Administrative Core

The Administrative Core will support the Center’s overall administration and operations to expand on the strong foundation developed during the initial funding period. This will include an enhanced role for the Center’s Community Advisory Board (CAB), appointment of a leader focusing on the unique health needs of people with serious mental illness (SMI) (Dr. Lisa Cooper), new training opportunities, and strengthened collaborations between researchers and community partners. Led by Drs. Daumit and Yuan, the Administrative Core will be responsible for ensuring the Center accomplishes its goals related to planning and testing implementation strategies to scale-up evidence-based interventions to improve physical health for people with SMI. The Administrative Core includes nine aims. First, to ensure Center goals are realized in a timely manner, the Administrative Core will manage all Center operations, finances, and coordination across research teams, the CAB, and Center Committees (External Advisory Board, Internal Steering Committee, Center Executive Committee) (Aim 1). In Aim 2, to build on the strong community-research partnerships established during the initial funding period, the Administrative Core will elevate the role of the CAB (including the creation of a CAB Leadership Team and Policy Working Group) and integrate community engagement as a key component across Center projects. To support Aim 3, Dr. Lisa Cooper will work with the CAB and Center members to ensure our activities, including trainings, are centered on the unique health needs of persons with SMI. The Administrative Core will also develop and implement additional training opportunities for Center faculty, trainees, and community partners, including an innovative physical health training series for peer support professionals (Aim 4) and build on the Center’s established R03 program by soliciting, selecting, and administering two pilot feasibility studies per year that align with the Center’s scientific goals and mission (Aim 5). In Aim 6, the Core will enhance the Center’s strong communication and dissemination infrastructure through an improved Center website and expanded social media presence. In Aim 7, the Core will coordinate the use of Center and University facilities and resources, including administrative support, to create an environment where Center project teams and faculty can maximize their scientific productivity. It will also work with the Methods Core, through Aim 8, to evaluate the Center’s research activities and public health impact based on milestone achievement and annual debriefings with the External Advisory Board, Internal Steering Committee, and CAB. Last, in Aim 9, the Executive Committee will lead an annual strategic planning process to guide the Center’s future work, including next steps for research and plans to disseminate findings and resources to community partners. Overall, this Core will support the Center’s innovative implementation research projects through coordinating access to resources and leading the Center’s approaches to community engagement, training, dissemination, and evaluation.