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Published on: October 11, 2010
Listening Sessions to Shape the Innovative NIH ComPASS Common Fund Program to Advance Health Equity
Alison G M Brown1, Danyelle Winchester1, Shalanda A Bynum1
1Alison G. M. Brown is with the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD. Danyelle Winchester is with the Office of Science Policy, NIH. Shalanda A. Bynum is with the National Institute of Nursing Research, NIH. Sara M. Amolegbe, Nadra Tyus, and Cheryl Anne Boyce are with the Office of Strategic Coordination-The Common Fund, NIH. Yvonne O. Ferguson was with the Office of Strategic Coordination?The Common Fund, NIH, during the listening sessions and writing of the manuscript. Minnjuan Flournoy Floyd is with the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH. Collene Lawhorn is with the National Institute of Mental Health, NIH. Jimmy T. Le is with the National Eye Institute, NIH. Jacqueline Lloyd is with the Office of Disease Prevention, NIH. April Y. Oh is with the National Cancer Institute, NIH. Damiya E. Whitaker is with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, and was with the Office of Research on Women's Health, NIH, during the listening sessions and writing of the manuscript.
The National Institutes of Health established the Community Partnerships to Advance Science for Society (ComPASS) Program. This initiative empowers community organizations to lead efforts addressing social and structural factors impacting health equity.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Equity Research
- Community-Based Participatory Research
Background:
- The National Institutes of Health (NIH) identified a critical need for research addressing structural determinants of health.
- Existing health disparities necessitate innovative approaches to understanding and mitigating social and structural influences on health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To inform the development of the NIH Common Fund Community Partnerships to Advance Science for Society (ComPASS) Program.
- To establish a framework that centers community organizations in addressing structural barriers to health.
Main Methods:
- The NIH conducted community listening sessions to gather input for program design.
- The ComPASS Program's structure was informed by direct community engagement and feedback.
Main Results:
- The ComPASS Program design emphasizes the leadership role of community organizations.
- Input from listening sessions shaped the program's focus on community-led solutions.
Conclusions:
- The ComPASS Program recognizes community organizations as key partners in advancing health equity.
- Community-led initiatives are essential for tackling persistent structural and social challenges impacting health.
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