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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Brandolyn White, MPH¹, Stacey Henderson, MEd², Crystal L. Meyer, MPH³, and Anissa Vines, PhD, MS³. (1) Greensboro Area Health Education Center, UNC Center for Community Research, 1200 N. Elm Street, Greensboro, NC 27401, (336) 832-8045, brandolyn.white@mosescone.com, (2) Area L Area Health Education Center, UNC Center for Community Research, PO Box 7368, Rocky Mount, NC 27804, (3) UNC Program on Ethnicity, Culture and Health Outcomes, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box 7400, Chapel Hill, NC 27599

For years, researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have worked with underserved communities to address pressing health issues through community-based research. However, many barriers such as distrust, communication, and distance continue to exist. In an effort to reduce existing barriers between researchers and communities, the UNC Program on Ethnicity, Culture and Health Outcomes partnered with the NC Area Health Education Program (AHEC) to establish the UNC Centers for Community Research. The mission of the Centers is to promote and facilitate mutually beneficial research and service between UNC-Chapel Hill faculty and students and communities to address health status and health outcome disparities in North Carolina. The Centers' mission is accomplished through awareness, education, community involvement, and partnership. Serving thirteen of the 100 counties in North Carolina, the Centers are staffed with Community Outreach Specialists who serve as liaisons between the community and UNC faculty and students. Relationship building and communication with communities is an essential part of the Centers. The UNC Centers for Community Research have been instrumental in facilitating research between faculty and community organization in the areas of HIV/AIDS, cancer, kidney disease, and access to care. The Centers have also been instrumental in providing UNC resources such as faculty participation in AHEC and other community programs. The UNC Centers for Community Research bring together the skills and assets present within every community with the academic discipline and expertise to eliminate disparities in health status and health outcomes among underserved populations in North Carolina.

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