Goal D: Elevate and Align Outreach and Community Engagement

ACTIONS COMPLETED:

1. In September 2011, the Institute for Community Engagement was established, directed by David Cook, Ph.D., with leadership support from Michael Kennedy, M.D., medical director, and Cindy Teel, Ph.D., RN, nursing director.

2. In November 2011, the institute established the Internal Advisory Board with a committee of 25 faculty, staff and students leading engaged scholarship at the university.

ACTIONS IN PROGRESS:

1. The institute funds a full-time communicator for community engagement in the Office of Communications. This communicator works to increase publicity for efforts that improve the health of the people of Kansas, the region and the world.

2. Currently, the institute is conducting an internal audit of community advisory boards at KU Medical

Center to explore options for an institution-wide Community Advisory Board.

ACTIONS COMPLETED:

1. An online survey was distributed in July 2011 to 18,000 Kansans, asking them to prioritize work by KU Medical Center and identify unmet needs. Their responses strongly guide our decision-making. The survey resulted in immediate improvements to the organization of the Institute and a redesign of Institute communications that respond directly to the identified community needs.

ACTIONS IN PROGRESS:

1. KU Medical Center is working with communities in every county to improve health. Initiatives underway include:
•  Access to cutting-edge research, care and support for patients, providers and health care organizations through the Midwest Cancer Alliance.
•  Education and research in Latino communities in Wyandotte County and Southwest Kansas through Juntos, Center for Advancing Latino Health.
•  Culturally tailored health programs for American Indian populations living on Kansas reservations through the American Indian Health Research and Education Alliance.


2. Frontiers, the university's clinical and translational science award (CTSA), also provides financial support for community-based participatory research and education through its Community Partnership for Health component.

ACTIONS COMPLETED:

1. In October 2012, the Institute announced the creation of four annual awards, totaling $19,100, for faculty, staff, students and community partners who demonstrate exemplary dedication to improving the health of communities.

ACTIONS IN PROGRESS:

1. The Internal Advisory Board includes senior representatives for promotion and tenure in the Schools of Medicine, Nursing and Health Professions. These individuals are helping shape policies relating to promotion and tenure that further value community-based scholarship.

ACTIONS IN PROGRESS:

1. The Institute is working with faculty and staff across schools and campuses to improve the process of placing KU students for hands-on, community-based learning. Part of the solution includes implementing a preceptor database to coordinate all of these activities to reduce confusion and booking errors for preceptors, while encouraging interdisciplinary student experiences.

2. The Institute is exploring ways to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the Outreach Aircraft

Program to encourage better use of this unique resource.

3. The Institute is also working to coordinate KU Medical Center K-12 pipeline development initiatives to increase the number of youth interested in pursuing health care careers.