Community Engagement and Outreach (CEO) Core

Modified Project Summary/Abstract Section The Community Engagement and Outreach (CEO) Core addresses the critical need to translate health promotion and secondary condition prevention (HP/SCP) research into actionable public health practices for people with disabilities (PWD) in the Deep South. By prioritizing feedback from people with lived experiences (PWLE) and relevant stakeholders, the CEO Core aims to enhance community engagement and outreach efforts among PWD, researchers, and service providers. This is especially crucial in the Deep South, where disparities in healthcare access and high disability prevalence necessitate targeted interventions. The CEO Core will leverage successful partnerships to offer services and consultations to HP/SCP researchers, focusing on populations in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Collaborating with stakeholders, including PWLE, researchers, community organizations, and healthcare providers, the CEO Core will promote healthy outcomes and advance digital health-related research. The CEO Core’s specific aims are to facilitate bidirectional engagement by enhancing communication between researchers and PWD through the Disability Advisory Board and partnerships with local organizations, ensuring culturally appropriate engagement and recruitment strategies. It will also develop and distribute accessible health promotion materials via a dedicated website and social media platforms, tracking engagement through analytics to ensure effective knowledge translation. The CEO Core will also host an annual conference to foster dialogue on disabilities and health promotion, addressing recruitment, innovative programs, and community engagement strategies, thereby increasing the national impact of the Disability Health Promotion Research Center (DHPRC)’s work. The CEO Core aims to improve health outcomes for adults with physical disabilities by engaging a broader audience in research and translating findings into practical healthcare solutions. By leveraging the collective expertise and resources of stakeholders, the CEO Core will advance the DHPRC’s health promotion and community engagement subtheme, focusing on advancing real-world evidence and digital health-related research on disabilities.