CAPS Community Engagement and Partnerships Core

The Community Engagement and Partnerships (CEP) Core advances the scientific mission of the Center for AIDS Prevention Studies (CAPS) by bridging the gap between research and practice. Its goal is to end the HIV epidemic and ensure that prevention and care tools are accessible to all, especially populations disproportionately affected by HIV. The Core has three primary aims: (1) Foster Community-Partnered and Engaged Research: The CEP Core seeks to increase community participation, empowerment, and influence across all research phases. It aims to build capacity for collaborative community-engaged research among CAPS scientists and community members; (2) Integrate Community Perspectives into High-Impact HIV Science: The CEP Core partners with community stakeholders to inform CAPS scientists about pressing issues in HIV prevention research. It utilizes the CAPS Community Advisory Board to enhance research design, implementation, and dissemination; and (3) Connect High-Impact HIV Science to Communities: The CEP Core implements evidence-based translation strategies for meaningful community impact. It reviews, synthesizes, translates, and disseminates HIV prevention research findings to facilitate community application. Additionally, it provides technical assistance, training, and support for the community application of HIV prevention research. The CEP Core is guided by the National Academy of Medicine’s framework for meaningful community engagement and ensures that community priorities and concerns are understood. The CEP Core encourages active collaboration, engaging community members as equal partners throughout the research process. This approach ensures that research is mutually beneficial and that both the community and researchers gain value from the partnership. Furthermore, the CEP Core prioritizes sustainability, focusing on long-term engagement and impact beyond the life of individual projects. In summary, the CEP Core addresses the gap between research and practice in HIV prevention and care. By fostering meaningful community engagement, the Core ensures that research is relevant and beneficial to those affected by HIV, improving the uptake of findings and enhancing community capacity to utilize HIV science.

Consultations

  • Provides technical assistance (TA) to community partners and HIV researchers
  • Conducts periodic faculty and community needs assessments and integrates findings into our work

Web and Social Media

Community Engagement in Research

  • Coordinates a Community Advisory Board (CAB) to obtain important information on Division of Prevention Science research and community needs
  • Fosters collaboration and facilitates community-academic research partnerships by participating in local/regional planning groups and councils and other community meetings
  • Communicates significant community developments and issues to Division of Prevention Science researchers through monthly “Word on the Street” reports
  • Sponsors Community Town Halls

Dissemination

CE Core Staff

 

A wifi hotspot box located at Mission Hall