Extramural Research
CBRA Bulletin - April 2010
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This new Community-Based Risk Assessment (CBRA) Listserv is sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and managed through the EPA's National Center of Environmental Research (NCER). Please feel free to forward the listserv messages to interested colleagues or ask them to join!
Featured Resource| Current News | Conferences and Opportunities | Featured Science Articles
Internet-based Training Course: Use of Risk
Assessment in Management of Contaminated Sites
The Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council
(ITRC) has developed a document titled Use of
Risk Assessment in Management of Contaminated
Sites (RISK-2, 2008). This training course looks
at how various risk-based approaches and criteria
are applied in various states and programs
throughout the processes of screening,
characterization, and management of contaminated
sites. The document and training course are
intended for risk assessors and project managers
involved with the characterization, remediation,
and/or re-use of sites. Together they provide a
valuable tool for federal and state regulatory
agencies to demonstrate how site data collection,
risk assessment, and risk management may be
better integrated. This training course explains:
- Variation in risk assessment parameters/approaches in various states and their influence on risk management
- Insights into the use of risk assessment in risk management process through use of specific case study examples
- An improved process of using risk assessment in risk management
- April 27, 2010 (Tuesday) 2:00 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. EST
- July 20, 2010 (Tuesday) 2:00 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. EST
On-line course registration opens 4-6 weeks before each session. Click here to register for ITRC training hosted by EPA's Clu-In. Dates subject to change. For additional questions after completing the on-line registration form please call 402-201-2419 or e-mail training@itrcweb.org.
- Preterm Birth Rates Drop in 2008 Following a Two-Year Increase
- EPA Awards $2 Million to Support Local Research on the Consequences of Climate Change
The preterm birth rate in the United States fell 2 percent between 2007 and 2008, after rising the previous two years, according to a report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. There was also a significant decline in the percentage of babies born preterm in 2008 (prior to 37 weeks of pregnancy). The preterm birth rate declined from 12.7 in 2007 to 12.3 in 2008. This marks the second straight year of decline in the preterm birth rate following a 20 percent increase between 1990 and 2006. To read the full report, visit http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr58/nvsr58_16.pdf.
The EPA is awarding a total of $2.1 million in grants to Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to explore public health and environmental aspects of climate change. These local grants are part of nearly $17 million awarded to universities nationwide by EPA's Office of Research and Development. One of the agency's goals is to develop information and tools to make assessments on the overall impact of climate change. The first Harvard project will study how regional climate conditions may be linked to the production, strength, and distribution of asthma-producing pollens from weeds, grasses and trees. A second Harvard project, to be undertaken with NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, will examine the effects of changing climate on wildfires and the consequences for air quality and public health implications in the U.S. A third grant awarded to MIT researchers will examine how transportation technologies and policy choices in response to climate change will impact air quality, human health and the economy on global and local scales by 2050. For more information about the grants and the grant awardees, visit http://www.epa.gov/ncer/climate.
- NIH Funding Opportunity on Behavior Change
This FOA solicits Research Project Grant (R01) applications that will improve understanding of the basic mechanisms of behavior change by bridging work in the laboratory and the field. This initiative seeks to establish the groundwork for a unified science of behavior change, capitalizing on emerging basic science to accelerate investigation of common mechanisms that play a role in initiating or maintaining behavior change and are applicable across a broad range of health-related behaviors. All applications must be submitted electronically by April 26, 2010. To view the announcement or to apply, visit http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-10-002.html. - 2010 and Beyond: Latino Health Equity Conference
The Latino Health Equity Conference will take place May 20, 2010 in Portland, OR. This conference will provide a forum to focus on individual and community pathways to health through research, programs and policies for Latinos in Oregon and SW Washington. This interactive summit will build the path for a Latino Health Initiative with strategies to eliminate health disparities. Conference proceedings will be developed into a white paper which will assist local and national policy and decision makers in establishing funding priorities for Latino health. Early bird registration ends April 30, 2010. For more information, or to register, visit www.familiasenaccion.org. - CCPH 11th Conference- Portland, OR
Community-Campus Partnerships for Health is convening our 11th conference, May 12 - 15, 2010 in Portland, to nurture a growing network of community-campus partnerships that are striving to achieve the systems and policy changes needed to address the root causes of health, social and economic inequalities. The conference, "Creating the Future We Want to Be: Transformation through Partnerships," seeks to build knowledge, skills and actions for achieving healthy and just societies. Advance registration ends April 30, 2010. For conference details or to register, visit http://depts.washington.edu/ccph/conf10-overview.html. - Social Justice Fellowship in San Francisco- Open to Students
Students are invited to apply for Summer Fellowships for Lisa Kernan Social Justice Fellows Program "Uniting research, analysis, and advocacy to change the world!" Fellowships will be provided in the summer 2010 to two outstanding students with a demonstrated commitment to social justice. Fellows will have the opportunity to learn first-hand how health, economic and/or trade policies affect the health of individuals in our communities. Through their work, Fellows will also gain new understanding about how their research can directly inform key-decision makers in the U.S. to create safeguards and change policy to protect our health and promote social justice. Applications are due May 3, 2010. To complete an application or for more information, visit http://www.centerforpolicyanalysis.org/id73.html. - Reach the Decision Makers Training Program
