Research Education for Action, Collaboration & Health (REACH)
ABOUT REACH
Research Education for Action, Collaboration and Health (REACH) is a dynamic learning series that seeks to provide community members and organizations with the skills to use data to show the benefits of their programs for improving health, gain skills in developing partnerships and conducting research with individuals in academic settings (hospitals, universities), and spreading their programs or sharing their outcomes with funders and the community.
The program covers topics such as program evaluation, building and sustaining meaningful partnerships, grant-writing skills, and ethical considerations when conducting research (e.g. surveys) in the community. Participants will also gain hands-on experience with quality improvement methods, and user-centered design, while also learning how to access local and national data that supports their work and helps them to illustrate the need for their program and its potential impact. Applicants propose a health project and all community leaders who successfully complete REACH will receive a stipend to implement the project between for the year following the program.
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After participation in REACH, participants will be better prepared to lead initiatives, collaborate with partners across sectors, and create lasting change in their communities. 
WHO SHOULD APPLY?
Key program staff, organizational leaders, community physicians, program administrators, and unpaid volunteers at community organizations or agencies who want to gain skills in program evaluation, quality improvement, survey research and collaboration to improve health in their communities.
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Members of partnering institutions such as the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center are also welcome to apply.
PROGRAM BENEFITS
A community partner would benefit from attending the REACH program because it offers practical, hands-on learning designed to strengthen their ability to engage in and lead programs that directly benefit their community. Participants will learn how findings from research can be applied to real-world health challenges—such as using local health data to tailor a cancer screening program to respond to neighborhood needs (e.g., barbershop or mobile cancer screening programs).
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REACH participants will: 
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Building & Sustaining Partnerships 
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Gain tools for effective collaboration, including grant-writing strategies that support long-term, bi-directional partnerships. 
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Translational Research & Science 
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Learn how research moves from discovery to community benefit and connect science with everyday impact. 
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Community Engaged Research (CEnR) Methods 
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Dive into methods including quality improvement (QI), program evaluation, and user-centered design approaches. 
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Using & Collecting Data 
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Learn how to access and use public data sets, develop meaningful surveys, and apply data to community priorities. 
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CEnR Ethics 
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Understand the principles of ethical research in community settings.Applying Research to Practice 
Discover how to integrate CEnR principles into your own work to create lasting change. 
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The REACH Learning Series provides a great opportunity to improve your skills and network with others interested in improving the health of the community. 
2026 PROGRAM DATES & TOPICS
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Participants are expected to attend all sessions. Those who miss more than two sessions (one full day) may be asked to withdraw from the program and will not be awarded any project funding.  
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Participants are also required to give a presentation about their proposed health-related project on the last day of class and submit 6-month and 12-month progress reports.  
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The CCTST Community Engagement Core reserves the right to change the program dates if required for the success of the program.  
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Please review the list of tentative program dates to make certain that we can expect your full participation should you be selected. You will be notified of your selection status by February 1, 2026.
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The 2026 REACH program is currently being planned as an in-person event. Note that in the rare event that public health recommendations related to the cold & flu season, the series may be conducted virtually. In this case sessions will be adapted for online learning and the length and number of classes each week and may vary slightly.  
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Save the following dates for the 2026 Series: (session order subject to change) 
APPLICATION GUIDELINES
Click here to download the REACH application.
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The application and supplementary materials should be submitted via this REDCap survey no later than midnight on Tuesday, December 30, 2025. To be considered for this program, your application must be completed to its entirety. For questions or concerns, please contact us at ctsa@cchmc.org.
Typed applications may also be accepted via email. Mail by request. Please contact the Program Manager to make arrangements.
 Phone: 513-803-0917 or email: ctsa@cchmc.org ​