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Hear from a public library director of a small library in Michigan. The author assumed the role as a first-time library director. This column explores the opportunities and challenges of taking on a directorship of a small public library. An emphasis on customer service and building the library into a community player is a key theme. The library's relationship to the city and other city departments is also discussed. Leading a public library through the COVID pandemic is touched on as well. This column is a glimpse into the operation of municipal government and public libraries. Smaller public libraries are special places in a community and this column helps you understand how they function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Libraries play an increasingly significant role in responding to the needs of the local economy. They have the resources to survey the business community to determine what these needs are. Libraries can also form partnerships with government agencies and nonprofits that can help to foster a thriving economy. Programming and events can be targeted to assist segments of the population that have traditionally been underserved or have only limited access to the resources needed for business creation. Richland Library in Columbia, SC, and the Baltimore County Public Library are cited for the community partnerships they have formed and for their innovative programming in support of small business. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical trials are crucial in developing safe medical treatments and combating diseases. However, the ethical considerations surrounding research involving human subjects have been an ongoing topic of debate. Existing ethical policies aim to ensure the accuracy of research findings and protect the well-being of participants. Nevertheless, these policies have been rooted in Western scientific and medical systems, which historically exploited communities for the benefit of privileged individuals and capital accumulation, perpetuating domination and settler colonialism. While ethical policies alone cannot erase these harmful legacies, they have globally failed at holding researchers, companies, and institutions accountable for their impact on communities. This failure has led to exploitation and unintended harm in disenfranchised communities with under-resourced health systems and limited access to healthcare resources. To address these challenges, this literature review proposes integrating stricter regulations, transparent disclosure of trial results, and comprehensive post-trial care. Additionally, it advocates for including community partnerships in clinical trial ethics policies to prioritize community needs and promote accountability. By examining qualitative studies on the perspectives of patients, researchers, and clinicians involved in clinical trials, as well as the current state of clinical trial ethics policies, this paper suggests a partnership-based approach that can facilitate the development of new treatments while addressing historical legacies of exploitation and harm in disenfranchised communities worldwide.

Introduction: Bicycling, as forms of recreation and travel, offers many positive physical and mental health benefits, though there are still many disparities in bicycling rates among underserved populations in the United States. Community bicycling advocacy organizations/coalitions promote and advocate for increased bicycling; however, have been shown to have a lack of organizational capacity for equitable programming to diverse populations (racial/ethnic minorities, women, low-income, LGBTQ+ communities, youth). The purpose of this study was to understand the current practices for providing underserved populations bicycling programming among advocacy organizations and to find major barriers and helpful tools for equitable programming. Methods: This was conducted in a volunteer sample of U.S. bicycle advocacy organizations. An interview (n = 23) assessed organizational function, successful programs, and barriers to reaching underserved populations. Results: Several themes emerged from the interviews. Participants stated that the lack of organizational leadership and member diversity, along with a lack of trust with underserved communities, presented major barriers to providing equitable programming. Partnering with other community organizations that place an emphasis on serving diverse populations was noted to have potential for increasing successful programming by allocating resources and connections. Conclusion: Although barriers exist for bicycle advocacy organizations when attempting to reach underserved and diverse populations, groups should focus on creating successful and diverse partnerships to increase the capacity for providing equitable programming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This mixed methods study evaluated the need and viability of integrating translation/interpreting (T&I) skills training into English curricula, addressing a pressing gap between what has been taught and real-world language demands. The scientific significance lies in recommending policy changes to internationalize English learning broadly. Research questions examined: how existing curricula fall short in readying students, which translation/interpreting competencies are the most required, and how translation/interpreting integration can enhance relevance. An online survey of 21 specialists yielded qualitative themes and descriptive statistics. Findings strongly emphasize developing under-prioritized translation/interpreting abilities, confirming disconnects between standards and workplace needs. Participants endorsed proposed integration mechanisms like authentic activities and community partnerships. Experts recommended competency alignment and updated standards with proper resourcing. The collective empirical evidence strongly supports the argument that targeted reforms, focusing on internationalization through the integration of applied translation and interpreting skills, are not only evidence-based but also receive widespread endorsement from key stakeholders. By filling a research gap through mixed methods triangulation, this timely investigation provided an actionable foundation to progress policy discussions regarding instructional improvements for the multilingual world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) continues to be a leading cause of death in infants in the United States (US), with significant disparities by race and socio-economic status. Infant safe sleep behaviors are associated with decreasing SUID risk, but challenges remain for families to practice these routinely. The objective of this program was to implement and evaluate a novel approach for an infant safe sleep pilot program built upon partnerships between hospitals and community-based organizations (CBOs) serving pregnant and parenting families in at-risk communities. Methods Community Partnership Approaches to Safe Sleep (CPASS) was a prospectively implemented infant safe sleep program. CPASS included children’s hospitals partnered with CBOs across five US