Community Engagement Core

Modified Project Summary/Abstract Section The South Carolina Building Resilience through innovative Interventions to promote Growth & Health after Trauma (BRIGHT) COBRE Community Engagement (CE) Core will serve as a critical centralized asset for BRIGHT researchers in providing the necessary training and resources for the development of meaningful relationships with constituents in trauma-affected communities (community engaged research), as well as for understanding the complexities of identifying the causes of problematic trauma-related health care outcomes and the pathways to improving such outcomes. The overall goal of the BRIGHT CE Core is to establish an adaptable and responsive infrastructure to support BRIGHT and IDeA state investigators in their efforts to improve health outcomes among all populations affected by trauma and adversity. Investigators will achieve this by leveraging Core resources to conduct research with direct involvement from constituents that informs policies and interventions. The three proposed Specific Aims of the CE Core are to: (1): Provide expert technical support and state-of-the art resources to the Research Project Leaders (RPLs) and other BRIGHT Investigators to carry out community engaged research with populations who have experienced traumatic events. CE will leverage existing infrastructure to promote the investigators’ capacity for constituency engagement, including a) CE-focused technical assistance to the RPLs with the implementation of their proposed studies, including connection with MUSC Participant Engagement Groups (PEGs) for more general feedback; development and engagement of Community Advisory Boards (CABs) representative of their target population; b) CE-focused technical assistance to the RPLs, including incorporation of measurement of potential drivers of poor health outcomes into their proposed studies; c) ongoing CE-focused consultation to the RPLs and other BRIGHT Investigators on their research; d) assistance in the Request For Proposals and review of Proposals for the SC BRIGHT Center Pilot Projects as it applies to CE research; and e) self-care and burn out prevention support for RPLs, mentors, and BRIGHT faculty and staff; (2) Educate and train RPLs and other BRIGHT Investigators in understanding a) the unique factors that may underlie differences in trauma-related outcomes among various trauma-impacted populations and how this can inform research on innovative health care solutions for such traumatized populations; b) application of principles of community engaged research; and c) process to engage constituents in research development and implementation process; and (3) Maintain state-of-the-art knowledge, capabilities, and business operations for newly developed CE resources to position the Core for long term sustainability. CE leadership will ensure efficient operations, resource management, research quality, progress tracking, and enduring viability.