Community Engagement Core & Science Communication

Rutgers Biomedical And Health Sciences, Newark NJ

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CORE - ABSTRACT The overarching goal of the CEED Community Engagement Core (CEC) is to support the strategic vision of CEED to address the environmental health concerns of all NJ residents. CEC works with communities and CEED researchers to characterize the health risks that people face in their daily lives, translate existing research evidence to action to reduce exposure and risks, and identify new research directions that are aligned with community environmental health needs. CEC aims to 1) Integrate community environmental health concerns with the overall CEED vision; 2) Improve environmental health by building capacity in the field and within the Center to address environmental health risks; and 3) Respond directly to community health needs and concerns by facilitating community-engaged research (CEnR). To accomplish these aims, CEC establishes and nurtures active, long-standing relationships with community partners who have common goals to improve environmental public health. Through regular meetings and bidirectional communications, CEC facilitates sharing perspectives between community partners and CEED scientists, increasing understanding of community concerns and ways that environmental health science can address those concerns, reduce risk, and improve health. The CEC Working Group meets monthly with CEC leadership and Community Advisory Board (CAB) members to plan activities that include an annual NJ Environmental Health Summit. The CEC builds community capacity to engage in research through an Environmental Health Ambassadors program and future scientist programs, as well as CEnR projects addressing community concerns about traffic-related air pollution, legacy and emerging drinking water contaminants, and other high priority issues. Communication and engagement with community partners will be enhanced with more opportunities for in-depth dialog and co-learning workshops. Training modules in environmental public health will facilitate the ability of CEED members and community partners to participate in review of cumulative impacts assessments and permit decisions under the state’s environmental regulations. These sessions will build on Center strengths in geospatial mapping, community air monitoring, and cumulative risk assessment. CEC will support increased participation of community organizations in the Pilot Project Program by: 1) assisting community-scientist teams with project development; and 2) preparing two CAB members to participate in the review of relevant pilot grant applications. CEC will work with community partners to disseminate CEED science. Expanded initiatives in implementation science will identify novel strategies to enhance translation of CEED science to evidence-based, multi-level interventions that reduce exposures and health risks. Progress towards the CEC’s goal to translate CEED science to action and impact will be evaluated by regular benchmarking and soliciting feedback from partners.