cities: Portland, OR, Little Rock AR, Chicago, IL, Birmingham, AL, and Rochester, NY. The program consisted of (1) monthly learning community calls; (2) distribution of Safe Sleep Survival Kits; and (3) surveys of sites and families regarding program outcomes. Survey measures included (1) site participation in CPASS activities; (2) recipients’ use of Safe Sleep Kits; and (3) recipients’ safe sleep knowledge and behaviors. Results CPASS learning community activities were consistently attended by at least two representatives (1 hospital-based, 1 CBO-based) from each site. Across the five sites, 1002 safe kits were distributed over 9 months, the majority (> 85%) to families with infants ≤ 1 month old. Among participating families, 45% reported no safe sleep location before receipt of the kit. Family adherence to nighttime safe sleep recommendations included: (1) no bedsharing (M 6.0, SD 1.8, range 0–7); (2) sleep on back (M 6.3, SD 1.7, range 0–7); and (3) sleep in a crib with no blankets/toys (M 6.0, SD 2.0, range 0–7). Site interviews described how participation in CPASS influenced safe sleep conversations and incorporated local data into counseling. Hospital-CBO relationships were strengthened with program participation. Conclusions The CPASS pilot program provides a new, innovative model built on hospital-community partnerships for infant safe sleep promotion in SUID-impacted communities. CPASS reached families before their infant’s peak age risk for SUID and empowered families with knowledge and resources to practice infant safe sleep. Important lessons learned included improved ways to center and communicate with families.

The scope of the paper is to describe and interpret the steps and activities that led to the development and implementation of a community-based participatory research program that involved an university, local businesses and community organizations, local autorithies and an external funder. Specifically, the paper addresses the following two questions: first, how was this program designed and implemented, and second, what lessons can be learned from this experience that might be extended to the field of community-based research generally? The instrumental case study methodology was applied and the CBPR Program considered is UniverCity Romania.

Child health screenings are a critical, but often overlooked, aspect of children's medical care. School–community partnerships to conduct screenings and ensure that diagnostic follow-up and treatment occur can help achieve optimal child health outcomes. Such partnerships also serve to mitigate the impact of social determinants of health on children's well-being, address health disparities, and promote health equity. This article reviews four essential childhood health screenings—vision, hearing, dental, and mental health—and discusses how schools and community partners can collaborate to offer these screenings. The authors review four essential childhood health screenings—vision, hearing, dental, and mental health—and discuss how schools and community partners can collaborate to offer these screenings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) continues to be a leading cause of death in infants in the United States (US), with significant disparities by race and socio-economic status. Infant safe sleep behaviors are associated with decreasing SUID risk, but challenges remain for families to practice these routinely. The objective of this program was to implement and evaluate a novel approach for an infant safe sleep pilot program built upon partnerships between hospitals and community-based organizations (CBOs) serving pregnant and parenting families in at-risk communities. Methods: Community Partnership Approaches to Safe Sleep (CPASS) was a prospectively implemented infant safe sleep program. CPASS included children's hospitals partnered with CBOs across five US cities: Portland, OR, Little Rock AR, Chicago, IL, Birmingham, AL, and Rochester, NY. The program consisted of (1) monthly learning community calls; (2) distribution of Safe Sleep Survival Kits; and (3) surveys of sites and families regarding program outcomes. Survey measures included (1) site participation in CPASS activities; (2) recipients' use of Safe Sleep Kits; and (3) recipients' safe sleep knowledge and behaviors. Results: CPASS learning community activities were consistently attended by at least two representatives (1 hospital-based, 1 CBO-based) from each site. Across the five sites, 1002 safe kits were distributed over 9 months, the majority (> 85%) to families with infants ≤ 1 month old. Among participating families, 45% reported no safe sleep location before receipt of the kit. Family adherence to nighttime safe sleep recommendations included: (1) no bedsharing (M 6.0, SD 1.8, range 0–7); (2) sleep on back (M 6.3, SD 1.7, range 0–7); and (3) sleep in a crib with no blankets/toys (M 6.0, SD 2.0, range 0–7). Site interviews described how participation in CPASS influenced safe sleep conversations and incorporated local data into counseling. Hospital-CBO relationships were strengthened with program participation. Conclusions: The CPASS pilot program provides a new, innovative model built on hospital-community partnerships for infant safe sleep promotion in SUID-impacted communities. CPASS reached families before their infant's peak age risk for SUID and empowered families with knowledge and resources to practice infant safe sleep. Important lessons learned included improved ways to center and communicate with families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amidst a critical shortage of registered nurses, nursing schools are aiming to expand enrollment while working with ongoing resource constraints. Service‐learning clinical activities can enhance nursing education by improving clinical quality, addressing faculty and clinical site shortages, and meeting increasing enrollment demands. This paper describes a health fair experience that served as a service‐learning clinical experience within an undergraduate public health nursing course. The experience bridged theoretical knowledge with real‐world application, fostering competency‐based learning and addressing community health needs, resulting in a positive impact on students, faculty, and the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides resources for Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs) to develop new Dance Technology courses without initial funding or dance studio spaces. The goal is to help educators build transformative Dance Technology pedagogy and advocate for opportunities for students. The paper draws from the 10 Success Principles created by the Wallace Foundation, Research in Action, and Mcclanahan Associates and adapts and improves upon them to support the needs of Medgar Evers College, an under-resourced Predominantly Black Institution. This work provides a framework for other underfunded PBIs who are interested in building new Dance Technology curriculums. The paper concludes with 10 essential steps and strategies for acquiring technology to develop equitable and accessible Dance Technology curriculums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many