Detroit URC >> Mission Statement and Overall Goals

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Mission Statement and Overall Goals

The Detroit Community-Academic Urban Research Center (URC) seeks to maintain an effective partnership that identifies problems affecting the health of residents on the east, southwest and northwest sides of the city and promotes, supports, and conducts interdisciplinary, collaborative, community-based participatory public health research which recognizes, builds upon, and enhances the resources and strengths in the communities involved. The research and interventions conducted contribute to the understanding of the relationship between social determinants, health disparities, the built environment, protective factors, intermediate outcomes, and long-term health outcomes specific to urban environments. The knowledge gained will contribute to the design of appropriate public health interventions, programs and policies. This work is conducted in accordance with a set of community-based participatory research principles adopted by the URC Board that foster, for example, equal participation by all partners in all aspects of the Center's activities and recognition that community-based participatory research is a collaborative process that is mutually beneficial to all partners involved.

Goals of the Detroit URC:

Maintain and enhance the Detroit Community-Academic Urban Research Center.
Through the guidance and governance of the URC Board, composed of representatives of each of the partner organizations, the URC seeks to maintain, enhance and, if appropriate, expand the focus and scope of the URC core infrastructure.
Promote, support and conduct interdisciplinary, collaborative, community-based participatory research (CBPR).
The URC engages in research that strengthens the ability of partners to develop, implement, evaluate and disseminate health promotion, disease prevention and health services programs aimed at reducing health disparities and addressing health concerns identified by the communities involved. Two key aspects of this research will be increasing knowledge regarding the factors associated with these health concerns and designing and promoting prevention programs, interventions and policies that address these factors.
Increase and disseminate knowledge about the principles, effectiveness and techniques of conducting community-based participatory research.
The URC applies the knowledge gained to help promote new CBPR projects in the city of Detroit and elsewhere.
Promote the development of public health policy based upon CBPR principles and the knowledge gained through the URC's projects.
The URC uses the knowledge gained through its CBPR projects to advance public health policy formulation, dissemination and education at all levels of government and within organizations, agencies and systems.
Promote the creation and refinement of policies that support and advance community-based participatory research to promote and improve public health.
The URC advocates for policies that encourage CBPR within research funding agencies (e.g., government agencies and foundations), academic institutions (e.g., related to faculty tenure and promotion) and academic journals (e.g., editorial policy, the peer review process).
Provide education, training, technical assistance and referral services to enhance the use of CBPR in Public Health.
The URC uses the knowledge acquired about CBPR and community health to expand the capacity of health researchers, health professionals and community members to use a CBPR approach to address community health concerns and to contribute to knowledge regarding the factors associated with these health concerns.

Revised and Adopted by the Detroit URC Board, March 10, 2004.

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