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

Did you catch CEAL's Network for Community-Engaged Primary Care Research (NCPCR) program at the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) Community Health Institute and Expo? NCPCR's presentation focused on community-clinical linkages (CCL), connections between the community and clinical sectors, which is an evidenced-based approach to chronic disease prevention and management. CCLs centered on community engagement and partnerships can build trust, leading to sustained service delivery and improved health outcomes. Learn more about their presentation and the CCL models developed by CEAL teams that underscore the importance of community engagement to ensure members of historically marginalized and underresourced communities are connected to services for health and social needs: https://bit.ly/3Sxzxel

Job flexibility and security can play a key role in workers' mental health. Arkansas CEAL researchers found that greater job flexibility and job security were associated with less psychological distress, less anxiety, fewer missed workdays, and less frequent use of mental health services. Learn more about their findings and suggestions for how organizations can improve workers' physical and mental health ⤵

A changing climate threatens the health of Native Alaskans, many of whom depend on foods that are hunted, gathered, and fished from the land and waters. It has a direct effect on the nutritional status and health of Alaskan people, exacerbating already high levels of chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and asthma. The Alaska ACE-CH is working with local communities to address these threats by: 💡 Creating new ways to evaluate climate and health risks in rural Alaska Native communities ✔️ Implementing Indigenous-led interventions to improve the ability of rural Alaska Native communities to adapt to climate change and enhance their overall health and wellness ❗ Prioritizing Indigenous knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about climate change and its impacts on health and well-being in Alaska Learn more about how Alaska ACE-CH works with Alaska Native communities to address the health effects of climate change: https://bit.ly/3SRJ68d

Native American communities face unique health disparities related to the opioid crisis. In recent years, overdose death rates have been highest among American Indian and Alaska Native people. The NIH understands that research prioritized by Native communities is essential for enhancing effective, culturally grounded public health interventions and promoting positive health outcomes. So, they have launched a new program led by Native American communities to address the opioid overdose crisis. The Native Collective Research Effort to Enhance Wellness (N CREW) Program will support research projects that are led directly by Tribes and organizations that serve their communities. The program’s goal is to elevate Indigenous Knowledge and culture in response to the community’s unique health disparities related to the opioid crisis. Learn more about N CREW in the latest CEAL newsletter: https://bit.ly/4fZyzSa

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