considerations to take before embarking on a new project or creating a new community partnership. Many such considerations are undocumented and not widely taught in Master of Library and Information Science programs. This article fills in the gap with suggested steps to take before implementing a new service or partnership. Recommendations stem from the author's own experiences and aim to help public library workers—from staff to administration—avoid possible pitfalls and become effective advocates for focus and intentionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Black women and people with uteri have utilized collectivistic and relational practices to improve health outcomes in the face of medical racism and discrimination for decades. However, there remains a need for interventions to improve outcomes of uterine fibroids, a condition that disproportionately impacts Black people with uteri. Leveraging personalized approaches alongside evidence that demonstrates the positive impact of social and peer support on health outcomes, we adapted from CenteringPregnancy, an evidence based group prenatal care intervention, for the education and empowerment of patients with uterine fibroids. Methods The present report provides an overview of the study design and planned implementation of CPWF in cohorts at Boston Medical Center and Emory University / Grady Memorial Hospital. After receiving training from the Centering Healthcare Institute (CHI), we adapted the 10-session CenteringPregnancy curriculum to an 8-session hybrid group intervention called Centering Patients with Fibroids (CPWF). The study began in 2022 with planned recruitment of six cohorts of 10-12 participants at each institution. We will conduct a mixed methods evaluation of the program using validated survey tools and qualitative methods, including focus groups and 1:1 interviews. Discussion To date, we have successfully recruited 4 cohorts at Boston Medical Center and are actively implementing BMC Cohort 5 and the first cohort at Emory University / Grady Memorial Hospital. Evaluation of the program is forthcoming.

Community coalitions depend on their members to synergistically pool diverse resources, including knowledge and expertise, community connections and varied perspectives, to identify and implement strategies and make progress toward community health improvement. Several coalition theories suggest synergy is the key mechanism driving coalition effectiveness. The Community Coalition Action Theory (CCAT) asserts that synergy depends on how well coalitions engage their members and leverage their resources, which is influenced by coalition processes, member participation and satisfaction and benefits outweighing costs. The current study used mixed methods, including coalition member surveys (n  = 83) and semi-structured interviews with leaders and members (n  = 42), to examine the process of creating collaborative synergy in 14 community coalitions for smoke-free environments in Armenia and Georgia. Members, typically seven per coalition representing education, public health, health care and municipal administration sectors, spent an average of 16 hr/month on coalition-related work. Common benefits included making the community a better place to live and learning more about tobacco control. The greatest cost was attending meetings or events at inconvenient times. Members contributed various resources, including their connections and influence, skills and expertise and access to population groups and settings. Strong coalition processes, greater benefits and fewer costs of participation and satisfaction were correlated with leveraging of member resources, which in turn, was highly correlated with collaborative synergy. Consistent with CCAT, effective coalition processes created a positive climate where membership benefits outweighed costs, and members contributed their resources in a way that created collaborative synergy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

K-12 teacher professional development in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) is often utilized to enhance teachers' abilities to use STEAM pedagogical methods in the classroom. One such program is GoSTEAM, a five-year initiative centered on K-12 teacher professional development in STEAM. Teachers participating in GoSTEAM collaborate on the implementation of STEAM lessons and activities with an Innovator-in-Residence, who is an individual with experience in a STEAM field, often from a local community organization or university. This study analyzes focus group findings from teachers and school administrators to assess how the partnership with the Innovator-in-Residence impacts teachers' professional development in STEAM. The findings suggest teachers and administrators perceived there to be several impacts on teachers' professional development as a result of the partnership, such as the development of STEAM skills and making connections between STEAM, district standards, and real-world concepts. As such, the results of this study indicate that a teacher's professional development in STEAM can be impacted by an ongoing partnership and collaboration with community partners and those experienced in STEAM fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Flint water crisis (FWC) was a public health tragedy caused by crumbling infrastructure, subverted democracy, and indifference toward a predominantly poor and Black community that resulted in lead-in-water exposure, Legionnaires' disease, and emotional and health-related trauma. Through the cooperation of community partners, the Flint Registry (FR) was conceived to track long-term health and improve public health via service connections. Objectives: This study sought to share the FR's community-partnered, multi-tiered engagement strategy and determine the efficacy of this strategy to engage the community and reach Flint residents. Methods: Community engagement and impact were measured by collecting and describing feedback from the community engagement strategies and by comparing the demographics of the enrollees recruited through community-engaged recruitment (CER) and non-CER methods. Enroll-ees indicated how they heard about the FR; CER involved direct interaction with a community member. Results: Community engagement strategies incorporated approximately 1,200 people and 7 funded organizations, impacting 22 key areas of FR design and implementation. More than 50% of enrollees heard about the FR through CER methods. They were, on average, more likely to be younger, female, Black/African American, and living outside of Flint during the FWC. Conclusions: Community engagement elevated voices of those impacted by the FWC. CER methods were as effective as non-CER methods. Although there were no differences in screened measures of social vulnerability, there were in age, gender, and race. CER methods may increase participation and build trust in populations which historically are hesitant to participate in public health efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing from collective experiences in our capacity building project: Health Equity Activation Research Team for Inclusion