Community engagement and the resource centers for minority aging research

The National Institute on Aging created the Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research (RCMARs) to address infrastructure development intended to reduce health disparities among older adults. The overall goals of the RCMARs are to (a) increase the size of the cadre of researchers conducting research on issues related to minority aging; (b) increase the diversity of researchers conducting research on minority aging; (c) create and test reliable measures for use in older diverse populations; and (d) conduct research on recruitment and retention of community-dwelling older adults for research addressing behavioral, social, and medical issues. Along with this latter goal, the RCMARs developed and maintain academic-community partnerships. To accomplish the recruitment and retention goal, the RCMARs established Community Liaison Working Groups using a collaborative approach to scientific inquiry; this special issue will identify research priorities for moving the science of recruitment and retention forward. In addition, sustainable and efficient methods for fostering long-term partnerships will be identified between community and academia. Evidence-based approaches to the recruitment and retention of diverse elders are explored. We expect this supplement to serve as a catalyst for researchers interested in engaging diverse community-dwelling elders in health-related research. In addition, this supplement should serve as a source of the most contemporary evidence-based approaches to the recruitment and retention of diverse older populations for participation in social, behavioral, and clinical research.