In order for AAHI to succeed, the following strategic issues must be addressed:

	How should AAHI organize and manage the initiative activities in order to fulfill its mission effectively?
	How do we ensure an adequate funding base to fulfill our mission?
	How to motivate the various stakeholders and relevant publics to cooperate and coordinate their efforts towards achieving more synergetic outcomes with respect to improving the overall health of African Americans in San Bernardino County? And,
	Last, but not least, how would we overcome the issues of mistrust and cultural sensitivity, and the perception among African Americans in our communities that the medical community is dominated by another race, another class, and a different view with little respect or regard to their needs?

To address these strategic issues effectively, AAHI will seek to perform the following roles:

Research and Inventory: This function involves, but is not limited to completing the following tasks:

	Assemble a comprehensive directory of all area health service providers who are currently serving the African American and other low-income population groups in San Bernardino County. The directory will identify the major activities of the organization, scope of their services, sources of funding, etc.
	Complete a comprehensive search of the literature to identify the factors that contribute to enhancing the utilization of health services among African Americans, and the intervention strategies more likely to succeed with this segment of the population.
	Acquire and evaluate known and available health education and communication material to adopt and/or customize for use in this area.

Coordination of Services and Resources: This function involves, but is not limited to completing the following tasks:

	Identifying funding opportunities that would augment existing resources available to the community, and whenever possible coordinate with other service organizations the planning of joint funding activities or the preparation of funding proposals.
	Develop a set of reporting protocols and templates that would capture information from participating organizations/providers.
	Develop a computerized database for tracking utilization of services and the evaluation of participating providers.
	Develop a set of intervention strategies deemed most effective in dealing with the needs of the target population.
	Develop and maintain a current calendar of community health-related activities, and coordinate these activities to ensure maximum effectiveness.

Education: This function involves, but is not limited to completing the following tasks:

	Design and distribute culturally relevant public health messages and health care advertising directed at the African American community.
	Develop brochures, pamphlets, videos, Internet web sites, and other teaching tools that effectively communicate with the African American Community.
	Develop material and coordinate workshops for health care providers on how to communicate more effectively with the African American Community.
	Coordinate the communication activities of all known service organization in San Bernardino County through by publishing an updated comprehensive calendar of community activities related to the health of African Americans in the county.
	Develop effective Public Relations and communication campaigns to maintain the visibility of AAHI among relevant stakeholders, i.e. educators, legislators, faith community, business people, funding organizations.

Assessment/Evaluation: This function involves, but is not limited to performing the following tasks:

	Review and establish measurable performance objectives in harmony with AAHI mission.
	Conduct period performance reviews to ensure the effectiveness of selected intervention and communication strategies. This process may involve utilizing data from the Public Health Department and/or surveys that measure the attitudes and behavior of the target population.
	Identify necessary corrective action.
	Recommend changes in mission, goals, objectives, and strategies in light of assessment results.