Health, we argue that while community-engaged partnerships tend to focus on understanding health inequities and developing solutions, they can be healing spaces for health professionals and researchers. Data were obtained from a 15-month participatory ethnography, including focus groups and interviews. Ethnographic notes and transcripts were coded and analyzed using both deductive and inductive coding. Practices of radical welcome, vulnerability, valuing the whole person, acknowledging how partnerships can cause harm, and centering lived experience expertise in knowledge creation processes were identified as key characteristics of healing spaces. Ultimately, health professionals and researchers work within the same social, political and economic contexts of populations with the worst health outcomes. Their own healing is critical for tackling larger systemic changes aimed at improving the well-being of communities harmed by legacies of exclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Black women and people with uteri have utilized collectivistic and relational practices to improve health outcomes in the face of medical racism and discrimination for decades. However, there remains a need for interventions to improve outcomes of uterine fibroids, a condition that disproportionately impacts Black people with uteri. Leveraging personalized approaches alongside evidence that demonstrates the positive impact of social and peer support on health outcomes, we adapted from CenteringPregnancy, an evidence based group prenatal care intervention, for the education and empowerment of patients with uterine fibroids. Methods: The present report provides an overview of the study design and planned implementation of CPWF in cohorts at Boston Medical Center and Emory University / Grady Memorial Hospital. After receiving training from the Centering Healthcare Institute (CHI), we adapted the 10-session CenteringPregnancy curriculum to an 8-session hybrid group intervention called Centering Patients with Fibroids (CPWF). The study began in 2022 with planned recruitment of six cohorts of 10-12 participants at each institution. We will conduct a mixed methods evaluation of the program using validated survey tools and qualitative methods, including focus groups and 1:1 interviews. Discussion: To date, we have successfully recruited 4 cohorts at Boston Medical Center and are actively implementing BMC Cohort 5 and the first cohort at Emory University / Grady Memorial Hospital. Evaluation of the program is forthcoming. Plain English Summary: Fibroids are non-cancerous smooth muscle tumors that disproportionate impact black women and gender expansive people. Our team adapted CenteringPregnancy, a group based model of prenatal care, to an education and empowerment program for peple with fibroids called Centering Patients with Fibroids (CPWF). This paper describes the development and implemation of the program at two academic hospitals serving diverse patients in Boston, Massachusetts and Atlanta, Georgia. To evaluate the successes and challenges of the program, we ask participants to complete surveys to learn more about their experience with having fibroids and also invite them to group feedback sessions or focus groups. We also interview other healthcare providers, team members, and hospital leadership on their knowledge and thoughts about the program. We hope to use the feedback to improve the program and make it available to more people across the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Without rural hospitals, many patients may not have access to essential services, or even any health care. Rural hospitals provide a community hub for local access to primary care and emergency services, as well as a bridge to specialized care outside the community. The goal of this review was to demonstrate how the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences supports and empowers rural hospitals through an alliance that provides cost savings through clinical networks, collaborative purchasing, and leveraged services; workforce recruitment and education; telemedicine and distance learning; community outreach; and access to best practices, resources, and tools for hospital transformation. Born out of grassroots efforts in the rural US South, this model alliance, the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership, with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences supporting as an academic medical center participant, offers resources and programs intended to help rural hospitals and healthcare providers survive and even thrive in the challenging landscape that is forcing many other rural hospitals to close. The Arkansas Rural Health Partnership model is relevant for rural states that are seeking to develop or reenvision rural hospital alliances with academic medical centers to the benefit of the hospitals and the health of their communities and state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This mixed-methods study delves into rural community servicelearning (CSL) partnerships, shedding light on the complexities and dynamics of collaboration between colleges and rural communities. Through quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews, the research amplifies the voices of rural community partners, emphasizing the crucial role of trust, communication, and reciprocity. Challenges such as staff demands and organizational mismatches underscore the need for rural institutions to better prepare students and allocate resources to support their community partners effectively. The study advocates for transformative CSL approaches that prioritize community needs and nurture long-lasting collaborations. By providing insights into the impact of CSL on rural partners and organizations, this research offers valuable recommendations for improving future practices and fostering meaningful engagement in both rural and urban settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 has underlined the critical importance of bringing biosocial and biopsychosocial approaches to pre-health education. Given the striking social inequalities that the pandemic has both exposed and exacerbated, we argue that bridging between the biomedical and social sciences with such approaches is now more appropriate and urgently needed than ever. We therefore call for the re-socialization of pre-health education by teaching to develop socio-structural competencies alongside physical and biological science knowledge. We suggest that community partnerships, which address local inequalities and their global interdependencies, should be encouraged as an essential element in all pre-health education. Educators should also support such partnerships as opportunities for students who come from more minoritized and impoverished social backgrounds to see their own social knowledge-including community-based knowledge of health-injustices revealed by the pandemic-as the basis of biopsychosocial expertise. By prioritizing this reconceptualization of pre-health education, we can empower future health workers to prepare more adequately for future health crises in ways that are socially aware and structurally transformative.

