clearance materials, documents and processes related to fulfilling the requirements of evaluating the program.
CDC MINORITY HIV/AIDS RESEARCH INITIATIVE
AQE was contracted to serve as the Research Administrative Core (RAC) for three research projects within the Minority HIV/AIDS Research Initiative (MARI). AQE provided culturally competent logistical, administrative and technical support to junior investigators for four universities conducting HIV/AIDS-related research in Black and Hispanic communities. AQE’s specific tasks included: (1) assisting the CDC in identifying and providing TA to junior investigators with experience working with disenfranchised Black and Hispanic populations at risk for HIV; (2) providing logistical and administrative support for the research studies from inception to termination; (3) providing all financial resources, supplies, materials, transportation, equipment, and personnel for specific tasks for individual research projects; and (4) facilitating interaction between selected junior investigators and CDC principal investigators to: (i) conceptualize study designs and methods for subject recruitment and retention, (ii) develop human subjects protocols and obtain IRB approval, and (iii) perform data collection and analysis.
EVENTS AND LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT PROJECTS
SAMHSA/CSAT DIVISION OF SERVICES IMPROVEMENT (DSI) – CLINICAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
CSAT’s Division of Services Improvement (DSI) is responsible for fulfilling CSAT’s mission to improve the quantity and quality of treatment services and systems for persons with substance use disorders. DSI accomplishes its role through grant programs, through providing information to the public and to service providers, and through policy and planning activities. The Clinical Technical Assistance (CTA) contract provides comprehensive technical assistance (TA) services to approximately 400 DSI grantees and staff, across 10 program areas. As a subcontractor to JBS International, Inc., AQE provides TA support primarily for the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) and Targeted Capacity Expansion (TCE)-HIV program areas. AQE’s conference and logistics team are integral to the contract’s Administrative Core and has lead responsibility for the logistical planning and coordination of the grantee meetings, conferences and workshops for the SBIRT and TCE-HIV program areas. AQE is assigned various meetings projects under this project that include large annual grantee meetings for as many as 500 participants.
HRSA LOGISTICAL AND ANALYTICAL SUPPORT FOR THE ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL WORKFORCE CONFERENCE
AQE provided infrastructure support to facilitate the development and execution of the U.S. hosting of the 8th Annual International Medical Workforce Conference for approximately 120 attendees. AQE was responsible for working with the Project Officer to identify and contract with an expert consultant with in-depth knowledge of international workforce issues to provide substantive support to explore and analyze common issues in research and policy related to the physician workforce in the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia. AQE also conducted all logistical planning for the conference including: securing and contracting with a facility to host the event; arranging for all audiovisual (A/V) equipment and providing a A/V technician at the conference; providing travel support (arranging lodging, air travel, and ground transportation) for the conference delegates; planning and making all meal arrangements for delegates (breakfast, lunch, a formal dinner, and special dietary selections); providing honoraria to discussants of papers and the dinner speaker; preparing materials for travelers and conference-related materials and supplies; and preparing a meeting summary for the conference.
MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY – POLITICAL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE’S (PLI) LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT SYMPOSIA
AQE conducted leadership development symposia in 13 Southern States for 1,000 participants. The symposia were designed to bring together citizens from all walks of life to explore taking political incorporation and participation to new levels; to deepen understanding of critical issues and needs; and to inspire action to better address the concerns of African Americans. The PLI consisted of a series of intensive training institutes that focused on strategic planning for candidacy, organizational development, recruitment, fundraising, leadership, constituency development and maintenance and increasing familiarity with the electoral rules and framework. AQE designed and delivered training content; identified and secured meetings facilities in each state; coordinated participant recruitment and registration (fax, mail, phone); provided on-site management of conference logistics, meals and local transportation; managed guest speaker logistics and honorarium; designed and secured meeting materials (workbooks, shirts, briefcases); evaluated training sessions; and prepared final reports.