Community Engagement is…a powerful vehicle for bringing about environmental and behavioral changes that will improve the health of the community and its members. It often involves partnerships and coalitions that help mobilize resources and influence systems, change relationships among partners, and serve as catalysts for changing policies, programs, and practices (CDC, 1997).
The Community Outreach Committee of the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine exists to
-
- make connections with community partners,
- support health education efforts, and
- promote rigorous science research with local and global community impacts.
The committee achieves this goal by providing opportunities for community partners to interact with department researchers, developing mechanisms for health education, and highlighting research with immediate community impact.