A thorough examination of the lived experiences of Brigada Eskwela Coordinators in the post-pandemic era was necessitated by the significant challenges and transformations experienced by the program. In this qualitative phenomenological study, the CIPP Process Evaluation framework is employed to examine the essence of Brigada Eskwela Program coordinators' roles, responsibilities, and challenges within the changing landscape. This study employs a phenomenological research design to uncover the universal essence of Brigada Eskwela Coordinators' experiences. The study examines three pivotal stages of the journey of six Outstanding Brigada Eskwela Coordinators through in-depth, face-to-face interviews: (1) Genesis of Execution, which emphasizes preparations and planning; (2) Implementation Midway, which emphasizes program activities; and (3) Monitoring and Feedbacking, which documents and reports progress. This study utilizes Stufflebeam's CIPP Model of Evaluation for Process Evaluation, emphasizing the activities performed, strategies utilized for preparation, and results of the program. As a result of the profound dedication, bayanihan spirit, and volunteerism exhibited by diverse stakeholders, the school is regarded as a place of unity by diverse stakeholders as reflected in their narratives. Brigada Eskwela Coordinators have embraced their traditional roles beyond the classroom to extend their reach to the home and wider community through this study. Their experiences underscore the crucial importance of partnerships, community outreach, and holistic engagement in the aftermath of the pandemic, creating a new narrative for the Brigada Eskwela Program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Black sexual minority women (BSMW) face significant breast cancer health inequities and are underrepresented in health research because of historical and present‐day exclusion. However, there exists no peer‐reviewed literature on best practices for the inclusion of BSMW in cancer research. "Our Breast Health: The Access Project" was a national primary data collection study in June 2018 through October 2019 that aimed to identify facilitators and barriers to breast cancer care among BSMW, and that successfully recruited the highest number of BSMW for any national breast cancer screening study at the time of its publication. Methods: The present analysis highlights best practices for reaching BSMW by examining by how effective various recruitment sources were at recruiting BSMW. Recruitment partners were grouped into several categories: (1) cancer focused, (2) Black women or sexual minority women focused, (3) BSMW focused, (4) social media, and (5) other. Then logistic regression was used to estimate the odds that a particular recruitment source category could recruit BSMW compared with other categories. Results: Partnerships with community‐based organizations led by and intended for BSMW were the most successful at recruiting BSMW, demonstrating the importance of an intersectional approach to recruitment. Community‐based organizations focused on BSMW specifically were 26 times more successful in recruiting BSMW to the study compared with recruiting Black women who were not sexual minorities (odds ratio, 26.43 [95% CI, 7.50–93.10]). Conclusions: Successful recruitment enables breast cancer research grounded in the perspectives of BSMW, which can generate key findings that have the potential to remedy longstanding health inequities for this population. Partnerships with community‐based organizations led by and intended for black sexual minority women (BSMW) were the most successful at recruiting BSMW, demonstrating the importance of an intersectional approach to recruitment. Community‐based organizations focused on BSMW specifically were 26 times more successful in recruiting BSMW to the study compared with recruiting Black women who were not sexual minorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Familiarity with local disability information and resources can impact the ways educators support students with disabilities and their families. We surveyed 462 educators regarding their awareness of and access to disability-related information and resources. Specifically, we examined (a) their familiarity with resources and services across multiple areas, (b) the sources of information they consider to be helpful in their work, and (c) the likelihood they would draw upon new resources designed to connect them to local information and resources. Overall, educators reported mixed familiarity with resources related to supporting important student experiences (e.g., having friends, being physically healthy, participating in recreational activities) and addressing key service needs (e.g., speech therapy, behavior supports, mental health care). Familiarity tended to be higher for resources related to student experiences than for service needs. Educators considered several sources of information to be most helpful in their work, including internet searches, fellow teachers or other school staff, and conferences or workshops. We address implications for teacher training programs, state-level educational leaders, and school districts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community-based organizations (CBOs) are on the frontlines offering resources and support to residents during times of distress. Through a community-academic partnership, an interdisciplinary team developed, collected, and analyzed 91 surveys from social services providers across New York City assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their organizations' operations. The