​Year Six Work Plan Objectives

1. Develop cross-network strategic message guidelines and recommendations for study results dissemination.
2. Consider ways to harmonize network communications strategies and external relations policies. Areas of interest include:
• Review and identify points of commonality across network websites
• Network policies regarding posting protocol documents on public websites.
• Network website recruitment strategies.
• Links to outside parties including all other networks.
• Evaluate 508 compliance on network websites.
3. Maintain and expand the Communications Resource Center (CRC) on the HANC portal.  The CRC is available to all Communications Working Group members and invited guests.  The CRC houses a library of communications resources including:  articles, guides, presentations, contact information, best practices, and white papers, and a media list featuring over 400 international contacts.  
4. Share IT- and communications-related developments across all areas of coordination. Possible areas of coordination include:
• The IT Best Practices document developed by the DMC Harmonization Working Group.
• Community Partners and the Site Coordinators Working Group concerns about IT needs at resource-limited sites.
• Implementation and use of DAIDS-ES web services.
• Privacy and IT security issues.
5. Review existing methods of evaluating communications efforts and consider which practices could be employed within the networks. Activities to support this objective include:
• Partnering with AIDS.gov and DAIDS-ES to create a dynamic map of all network sites.
• Partnering with AVAC on a dynamic "HIV/AIDS Clinical Trials Protocol Timeline" calendar.
• Share experiences using social network sites (e.g., Facebook and Twitter) and document web traffic generated from new media sites.
• Discuss focus group guidelines and outcomes.
• Collation of these resources for network use.
• Community engagement strategies.
6. Review and make recommendations about communications best practices and evaluate available resources such as the Microbicide Media and Communications Initiative “Clinical Trial Handbook”. Develop new tools such as a "Social Media Best Practices for HIV/AIDS Clinical Trial Networks."
7. Invite key stakeholders, opinion-makers, and experts in the field to present on Working Group calls. Areas of expertise could include: journalism, advocacy, blogging, and cultural anthropology.
8. Consider coordinating a one day face-to-face meeting. Network and partner representatives will use the time to discuss upcoming communications priorities, network restructuring and consider areas of coordination.
9. Identify, implement, and maintain tools to improve cross-network communication. At present, HANC maintains the following portal resources:
• DAIDS staff listing
• Data management related contact list
• Cross-network collaborator list
• Network newsletter library
• Archive of network meeting agendas.