NIH Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL)

CEAL regional teams have contributed nearly 100 peer-reviewed articles to the field of community-engaged research. The impact of their published research can already be seen, with their publications being cited an average of four times more than similar NIH-funded articles. CEAL's Research Roundup offers summaries of recent journal articles by CEAL investigators leading community-engaged research across the country focusing on health disparities in chronic conditions, maternal health, climate and health, and more. Subscribe to get CEAL Research Roundup volumes sent directly to your inbox: https://bit.ly/3Vx6OqE

Volunteering to take part in scientific research can help us understand the best ways to prevent and treat illnesses. It is especially important to understand how prevention or treatment works for people from many different backgrounds. How can we empower our communities with the information they need to feel confident and safe about participating in research? CEAL has got you covered with an updated fact sheet outlining the benefits community members can gain from participating in research like: ✔️ Access to new health care resources and treatments. ✔️ Insights into health conditions and scientific processes. Share the benefits of research with your community: https://bit.ly/3Y84N78

Community health workers play a vital role in advancing public health and equity. In Calif., promotoras and CHWs (P/CHWs) were key in the fight against COVID-19. Through a collaboration with the Calif. CEAL team, they reached millions with culturally and linguistically tailored information, facilitated testing, and promoted vaccination through community trust and leadership. This collaboration highlights the need for greater partnership and systemic involvement of P/CHWs as a crucial workforce for accelerating efforts to address inequities during public emergencies. This National Community Health Worker Week, learn more about the collaboration between (P/CHWs) and the Calif. CEAL team: https://bit.ly/3AABksY

Better understanding parents' hesitancy to vaccinate their children can help increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake and vaccinations for other diseases in the future. That's why Arkansas CEAL surveyed parents who are hesitant adopters of COVID-19 vaccines for their children and asked them about their prior vaccination behavior and their intentions to have their children receive a booster. Read about what they found and how parents' perceptions of COVID-19 vaccines and boosters factor into the decisions they make for their children: https://bit.ly/4dsyZ1U

In the United States, people who are Black/African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, or Hispanic/Latino, as well as people living in rural areas, experience higher rates of maternal morbidity and mortality. The Maternal Health Community Implementation Program (MH-CIP) supports community- engaged implementation research, working with affected communities to improve heart, lung, blood, and sleep health before, during, and after delivery. View this CEAL fact sheet to learn more about how MH-CIP aligns with the CEAL mission by emphasizing community engagement in all aspects of research: https://bit.ly/4929Clk

Bad news: Grant proposal writing can be a struggle. Good news: You are not alone! CEACR has got you covered. At a CEACR webinar, Christine Barberio, a Senior Grant Writer from University of Pittsburgh, and LaShawn Hoffman, a Community Development, Civic Engagement and Public Health consultant, shared tips for developing a strong community-engaged research grant proposal, from preparation and writing to submission. When preparing to write, LaShawn recommends: 💡 Creating a plan to address barriers to community collaboration 💡 Considering how the research will create opportunities for community capacity-building 💡 Providing a clear explanation of funding and compensation processes 💡 Developing community-informed metrics to measure outcomes Watch the full webinar to find out more dos and don’ts for writing a successful community-engaged research grant proposal: https://bit.ly/3M712aV

How can we promote better maternal health outcomes in the hardest-hit communities? IMPROVE-CIP's Wellness Advocacy Zones: Opportunities for Kinship Involvement (WAZOKI) project uses community-engaged research to bridge gaps in care within the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and foster trust. The WAZOKI project is engaging with community members, public health officials, and researchers to study a multi-level intervention aimed at improving maternal and mental health. This National Wellness Month, explore how WAZOKI works to ensure that all mothers receive the care they need: https://bit.ly/3WNqqHF

What is practice-based research, and how can it be leveraged to improve health equity? Tune in to a virtual learning series offered by the Network for Community-Engaged Primary Care Research (NCPCR) to learn about: 💡 Data sources that can help tell community stories 💡 How health care providers can promote health equity and use a social determinants of health lens in their work 💡The history and value of practice-based research networks, and more. Access NCPCR's full YouTube playlist and share with your networks today: https://bit.ly/3MbzFwx

"We moved incredibly quickly to get messaging out, to dispel myths and misconceptions about COVID. But it seemed we weren't getting the word out fast enough," explained Alabama (AL) CEAL team member Susan J. Driggers, director of communications for University of Alabama at Birmingham Minority Health & Health Equity Research Center. To address this challenge, AL CEAL, led by UAB Minority Health & Health Equity Research Center, teamed up with Acclinate Inc to create a digital communications engine that empowered communities with accurate health information and resources to meet their needs. Discover more about how AL CEAL's tool served as a solution following the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic: https://bit.ly/46EFMmo

Community health workers: Your wellness matters as much as the care you provide your community. This National Wellness Month, prioritize self-care to prevent burnout. Recognize stress symptoms, like irritability, anxiety, and exhaustion, and seek support when needed. By addressing job-related stress, we ensure better care for our communities and ourselves. Explore CDC's resources for support and guidance: https://bit.ly/43JWcZ4