majority (93%) of these organizations stayed open during the pandemic but had to shift the services they offered to meet new needs. Although most (89%) shared they were not offering on-site testing for COVID-19, 53% expressed interest in becoming a test site, citing needs such as funding, test kits, and skills-building for staff. More than half of the respondents were eager to get involved in public health efforts in other ways, such as joining local research advisory boards. Despite increasing the services they provided, CBOs saw decreases in staffing and volunteers. Furthermore, although nearly half (48%) received governmental aid, many faced financial pressures and several had to close offices during the pandemic. As trusted resources, CBOs can help meet public health needs if provided with proper support and resources. It is critical that those working in prevention and relief are considerate about how and when they leverage effective partnerships between public health organizations and CBOs, offering organizations the resources they need to be effective in this charge, given the role they can have in promoting health equity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collective impact is an organizational model that is often used as a tool for solving complex social problems through cross-sector collaboration. Traditional applications of this model require a separate backbone organization to oversee the organizational partnership. Using qualitative data from a larger mixed methods study, we examined STEMSUCCESS, a STEM access program for K-12 girls, through the lenses of both collective impact and feminist matrix organizational theory. Our research questions focused on how participants characterized the organizational behaviors within and between the partnership as well as how the partnership accomplished the goals a backbone organization normally would. Although STEMSUCCESS exhibits characteristics of collective impact partnerships between universities and community organizations, we show how the partnership's design calls into question the necessity of backbone organizations through centering women and promoting a non-hierarchical structure. Rather than a centralized backbone, we recommend reimagining the collective impact model as a quilt—a living project that is flexible, communally sourced, and rooted in feminism and social change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article serves as an introduction to issue number 124 (4). In this issue of Arts Education policy Review, the authors have focused on access, policy, and students who are disadvantaged because of different abilities, poverty, race, class, and other barriers. In addition, the authors represent educators from a cross-section of stakeholders including in-service arts teachers, community engaged therapists, college teacher educators, and schools district administrators. It is hoped that by examining these important topics from the perspective of many stakeholders, we can begin a policy shift toward more equal experiences for all students in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this position paper, we use the example of The University of Texas at Austin's Planet Texas 2050 (PT2050) to argue that the Grand Challenge (GC) framework for ambitious research initiatives must create meeting grounds for transdisciplinary integration of science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), arts, and humanities, along with community perspectives. We trace the historical trajectory of GCs, and reframe GC initiatives within the literature of inter- and transdisciplinarity. We present PT2050 as a case study of the infrastructural supports and imaginative process for creating level meeting grounds for transdisciplinarity. We demonstrate the benefits of these meeting grounds through projects, products, and funding generated. We contend that engaging arts, humanities, and community in co-design from the beginning is critical because complex, urgent challenges such as the climate crisis are embedded in human societies and demand solutions based in understanding of social, cultural, and historical contexts as well as STEM applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of climate change adaptation and mitigation studies, as in many other areas of Western science, there has often been a tendency to overlook and exclude marginalized populations in the course of scientific research (Forman and Pellow 2019). This can lead to incomplete knowledge and flawed solutions to complex problems such as climate change, which requires an understanding of the interconnectedness of ecology and society (Lubchenco et al. 2016). Close partnership with communities and resource user groups can expose those inaccuracies and enable better adaptation and mitigation strategies (Miller 2018; Mitchell 2020). A diversity of perspectives leads to a diversity of solutions (Redmond 2014), a critical tool in adapting to climate change. The purpose of this capstone project is to encourage researchers to develop a holistic perspective of the problem of climate change and give them the tools to incorporate community knowledge into their research and proposed solutions in an equitable manner. The end result, a training for researchers on engaging in equitable, collaborative work with communities, can be found here: https://humanecology.ucsd.edu/cooperative-research-for-climate-resilience/. There is no similar training at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and will be implemented by the faculty working group “Connecting Scripps to Communities.

