: The Science of Community Engagement: Using a public health institute to increase effectiveness of translational research through an innovative community and academic partnership

While academic-community partnerships bring new opportunities for generating knowledge and exchange, it also raises new social, ethical and administrative challenges. Addressing and surmounting these challenges is critical for transforming community-academic partnerships into sustained enterprises that address health concerns at the community level. Colorado has developed a unique solution to these obstacles, involving a flourishing partnership with a local public health institute and community based organization. This presentation will describe the integral process of forming the partnership and establishing systems to facilitate meaningful community representation and participation including: shared governance, innovative fiscal structures, and others. Participants can learn how to engage with each other to improve efforts through:1) relationships – through shared decision making and fiscal administration, 2) partnerships and community engagement; and 4) benefit to the community.