Sharon Watkins and Abbey Rowland with the new research board in the CAA lobby

Community Action Agency’s (CAA) Community Engagement Manager, Sharon Watkins, has been a member of CCTST’s Community Partnership Committee for 5 years and has been helping the CCTST reach the community more effectively. It is through her years of service to the CCTST and learning more about the role of research in improving health outcomes in the community that she recently advocated to bring research education and information about research studies to the CAA clientele. “Our community clientele don’t likely know about the importance of research and how they can help,” says Sharon. “I’d like to help connect them with what I’ve been learning because I think it will help all of us.”

The Community Action Agency is county-wide organization that provides a number of services to the Hamilton County area including a home relief program, employment program, mobile food pantry, tax preparation, and Head Start program, among other services. CAA headquarters, located in Bond Hill, also holds a Cincinnati Public Library branch and offers opportunities for the surrounding community to utilize the space. With so many varied services under one roof, Sharon saw the opportunity to help spread the information about the importance of research and research participation to their diverse community.

Julie Wijesooriya and Abbey Rowland outside CAA

With the help of the Center for Clinical and Translational Science and Training’s (CCTST) Research Community Liaison, Julie Wijesooriya, research marketing staff, Jane Howie and Abbey Rowland, and community consultant, Terresa Adams, the CAA now has 4 research study boards/stands featuring research educational materials throughout the CAA building in places where clientele can easily access them and learn more about participating in research. These studies boards will be maintained by the research marketing staff, with a focus on studies that are recruiting the various clientele coming into the building. In addition to the materials, Terresa and Julie have provided some training on the basics of human subject research and research participation so that CAA staff can better guide and inform their clientele about studies. They will provide additional training for more CAA staff in the near future.

Jane Howie and Julie Wijesooriya putting together one of the boards for CAA

This is just the beginning of what both Sharon and Julie see as an opportunity to grow the community understanding of the role of research in improving health outcomes and creating a greater positive connection between community and research. “I am excited for this on-going partnership and tangible way we can connect community with research, and vice versa, for the benefit of all,” says Sharon.