Amidst environmental challenges, natural calamities, poverty, and social disparities, the imperative to nurture sustainable practices that benefit the environment, economy, and society has grown more pronounced. The paradigm of green economics embodies efforts to elevate human well-being while upholding ecological sustainability. In the context of green economics within developing nations, the role of community practices becomes integral through the lens of community partnerships, which bolster community endeavors in achieving their objectives. Nevertheless, the lack of substantial empirical investigations into partnerships related to green economy practices remains conspicuous. This research aims to scrutinize community partnerships’ manifestations within the green economy practices domain. Utilizing a qualitative methodology, the study delves extensively into the practices encompassing organic coffee cultivation in Aceh, apiculture in West Sumatra, mangrove conservation in East Kalimantan, and waste management in Jakarta. Data collection involves in-depth interviews, direct observations, and focused group discussions within each locality, subjecting the data to thematic analysis. The study unveils several noteworthy findings. Firstly, community partnerships related to green economy practices emerge as collaborative endeavors that collectively empower communities to address economic and environmental challenges. Secondly, the configurations of community partnerships assume diverse forms, spanning from community-initiated efforts to those instigated by businesses or governmental entities. Thirdly, partnership engagements may involve a single community or extend to multiple communities within a region. Lastly, the research identifies establishing robust social institutions within communities as a foundational step toward executing community partnership endeavors that underpin green economic practices within Indonesian society. The social implications of this study furnish invaluable insights for the grassroots implementation of green economic practices. From an academic perspective, this research holds the potential to contribute to the evolution of partnership models within the realm of community development in the context of green economic activities.

Abstract Background Achieving early and sustained viral suppression (VS) following diagnosis of HIV infection is critical to improving outcomes for persons with HIV (PWH). The Deep South of the United States (US) is a region that is disproportionately impacted by the domestic HIV epidemic. Time to VS, defined as time from diagnosis to initial VS, is substantially longer in the South than other regions of the US. We describe the development and implementation of a distributed data network between an academic institution and state health departments to investigate variation in time to VS in the Deep South. Methods Representatives of state health departments, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the academic partner met to establish core objectives and procedures at the beginning of the project. Importantly, this project used the CDC-developed Enhanced HIV/AIDS Reporting System (eHARS) through a distributed data network model that maintained the confidentiality and integrity of the data. Software programs to build datasets and calculate time to VS were written by the academic partner and shared with each public health partner. To develop spatial elements of the eHARS data, health departments geocoded residential addresses of each newly diagnosed individual in eHARS between 2012–2019, supported by the academic partner. Health departments conducted all analyses within their own systems. Aggregate results were combined across states using meta-analysis techniques. Additionally, we created a synthetic eHARS data set for code development and testing. Results The collaborative structure and distributed data network have allowed us to refine the study questions and analytic plans to conduct investigations into variation in time to VS for both research and public health practice. Additionally, a synthetic eHARS data set has been created and is publicly available for researchers and public health practitioners. Conclusions These efforts have leveraged the practice expertise and surveillance data within state health departments and the analytic and methodologic expertise of the academic partner. This study could serve as an illustrative example of effective collaboration between academic institutions and public health agencies and provides resources to facilitate future use of the US HIV surveillance system for research and public health practice.

K-12 teacher professional development in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) is often utilized to enhance teachers’ abilities to use STEAM pedagogical methods in the classroom. One such program is GoSTEAM, a five-year initiative centered on K-12 teacher professional development in STEAM. Teachers participating in GoSTEAM collaborate on the implementation of STEAM lessons and activities with an Innovator-in-Residence, who is an individual with experience in a STEAM field, often from a local community organization or university. This study analyzes focus group findings from teachers and school administrators to assess how the partnership with the Innovator-in-Residence impacts teachers’ professional development in STEAM. The findings suggest teachers and administrators perceived there to be several impacts on teachers’ professional development as a result of the partnership, such as the development of STEAM skills and making connections between STEAM, district standards, and real-world concepts. As such, the results of this study indicate that a teacher’s professional development in STEAM can be impacted by an ongoing partnership and collaboration with community partners and those experienced in STEAM fields.

A child’s first 1,000 days are a period of rapid brain development; negative environments and stressful events can impact their lifelong health, well-being, resiliency, and prosperity. First 1,000 Days Suncoast is a tri-county initiative in southwest Florida comprising 90 partner organizations supporting families and babies by connecting them with resources and tools through a large and comprehensive network. Following the Collective Impact model, the region’s public community hospital was designated as the backbone organization, with a nurse-led team guiding the operations. A steering committee, with leaders of regional nonprofits and foundations, ensures tactical alignment with county priorities, and has been key in building a strong partner infrastructure. Three key components guide the activities of the initiative: care coordination; parent empowerment; and targeted interventions. Through collaboration with community professionals and parents, the initiative identifies the most pervasive barriers to care for families and develops innovative solutions. This method has led to system-wide transformations, organization-specific enhancements, and process improvements.

