About ARC Ohio

Our Stories

From time to time, we hear special stories from our clients, volunteers and supporters. This is our opportunity to spotlight those individuals for bringing the mission and message of AIDS Resource Center Ohio to the forefront in our community. If you have a story you'd like to share, please e-mail Jen Zeff at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Efforts to Outcomes

A Q&A between Associate Executive Director Nora Vondrell and Director of Programs Valerie Kapp

Recently, ARC Ohio purchased a new client data tracking solution called Efforts to Outcomes or ETO for short. We were able to purchase this software with the help of several grantors including the Iddings Foundation. I recently sat down with Director of Programs Valerie Kapp to find out why ETO is so important to our clients and organization.

Nora: Why did ARC Ohio need a new client tracking database?

Valerie: The previous software was a basic database built back in the nineties specifically for us. Since that time, services have changed and the world has become more high tech. To ensure we are able to provide the highest quality of services, we needed to be able to better analyze the data which was floating around and often times collected, but captured in such a way that we couldn’t identify important gaps in services and consumer trends.

Nora: Tell us what ETO does?

Valerie: ETO is software designed to quickly and easily track efforts, outcomes and progress as part of a performance management approach to human and social services. The primary focus is in measuring the progression of a client over time, and the impact of each program overall. This information can then be analyzed to compare the efforts expended for a given client or program with the outcomes achieved.

Nora: How will ETO help us provide better services?

Valerie: The new software can assist us in analyzing which efforts are effective and which are not. This provides us the information needed to make ongoing adjustments to programs to successfully advance clients/programs toward long term goals. It is also hosted securely online, which allows us to access this information from almost anywhere.

Nora: That sounds great. How does this impact our volunteers and donors?

Valerie: Organizationally, this information will assist us in improving the effectiveness of our services and make informed, strategic decisions about ways to better accomplish agency, program and client goals. It will also assist us in demonstrating or proving the effectiveness of our programs to donors and volunteers as we area being asked "how is our funding making a real impact in people's lives?"

Nora: My understanding is that the transition to using ETO has taken some time and is not inexpensive.

Valerie: It is an investment of both time and money, but one that we believe will be well worth it. In the end, I expect we will see a reduction in staff data input time which means more time working one-on-one with clients. I also believe we will be able to capture the kind of data that will demonstrate we are using donor dollars effectively; which will hopefully garner additional support and funding for identified gaps in services.

This is another example of how ARC Ohio is working to provide the highest quality of services for our clients and the community. We are excited by this investment and expect to be able to share greater levels of detail about our programs, efforts and outcomes as we moved forward.

The Mu Crew

In early May, The Mu Crew hosted their 5^th weekend long retreat at Glen Helen Ecological Institute in Yellow Springs. This drug and alcohol free event hosted 56 young LGBT participants who were from around Ohio as well as North Carolina, Maryland, Indiana, Kentucky and one person who flew in from Canada to attend!

Miranda

Single Mom Didn't See HIV Coming

by Jami Kinton

Story originally printed in Mansfield News Journal, May 6, 2010

MANSFIELD -- With long brown hair, hazel eyes and a killer smile, Miranda Michelle could be mistaken for a model.

In the spring of 1998, the Findlay woman had just started college. A single mom at 21, she worried about school, money and housing. She never thought she'd have to worry so soon about her life.

Sister Carol Bauer, SC

If there was one word to describe Sister Carol Bauer, Treasurer of ARC Ohio’s Board of Trustees, that word would be commitment. Sister Carol made a commitment to live her life according to her values as a Sister of Charity, values which include helping all those around her. To this end, Sister Carol has been actively working toward better understanding about HIV/AIDS through her nearly 20 year involvement on the Board of Trustees of ARC Ohio.

Diane

Meet Diane* - Mother, Grandmother & HIV-positive

* Diane's name has been changed to protect her confidentiality.

Many Baby Boomers developed their sexual identities during an age of “free love”. Oral contraception became readily available and later on in life, so did treatments for erectile dysfunction. Many older adults are newly single, widowed or have grown children, making sexual activity a more active part of their life. And many of this group are either uncomfortable with condom usage or feel it is unnecessary due to their age. Given all this information, it’s no wonder that, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 15% of all new HIV/AIDS cases occur in people age 50 and older. More than 25,000 people age 50 and older were diagnosed with HIV between 2003 and 2006 in the United States. In fact, among AIDS Resource Center Ohio’s HIV-positive clients, 23% are aged 50 and older.

Just ask recent 57 year old AIDS Resource Center Ohio client, Diane.