Reach the Decision Makers (Reach), a project of the UCSF Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, is an innovative science and policy training program that works to increase the number of scientists, community-based leaders, public health professionals and health care providers who are actively involved in informing the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) of current and relevant scientific findings impacting their decisions in setting policy. Reach is designed based on the very successful "Women's Policy Institute" of the Women's Foundation of California. We believe Reach will help translate science into meaningful public policy that can protect reproductive health. The program, beginning in June 2010, is structured around a two day meeting in Washington DC, eight monthly 2-3 hour webinar trainings, and a final all day training in Oakland, CA in May 2011. Exact dates are included in the application. The trainings will address issues related to environmental reproductive health science and public policy, including how to work with the USEPA, understanding science and the role of science in public health decision-making, team building and leadership, and how communities can use science to improve community health and well-being. Applications are due May 7th, 2010. If you are interested in applying for the inaugural class of 2010, please complete the application available at http://prhe.ucsf.edu/prhe/reachdecisionmakers.htmland submit it
to reach@obgyn.ucsf.edu. If you have any questions about the
program or eligibility requirements, please contact PRHE at
(510) 986-8990 or email reach@obgyn.ucsf.edu. - Call for Papers: Special Supplement on Healthy People in a
Healthy Environment
Public Health Reports (PHR) will accept submissions based on original, not previously published, findings on programs, policies, measures, outcomes, and strategies that can be used to improve public environmental health science and practice. The editors encourage a broad range of manuscripts, especially those reporting on vulnerable populations and other groups disproportionately impacted by unhealthy environments or failed policies. This Supplement will include invited manuscripts from the 2009 National Environmental Public Health Conference as well as manuscripts received and accepted through this call for papers. Articles in PHR are typically 3,000 - 4,000 words in length. Longer manuscripts, when appropriate, will be considered. The anticipated publication date for the Special Supplement is Spring of 2011. Manuscripts should be sent electronically to manuscripts@publichealthreports.org. The deadline for Submission: May 15, 2010. For specific guidelines and more information, please click here. - Call for Applicants: 2011 APHA Public Health Fellowship in
Government
The American Public Health Association (APHA) announces a call for applications for the APHA Public Health Fellowship in Government. APHA is looking for candidates with strong public health credentials who wish to spend one year in Washington, D.C. working in a CONGRESSIONAL office on legislative and policy issues such as health, the environment or other public health concerns. The fellow will have the opportunity to see first-hand how public policy impacts public health and to offer their public health expertise to policymakers. The fellowship will begin in January 2011 and continue through December 2011. The application, including CV and three letters of recommendation, are due to APHA by May 17, 2010. Applications and additional information are available at http://www.apha.org/advocacy/fellowship/. - New Master's Program at the University of Miami- Community
and Social Change
The University of Miami School of Education has a new master's program in Community and Social Change. The mission of the program is to prepare globally aware leaders, researchers, and agents of change who create, inspire, and engage community organizations to foster well-being in diverse community settings. The 30-credit master's degree program in Community and Social Change is designed to prepare a new generation of creative leaders for the not-for-profit sector. Applications are now being accepted for Fall 2010. Applications are processed year around; however, it is recommended that applications be submitted by June 15 for full consideration. To be considered for one of the available scholarships, the application deadline is May 20. For more information on the program or to apply, visit http://www.education.miami.edu/Program/Programs.asp?Program_ID=1 34. - EPA Funding Opportunity
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency National Homeland Security Research Center has issued a solicitation entitled Research to Improve Risk Communication Strategies During and After the Decontamination/Clearance Phase of an Intentional Biological Release. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking applications proposing development of effective risk communication strategies during and after decontamination and clearance activities associated with an intentional biological indoor and outdoor wide area contamination. The solicitation will be open from April 5, 2010- June 8, 2010 11:59pm Eastern Time. For more information, visit http://www.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2010/2010_risk_comm.html.
- Evidence-based advocacy: using Photovoice to identify barriers
and facilitators to community participation after spinal cord
injury.
Rehabil Nurs, (Volume 35, No 2: 47-59) by Newman SD, SCI Photovoice Participants.
Abstract:
People with spinal cord injury (SCI) face many environmental barriers to community participation. In this article, a community-based participatory research (CBPR) project that implemented the Photovoice method with 10 individuals with SCI to gather evidence of the environmental factors affecting their participation in the community in and around Charleston, SC, is described. The specific aim of this project was to use Photovoice to create an evidence base of environmental barriers and facilitators to community participation through analysis of data based on the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health taxonomy of environmental factors. Barriers and facilitators were most frequently photographed in the built environment. The participants have started to share their evidence of issues affecting citizens with disabilities with the public and policy makers. The results of this project illustrate that Photovoice is effective in empowering individuals with SCI to address environmental factors affecting their community participation.