Young children are at high risk of lead poisoning, which can damage early cognitive and behavioral development and have long-lasting impacts. Home environments are persistent sources of exposure for children in urban, low-income settings. Community–academic partnerships are essential for public health intervention strategies addressing residential household lead exposure, yet community organization staff and home visitors often experience strain and burnout. We describe Parenting and Lead Mitigation at Home, a multifaceted partnership project to (a) develop and implement a community-based, peer-delivered education program for parents of young children in neighborhoods at risk for home lead exposure and (b) support the home visitors delivering programming. We developed, delivered, and initially evaluated Lead 101, a lead-exposure prevention curriculum informed by the Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI) model. The goals were to educate parents around lead exposure risks and empower parents to reduce their child's risk. We developed a novel Reflective Practice pilot curriculum designed to provide emotional support to peer educators and community organization staff who delivered home-based programming. We trained 11 peer educators who delivered Lead 101 to 62 families. We pilot-tested the Reflective Practice curriculum with five community organization staff. The implementation process and pilot evaluation data suggest increased parent knowledge and self-efficacy regarding mitigation of home-based lead hazards, and high satisfaction with reflective practice. Using this model to develop multifaceted partnerships among universities, community-based organizations, and focal communities may facilitate community-engaged program development for families and systematic support for individuals working directly with families, thereby indirectly promoting child health and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides insights from a partnership between Special Olympics of Missouri and a Midwestern university during a teaching kitchen experience conducted in spring 2021. This 5-week teaching kitchen used evidence-based practices for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to teach culinary skills and nutrition science led by community health students. The 12 participants and their caregivers participated in five virtual 1-hour-long lessons. Data collection included surveys and participant observations. Three themes emerged from the coded survey responses and observations: activity type, "doing," gaining nutrition and culinary confidence, and sustainable home meal planning strategies. Implications for practice include hands-on virtual options, providing culinary-focused themes with supporting nutritional information, and caregiver support opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, health equity has been placed front and center in the conversations surrounding healthcare as well other fields. This conversation has also been occurring in the field of lifestyle medicine with an intentional focus on developing solutions at the intersection of lifestyle medicine and health equity. Initiated by a call to action by ACLM Past President Dexter Shurney at the 2019 Lifestyle Medicine conference, the HEAL Initiative was created with that intention, to address health disparities and advance health equity through lifestyle medicine. Since 2019, the HEAL initiative has grown considerably in its work and impact, creating solutions aligned with the AMA strategic planning recommendations as well developing projects that are examples of community engaged-lifestyle medicine. The work of the HEAL initiative culminated in a full circle moment at the 2023 Lifestyle Medicine Conference which featured an interview (facilitated by Dr. Dexter Shurney) with former US Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams and review of HEAL's work over the past 3 years. This article will capture the key highlights of the HEALing our Nation opening session and the cumulative work of HEAL Initiative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social determinants of health (SDOH), the external environmental factors that determine health and well-being, often play a key role in health disparities and health inequities, and are outside the control of individuals. In urban and rural settings, hospitals have a critical role to play in addressing these SDOH; however, they cannot do so as a lone entity. Hospitals may function as anchor institution and form multi-sector partnerships with other community organizations (educational institutions, organizations addressing food insecurity, public health agencies, other healthcare provider organizations, etc.) to address these complex SDOH. However, as anchor institutions, urban hospitals may also face strong institutional pressures from their stakeholders and society at large. Based on institutional theory and resource dependency theory framework, we examine 1,191 urban hospitals in the United States reporting partnerships with community organizations to address SDOH. Our findings indicate that while addressing SDOH may be a driver, partnerships between hospitals and community organizations may also be in response to institutional pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

First Nation people residing in rural and remote communities have limited primary healthcare access, which often affects chronic disease management leading to poor health outcomes. Individuals with lived experiences of chronic disease and substance use, along with health directors, advocated for improved services. Subsequently, an urban healthcare team in partnership with four First Nation communities developed an Outreach clinic to address healthcare access barriers. Established in 2016, this community-led clinic improves primary care access and chronic disease management in First Nation communities. Employing a qualitative research design, interviews were conducted with 15 clinic providers and 9 community members to explore the clinic's 1-year post-implementation impacts. Thematic data analysis indicated that engagement and approval by community leadership, support from Elders and community members and collaboration with existing community healthcare staff were crucial for establishing the Outreach clinic. Initial logistical challenges with space allocation, equipment, medical supplies, funding, staffing, medical records and appointment scheduling were resolved through community consultation and creative solutions. A nurse coordinator ensured continuity of care and was integral to ensuring clients receive seamless care. The commitment of the outreach team and the collective goal of providing client-centered care were instrumental in the clinic's success. In partnership with communities, access to healthcare in First Nation communities can be enhanced by coordinating Outreach clinics through existing community healthcare facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]