Program Goal

The overall goal of the program is to assist community leaders associated with organizations that engage and empower communities to reduce health disparities, leverage funding, and learn how to use data to improve services and programs.

Program Requirements

To accomplish the goals of the Institute, the full participation of each individual selected is necessary. To successfully complete the Institute, participants must:

• Attend all training sessions and present their project during the graduation session.

• Bring in real world projects to ensure that there is a “real world deliverable” that builds organizational and community capacity.

• Provide a brief 6-month and 1-year progress report.

Training Sessions Include:

• Grant Proposal Writing

• Accessing and Mining Public Datasets

• Quality Improvement/Ensuring Evidence Based Practice

• Survey Development

• Assessing Community Health Needs

• Program Evaluation/Data Analysis

• Designing and Implementing a Solid Budget

• Advanced Public Speaking

Funding

Each participant’s organization will receive a $2500 grant for their participation in this competitive program and completion of proposed project. Priority will be given to leaders from Appalachian counties in Kentucky (http://www.arc.gov/counties).  In addition, priority will be given to applicants who  propose projects consistent with the UK CCTS Community Engagement and Research Program’s areas of interest including:

• Cancer prevention (e.g., nutrition, physical activity, smoking cessation)

• Reducing obesity and sedentary lifestyle

• Chronic disease (diabetes, cardiovascular disease) prevention or management

• Substance abuse prevention and treatment