- Linking practice-based research networks and Clinical and Translational Science Awards: new opportunities for community engagement by academic health centers
Acad Med (Volume 85, No 3: 476-83) by Fagnan LJ, Davis M, Deyo RA, Werner JJ, Stange KC.
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Practice-based research networks (PBRNs) are a part of many National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) sites. PBRNs, groups of primary care practices committed to collaborating on practice-relevant research, are unfamiliar to many CTSA leaders. Conversely, the CTSAs, as new research structures designed to transform clinical research, are unfamiliar to many PBRN directors. This study examined the extent to which these programs have congruent goals and expectations, and whether their engagement is likely to be mutually beneficial.
METHOD: The authors sent a Web-based survey to 38 CTSA community engagement directors and a similar survey to 114 PBRN directors during the fall of 2008. RESULTS: A total of 66% (25/38) CTSA community engagement directors and 61% (69/114) PBRN directors responded. Two thirds of responding CTSAs reported working with PBRNs, and over half of responding PBRNs reported a CTSA affiliation. Both groups indicated this relationship was important. CTSAs looked to PBRNs for access to patients and expertise in engaging communities and clinical practices. PBRNs reported seeking stable infrastructure support and greater collaboration and visibility in the academic research community. PBRN infrastructure support from CTSAs was highly variable. Both groups perceived considerable promise for building sustainable relationships and a bidirectional flow of information and research opportunities.
CONCLUSIONS: With fewer than three years of experience, the PBRN/CTSA relationship remains in the discovery phase; the participants are still negotiating expectations. If these collaborations prove mutually beneficial, they may advance the community engagement goals of many academic health centers. - Community-based participatory research in Boston's neighborhoods: A review of asthma case examples.
Arch Environ Occup Health. (Volume 65, No 1: 38-44) by Brugge D, Rivera-Carrasco E, Zotter J, Leung A.
Abstract:
Three case examples of asthma studies that differ in terms of community and involvement are considered. The Boston Chinatown studies faced limited funding that restricted the level of community involvement, but resulted in some of the first published evidence about asthma in Asian American children. These studies led to an asthma education program grant to a local Asian clinic and elementary school. The public housing study was a well-funded multi-year study of asthma and pest management with city, university and community partners. Residents were trained to collect data and participated throughout the study. Follow up pest management and pesticide buy-back programs headed by the city and community partners have been funded. The Dorchester case had more limited funding, but had the greatest level of involvement of parents of asthmatic children in all phases of the research. This survey led to an interesting novel finding of lower asthma prevalence in foreign born black residents
- Healthy Living Cambridge Kids: a community-based participatory effort to promote healthy weight and fitness
Obesity (18 Suppl 1:S45-53) by Chomitz VR, McGowan RJ, Wendel JM, Williams SA, Cabral HJ, King SE, Olcott DB, Cappello M, Breen S, Hacker KA.
Abstract:
The objective of this study was to assess the impact of a community-based healthy weight intervention on child weight and fitness. Cambridge Public Schools (CPS) have monitored BMI and fitness annually since 2000. Annual increases of overweight and obesity from 2000 (37.0%) to 2004 (39.1%), triggered a multidisciplinary team of researchers, educators, health care, and public health professionals to mobilize environmental and policy interventions. Guided by the social-ecological model and community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles, the team developed and implemented Healthy Living Cambridge Kids (HLCK), a multicomponent intervention targeting community, school, family, and individuals. The intervention included city policies and community awareness campaigns; physical education (PE) enhancements, food service reforms, farm-to-school-to-home programs; and family outreach and "BMI and fitness reports". Baseline (2004) to follow-up (2007) evaluation design assessed change in children's weight and fitness status. A cohort of 1,858 K-5th grade children participated: 37.3% black, 14.0% Hispanic, 37.1% white, 10.2% Asian, 1.7% other race; 43.3% were lower income. BMI z-score (0.67-0.63 P < 0.001) and proportion obese (20.2-18.0% P < 0.05) decreased, and mean number of fitness tests (0-5) passed increased (3.7-3.9 P < 0.001). Whereas black and Hispanic children were more likely to be obese at baseline (27.0 and 28.5%, respectively) compared with white (12.6%) and Asian (14.3%) children, obesity among all race/ethnicity groups declined. Concurrent with a 3-year community intervention, modest improvements in obesity and fitness were observed among CPS children from baseline to follow-up. The CBPR approach facilitated sustaining policies and program elements postintervention in this diverse community.
- Shaking and rattling: developing a child obesity prevention
program using a faith-based community approach
Fam Community Health. (Volume 33, No 2: 144-51) by Reifsnider E, Hargraves M, Williams KJ, Cooks J, Hall V
Abstract:
This article describes the creation of a faith-based, community action research intervention aimed at reducing childhood obesity among a vulnerable population. Of particular concern to the community was the prevalence of obesity among its minority children. Engaging parents in a childhood obesity initiative through faith-based organizations (churches, community organizations with a common religious focus) was a method to provide a research intervention. It is important for researchers to be culturally competent, employ community-based participatory research methods, carefully plan interventions that have clear outcome criteria, and build evaluation of the process into every step of the research.