| Challenge |
Solution |
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| Cultivating authentic relationships between CAB members and the Center’s researchers |
3 half-day retreats, over an 8-month period, to build rapport between CVD Center researchers and CAB members and strengthen relationships |
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Quarterly CAB meetings with designated time built in for all participants to talk among themselves and forge friendships with one another |
| Co-hosting events in the community (eg, the family-oriented event, “Celebrate Your Heart,” keynote presentations at faith-based and health care organization, academic-community panels to discuss how to strengthen communication and relationships during times of civil unrest) |
| Center researcher participation in community/stakeholder events (eg, Maryland Million Hearts Symposium, Urban League’s Obesity Awareness Day, Why Women Cry Conference) |
| Provision of health education, nutritional counseling, and blood pressure screenings at local health fairs and block parties |
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| Communication |
Weekly newsletter about Center’s events and information about local events from CAB members |
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Hiring a full-time stakeholder engagement and outreach manager to facilitate bidirectional information flow between CAB and research team |
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| Building trust between the CAB and the Center’s researchers |
Transparency about each individual’s motivations behind participation in the CAB during retreats and quarterly meetings |
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Sharing study proposals, intervention protocols, job descriptions with CAB members |
| Modifying study designs and protocols based on feedback received from CAB members |
| Enlisting CAB members’ participation in study work groups |
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| Defining a shared agenda between CAB members and Center researchers |
Co-developed mission and vision statements |
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CAB jointly led by a CAB member and an academic researcher |
| Continuous review of the core values governing the CAB-Center partnership |
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| Sustainability |
Garnering specific support and resources from our broader institution for community partners |
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Providing technical support for securing external funding to our community partners |
| Advocating within our institution and seeking external funding for a stronger, more centralized and coordinated approach to community engagement in research, education, and health system change via the establishment of an Institute for Health Equity with a Community Outreach and Engagement Center |
| Providing training for other researchers seeking to engage in CBPR |
