Working together, scientists, clinicians, and community advocates can improve the health of our community and bring research discoveries to the patient bedside and community.
Become an advocate
Increase scientific literacy
Develop strategies to engage the community in setting research priorities
Provide researchers with a community perspective
Improve diversity of recruitment for important clinical trials
Make informed decisions about research participation
Community
1. a group of individuals organized into a unit or manifesting some unifying trait or common interest; (Institute of Medicine, 2003). 2. community need not be defined solely by geography. It can refer to a group that self-identifies by age, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, special interest, faith, life experience, disability, illness, or health condition. It can refer to a common interest or cause, a sense of identification or shared emotional connection, shared values or norms, mutual influence, common interest, or commitment to meeting a shared need. (CCPH Board of Directors, 2005)
Community Engagement
The process of working collaboratively with and through groups of people affiliated by geographic proximity, special interest, or similar situations to address issues affecting the well-being of those people. It is a powerful vehicle for bringing about environmental and behavioral change that will improve the health of the community and its members. It often involves partnerships and coalitions that help mobilize resources and influence systems, change relationships among partners, and serve as catalysts for changing policies, programs, and practices (Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 1997, p. 90).
Community Engaged Research/Community Engagement in Research (CEnR)
CEnR is a process of inclusive participation that supports mutual respect of values, strategies, and actions for authentic partnership of people affiliated with or self-identified by geographic proximity, special interest, or similar situations to address issues affecting the well-being of the community of focus. (Ahmed & Palermo, 2008)
Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR)
A collaborative approach to research that equitably involves all partners in the research process and recognizes the unique strengths that each brings. CBPR begins with a research topic of importance to the community and has the aim of combining knowledge with action and achieving social change. (W.K. Kellogg Community Health Scholars Program, 2001)
Community Outreach
The ways faculty, staff, and students collaborate with external groups in mutually beneficial partnerships that are grounded in scholarship and consistent with the role and mission of their professional appointment. (Adapted from CU-Boulder Council of Deans, February 16, 2010; http://outreach.colorado.edu/about/outreach-definition)
Community Service
Community Service is co-curricular or extra-curricular—it’s something you do apart from or in addition to your academic or professional duties. You may enjoy helping others and want to volunteer in the local community on your own. (Adapted from http://www.eiu.edu/volunteer/defservice.php)
Participatory-based Research Network (PBRN)
A group of ambulatory practices devoted principally to the primary care of patients, and affiliated in their mission to investigate questions to community-based practice and to improve the quality of primary care. This includes a sense of ongoing commitment to network activities and an organizational structure that transcends a single research project. (http://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/factsheets/primary/pbrn/index.html)
Service Learning
“A structured learning experience that combines community service with preparation and reflection. Students engaged in service-learning provide community service in response to community-identified concerns and learn about the context in which service is provided, the connection between their service and their academic coursework, and their roles as citizens and professionals.” (LCME IS-14-A)
NIH Funding Acknowledgment:Important Reminder – Please acknowledge the NIH when publishing papers, patents, projects, and presentations resulting from the use of CTSI resources by including the NIH Funding Acknowledgement.