Disseminating research results to build community capacity for policy change

Background: Population research is critical to public health, but findings must be effectively disseminated. The NIEHS-funded SCEHSC has an outreach program designed to: increase awareness of links between environmental exposures and disease. Because the Center has a focus on the health impacts of air pollution, and the expanding Ports of L.A. and Long Beach are major polluters, the program focuses on reducing air pollution from the Ports, working to disseminate the Center's research to a broad constituency.

Methods: The Center's outreach program focuses on ways to (1) engage the media and ensure accurate reporting of its research findings; (2) engage community organizations and political/government leaders so that they understand the links between air pollution and health effects and the resulting policy implications; (3) hear concerns of community residents that may impact the research agenda; and (4) effectively partner with organizations interested in moving forward a public health policy agenda.

Results: By cultivating the media, developing formal partnerships, and engaging community leaders, the outreach program has successful relationships that can impact the research agenda as well as public health and policy actions.

Conclusions: Our NIEHS Center's work allows engagement with a broad community that can, in turn, work to improve public policy. Strategies and challenges will be discussed.