UP for the MARCH! Building a Senior Citizen Community Engagement Board: Penn MARCH Minority Aging Research for Community Health

To build trust and involve elders in the community in a research center, community engagement board members must become an integral part of the decision-making of the center. This paper describes the process and lessons learned in establishing a research center, community engagement board. Within the past year, Penn MARCH (Minority Aging Research for Community Health) has successfully established an academic community research board, “Up for the March”- comprising representatives of organizations with significant experience in serving older adults. The board has identified health priorities and concerns specific to minority aging; provided oversight for activities designed by the center; planned and dissemination efforts, and offered investigators assistance with recruitment and retention. First, an informed member of the Center with significant knowledge of senior services in the Community identified potential board members. Second, members were given an orientation package that expressed the overall goal of the Center and its potential to benefit seniors. Strict roles and expectations of board members were established and a modest remuneration for their time was established. Since its inception, members of Up for the MARCH have assisted in the planning and coordination of two community health education forums for seniors, assisted in planning and writing an NIH P30 Center, and established a review mechanism for individual investigator initiativesThe success is based upon committed leadership of respected community representatives, experience and expertise with health issues of seniors, and a preexisting relationship and trust among members, and the development of activities giving members a meaningful role.