Members Present: Rita Castro (Chair), Sissy Riffin, Eric Todd,
Tony Matcek, Bobby Holtman

BVCOG Staff Present: Christopher Hamilton

The meeting came to order at 1:15 p.m.

The committee discussed the number of surveys that would be needed to reach statistical significance for the HSDAs. Based on one model of calculation,
Austin: 460 PLWHA live outside the EMA, 8 had already been surveyed. Without discussing the actual number to survey here, the committee agreed more representation was needed from outside the EMA.
Bryan: 290 PLWHA, calculated 166 surveys needed.
Concho Plateau: 94 PLWHA, calculated 76 surveys needed.
Temple: 344 PLWHA, calculated 182 surveys needed.
Waco: 354 PLWHA, calculated 185 surveys needed.

The school's proposal is for $20,000, to conduct 240 surveys, perform the analysis, and write the report. The cost quoted does include $10 incentives for each of the 240 survey respondents.

Mr. Hamilton noted that once the committee agreed to the proposal, it would be possible to meet with the project statistician to determine the most accurate sample size needed. Mr. Todd noted that the committee should probably have a conference call with the project leaders about what numbers they are hoping to get, what they need, etc...

Ms. Castro noted that in the past, the incentive amount was larger, and thought should be given to the amount this time. There was general agreement among committee members that $10 for an incentive is low, but the amount would depend on the number of surveys needed, as calculated by the statistician.

Mr. Todd asked how the funds were available for the school to conduct the assessment. DSHS awards a grant to BVCOG that pays for BVCOG staff salaries, benefits, rent, utilities, (operating expenses), etc..., and planning council activities/support. Due to cost saving measures by the council, as well as BVCOG employees, in addition to salary savings from reduced staff, and unrealized expenditures, additional funds were available from the BVCOG portion of the budget into the planning council portion of the budget.

The committee agreed to contract the needs assessment to the Texas A&M University System Health Science Center School of Rural Public Health.

Mr. Hamilton will check with committee members regarding their availability for a teleconference with SRPH project managers, for a conference to be held in the following weeks.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:30 p.m.