Collaborative Governance and the Care Act: Implementation Efforts of HIV/AIDS Health Services Planning Councils in South Florida (2008-2009; & 2013-2014)

Background: This research uses collaborative governance concept to explicate efforts of HIV Health Services Planning Councils in Broward County and Palm Beach County of South Florida. The purpose is to accentuate how collaborative governance works in providing various categories of services to meet the needs of people with AIDS (PWAs), as part of the implementation of the Ryan White CARE Act. Methods: The study employs mixed methods: surveys, interviews, observations, and document reviews in generating data from various relevant sources of the Councils, from 2008-2009 and from 2013-2014. The garnered data from fifty-five (55) participants and other sources was subjected to descriptive and multivariate analysis and integration of themes and concepts based on category analysis. Results: The results reveal more similarities than differences between the Councils in their efforts toward addressing the HIV/AIDS problem. The Councils are similar in all variables of collaborative governance with few exceptions as it relates to facilitative leadership and institutional design. The differences relate to membership, number of committees, amount allocated for various service categories and number of clients served. Furthermore, the Councils are slightly different in reaching consensus on subjects of deliberation. On the average, Palm Beach County´s Council makes decision by consensus relatively easily when compared with Broward County´s Council. Conclusions: The combined findings based on quantitative and qualitative evidence are essential to knowledge and understanding of collaborative governance of the respective Councils. Collaborative governance involving state and non-state stakeholders enhances efforts of public managers by harnessing resources to effectively manage and/or address complex problems for the benefit of society. The representation and participation of target populations in collaborative governance contribute to the judicious allocation of resources for various service categories and the empowerment of target populations. The study contributes to the literature by developing a conceptual model for collaborative governance to help meet care and treatment needs of HIV infected and affected