Center for the Study of Community Health (CSCH) (University-Wide Interdisciplinary Research Center)

Director:  Max Micheal, III, MD

Established:  1993

Mission The mission of the UAB Center for the Study of Community Health (CSCH) is to conduct and facilitate research to guide programs and policies that promote the vitality of community health. The CSCH is one of 33 Prevention Research Centers (PRCs) across the U.S. which is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CSCH operates as a campus-wide core facility for promoting and facilitating health promotion and disease/injury prevention research and service projects. The facility orchestrates partnership linkages between UAB campus-based researchers and members of various community-based groups and organizations in the Greater Birmingham area, as well as in communities across Alabama. CSCH products include publications, grant applications, health promotion materials, and training programs for the following core services:

Core Services and Activities

Special Interest Projects (SIPS): SIPS are research support funding mechanisms sponsored by the CDC. SIPS support supplemental health promotion and disease prevention research projects that: 1) focus on the major causes of death and disability; 2) improve public health practice within communities; and 3) cultivate effective state and local public health programs.  The CDC uses the SIP mechanism to provide supplemental funding to design, test, and disseminate effective prevention research strategies. When funding is available, the CDC announces SIP research topics of interest, fund availability, and project duration.

Community Health Scholars: This program offers two $30,000 pilot grants to encourage and facilitate community-based participatory research. All UAB faculty members are eligible. Projects must be community-based and include a strong community partner organization that has demonstrably participated in the genesis, development, implementation, and evaluation of the project. Projects must be completed within one year and should demonstrate significant potential for future extramural funding. Applications are reviewed by an independent panel consisting of faculty with expertise in community-based participatory research and representatives from the Alabama Department of Public Health and the Jefferson County Department of Health.

Community Health Advisor (CHA) Training and Support Institute: This Institute promotes the application of a nationally-recognized model to encourage and support engagement of lay persons in community-based health promotion and disease/injury prevention projects. These lay persons are referred to as Community Health Advisors (CHAs). The Institute provides training and support to build and maintain community infrastructures for research projects and service activities based on the principles of community-based participatory research.

Survey Research Unit (SRU): The SRU collects data from numerous surveys on health-related issues for faculty members at UAB and organizations outside of the university. It does not do any political polling, market research, or research without a focus on or relationship to health matters. In addition to conducting computer-assisted telephone interviews, the SRU also provides services for completing surveys in-person, by mail or fax. Data entry services are also available.

Health Communications Unit (HCU): This Unit engages in the development of effective health communications tools, strategies and campaigns based on theory, best practices, and research in order to increase healthy behaviors. These tools can be education media campaigns, print and audio materials, interactive computer programs, training manuals/curricula tailored to specific audiences, and others. The Unit also provides formative research services, such as coordinating and conducting focus groups.

Community Health Resource Development Core (CHRD): This Core supports engaging community members and leaders, including faith-based organizations, in health promotion/ disease or injury prevention research and service projects. Support includes providing linkage with and access to diverse community groups and agencies in urban and rural settings across Alabama; development of operating infrastructure to enable community groups to become partners in research; training for community members and university colleagues in designing, implementing, and evaluating health promotion programs; and assisting university and community partners in locating appropriate sources of program support funding.

Community Data Core: This Core conducts a longitudinal survey of youth in Birmingham’s urban core. These data identify the life course trajectories of adolescents (ages 9-19) living in extreme poverty, as well as describe the social environment and its effect on health-related outcomes. Core team members conduct an annual survey of approximately 800 youth using previously developed survey tools. The survey process includes a research internship offered to UAB graduate and undergraduate students.

For additional information:

Associate Director: Tom Struzick

Email:  toms@uab.edu

Phone: 205-975-8384

Approved by:  Tom Struzick, Associate Director

Date: March 7, 2008

Click here to return to the SOM Research Web Site's home page.