Health disparities impact many different communities—these very communities are often invisible in research which perpetuates those disparities. IFH’s Community Outreach Core focuses on improving health equity by working with the community to ensure there is diversity in research participation. Through various community programs, we strive to engage, learn, be of service and support communities. We invite you to join our community and be a part of our work to dismantle health disparities.
Visit our community website: www.ifhcommunity.rutgers.edu
We provide organized educational workshops, programs, and educational materials that share information about various health topics. We have delivered presentations on nutrition, COVID-19 vaccine safety and efficacy, mental health and aging, etc. We can also create content on demand based on a variety of health topics.
Community Based Organizations:If you’re interested in partnering to offer a workshop, email Mariely at mmorontasanchez@ifh.rutgers.edu
We partner with churches, libraries, farmers markets and other organizations to provide health screenings in the community and in our New Brunswick community space upon request and availability. All events are free to the public and no insurance or ID is needed.
As part of our work to engage diverse communities we host several collaborative groups that meet on a regular basis to advise and plan out community outreach programming and develop ways to share health information with communities. Engaging community groups in the research process provides direction for our work and is key to ensuring our research is informed by the community and responsive to community needs.
New Jersey Minority Aging Collaborative (NJMAC):The New Jersey Minority Aging Collaborative is a unique NIH grant-funded program in partnership with organizations that serve older minority adults to create a knowledge exchange and collaboration to both increase research participation and connect minority older adults to health resources.
Asian Health Collaborative:The Asian Health Collaborative consists of partners who work to promote well-being and improve health quality for Asian communities of all ethnicities. This collaborative meets bi-monthly and serves as a platform for members to: increase the visibility of their work across professional sectors, receive feedback on specific cultural considerations, and provide opportunities to build mutual benefits cross the state.
Seniors and Research:Seniors and Research is a diverse group of referred community members of ages 55 and over who live in the Greater New Brunswick Area, and people who work with them. The group meets monthly to plan special public events for seniors and provides networking opportunities and resources to support their health. All members work together to encourage research participation to support healthy aging.
Regional Community Advisory Boards:Our Regional Community Advisory Boards are currently recruiting members. We are seeking individuals who are identified as community organizers, advocates and/or leaders to serve on one of three Regional Community Advisory Boards (Northern, Central, and Southern New Jersey). Our boards meet bi-monthly and will be instrumental in supporting community outreach and recruitment efforts to support research initiatives that aim to improve health and well-being and address disparities in NJ populations. If you or someone you know is interested in joining our boards, email Mariely at mmorontasanchez@ifh.rutgers.edu
IFHBuilds is the Institute’s effort to support and build community in partnership with organizations that share our mission of improving population health. We currently have several active projects within IFH Builds and in the coming months, we hope to expand and be able to offer tailored organizational support to our community partners. We welcome the opportunity to partner with new organizations. If your organization is interested and wants to learn more, please email mmorontasanchez@ifh.rutgers.edu for more information.
See full list of community partners: https://ifhcommunity.rutgers.edu/partners/