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editorial
. 2019 Jun 13;29(Suppl 2):329–342. doi: 10.18865/ed.29.S2.329

Table 1. Transdisciplinary Collaborative Center for Health Disparities Research: Subproject problem and vision statements.

Collaborative Action for Child Equity (CACE) Project THRIVE Health Information Technology (HIT) Policya Health360xa Health Policy Training
Project focus Maternal-Child Health and Child Academic Readiness Mental Health HIT Diabetes Leadership/ Workforce Development
Problem Disparities in educational, physical and mental health outcomes often surface in childhood. Parents who demonstrate positive psychological adjustment are better positioned to support the success of their children. Behavioral health disparities disproportionately impact underserved populations. Ethnically and culturally diverse populations may receive lower-quality and poorly coordinated mental healthcare compared with White Americans. Adoption and utilization of HIT has the potential to reduce health disparities, but it is unclear whether and to what extent HIT policies advance and support health equity. Coupled with care coordination and other support, HIT, including electronic health records and home monitoring tools have been shown to improve adherence to care plans and outcomes for diabetic patients. Use of culturally tailored HIT applications and peer support may be more effective in reducing diabetes disparities. Racial and ethnic minority and health disparity populations would benefit from better equipped researchers, scientists and policy makers. All populations would benefit by policies and practices that by design prevented disparities in health outcomes among and within all populations.
Vision statement Building parental, institutional and community capacity to promote behaviors and policies that ensure academic readiness, behavioral and physical health, and wellness at the community level. Providing culturally tailored mental health screening and treatment in locations where racially diverse populations seek primary care, empowering providers and patients to address mental health needs that reduce health disparities. Identifying gaps in HIT policy that exacerbate existing health disparities and facilitating bilateral communication to engage communities and frontline clinicians and inform policy and practice. Implementing a technology-based, patient-centered diabetes management program that empowers racial and ethnic minorities, and providers that serve them, to improve diabetes outcomes and reduce the disparities. Developing health policy leaders who value health equity, understand the root causes of health disparities and have the skills, knowledge and abilities to inform policies that will achieve health equity.

a. These two subprojects were merged into a single project in the funding proposal. As the project period evolved, the project split into two subprojects in order to better address the specific aims.