Chase Reece, BSHP '24

To recap this week, I primarily spent time familiarizing myself with some of the projects I will be working on, particularly with the CARE Center, and the principles of community-based participatory research. It is important to have a solid grasp of the goals of the projects and the framework that underlies them. I believe the biggest takeaway from this week is understanding how essential CBPR is for having successful and sustainable interventions. The main goal of Archway Partnership is to provide support and resources to communities in order to address locally identified needs. Without a community-based approach, this mission would not be accomplished. This is related to the community health concepts of engaging, equipping, and empowering communities and individuals, and Archway’s work shows that these principles apply not only to health, but also other critical issues such as economic and community development. By partnering directly with communities and having community members play a central role in the creation and implementation of projects, the Archway Partnership is able to connect communities throughout the state with the resources that the University has to offer. Remembering and applying the principles and goals of CBPR will be essential during my internship and in the future as a public health professional. By researching the CARE Center, I was able to learn more about the work they do, their primary audience, and the communication channels they use to reach that audience. The main competencies that my work this week met are the following:

• 1.1.2: Identify priority populations
• 1.3.5: Assess existing and available resources, policies, programs, and practices
• 6.1.2: Identify communication channels available to and used by the audience
• 6.2.1: Describe the intended outcome of the communication