The proposed Community Engagement Core (CEC) of the MHDRC will (1) continuously engage and servethe Greater Birmingham area in efforts that will strive to eliminate health disparities; and (2) address theissues of dissemination and sustainability in community-based health disparities research. Cheryl L. Holt,PhD will lead the CEC and Isabel C. Scarinci, PhD, MPH will serve as Co-Leader. During years 1-3 ofMHDRC funding, the CEC will generate knowledge on sustainability of a community-based participatoryresearch model created through the current DAB Project EXPORT (RESPECT). During years 4-5 of MHDRCfunding, the CEC will generate know ledge on active dissemination of the results of our proposed MHDRCResearch Project 2. Simultaneously with these research oriented activities, the CEC will service thecommunity by imparting knowledge and skills to those vulnerable to health disparities. RESPECTcommunity outreach activities currently focus on diet, exercise education, and activities related to theprevention and management of diabetes through the Healthy Congregations Healthy Communities (HCHC)program, a network of local churches in the Birmingham community. Using process evaluation, the CEC willassess the sustainability of the partnerships between the HCHC, the community coalition, the MHDRC andits related activities. In Years 4-5, evidence generated by Project 2 of the proposed MHDRC will bedisseminated to the community through the HCHC using the 'How to Talk to Your Doctor (and get yourdoctor to talk to YOU)' (HTTTYD) protocol. The CRC will: 1) disseminate knowledge gained from theResearch Core, 2) determine if a new program can be disseminated to an existing partnership of churchesand community members, and 3) ascertain whether a program can be implemented independently by thecommunity, using a community-based participatory research approach.
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