Core Resources : Outreach Core
Outreach Core
Outreach Coordinator: Maria Gavier
mgavier@med.miami.edu
The Outreach and Diversity Core at the John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics is dedicated to creating the critical links for research participation in diverse communities, including Hispanic and African American communities, and working directly with disease-specific ascertainment teams. This core serves as the trust-building liaison between community and scientific partners.
The chief goals for the Outreach and Diversity Core are to identify and establish relationships with community groups and individuals that will facilitate HIHG investigator access to target populations. We work with both the Ascertainment Core and Phenotype Laboratory to create culturally sensitive ascertainment strategies. We also identify the statistical and analytic tools necessary to measuring critical indicators of core performance.
All outreach interventions are based upon evidence-based research with community members, community leaders, health professionals and members of academia. The goal of this research is to identify knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and perceptions that targeted populations hold about genomic research. We seek to eliminate barriers to participation and to buttress trusted sources of health information in various communities. Ultimately our goal is to build effective, ongoing communication strategies and interaction patterns. The Outreach and Diversity Core has held multiple focus groups among diverse Hispanic and African American groups in key neighborhoods throughout Miami. A general population survey of 1,000 individuals on attitudes about genetic research is also being conducted.
The Core develops relationships with community groups through its flagship outreach program, the Genetics Awareness Project (GAP). The GAP provides resources and education about genetics and genetic research in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole. The GAP serves to increase general awareness and knowledge among South Florida communities regarding genomic research and the work of the HIHG through social marketing strategies. We also hold disease-specific lectures and provide medical genetics expertise and consultation to participants as needed.
Another mission of the Core is to provide ongoing cultural competence training to HIHG staff, and development of outreach/mobilization strategies, including the organization of community-based events. The ultimate goal is to familiarize staff in culturally competent and literacy-level appropriate information for various target audiences. The creation of mass media and other social marketing activities in close collaboration with local media outlets is essential in this regard. Finally, the Core compiles program evaluations by defining, collecting and evaluating outreach outcome indicators.