Community Engagement Services

What is a Community Engagement Consult?

Consultation services for academic researchers and study team members regarding ethical issues that arise in preparation for and/or in the process of doing research with and in community. Community Engagement and Health Equity Consults are intended to supplement the traditional Institutional Review Board approval process, especially when concerns regarding working in partnership with communities arise.

There are three types of consultation services offered through the CCTSI Community Consults and Ethics Committee (CCEC):

1. We can help provide you with a plan for community consultation as required by COMIRB for Emergency Research Exemption. The COMIRB policy states that “Before the community engagement plan is submitted to the IRB for review and approval it must first be reviewed and approved by the UCD Community Advisory Committee [the CCTSI Community Consult and Ethics Committee] which is a subcommittee of the PACT Council for the CCTSI.” 


2. Community Engagement and Health Equity Consult with the CCEC and relevant community and/or academic experts.


3. Individual consultations on community engagement in research activities with members of the PACT Council, CE&R Staff and/or Community Research Liaisons.

What should you expect?

Consultation sessions are led by the Partnership for Academicians and Communities in Translation (PACT) Community Consults and Ethics Committee (CCEC) – which is a community/university partnership. Additional content experts may be invited to support the relevance of the session to the needs of the investigator.

Community Engagement and Health Equity Consults address research across the translational research spectrum (T1-T4 research) that addresses any/all stages of the research process.

See Clinical Translational Research Spectrum

Community Engagement Consult Request

The CCTSI Community Engagement and Health Equity Core and the ACCORDS Education Program are partnering to offer a forum for investigators and study teams conducting community/stakeholder-engaged research. The Community Engagement Forum will run quarterly and include brief seminars from leading engagement scholars and community research partners. Additionally, this will serve as a learning community for sharing best practices and lessons learned. The forum will be geared towards supporting investigators and study teams throughout design, conduct and dissemination of engaged research.

Community Engagement and Health Equity Forum Videos
Pathways to Community Empowerment and Sustainability January 25, 2023 Presenters: Don Hanna, Jamie Dominguez, and Jen Leiferman Moderated by Don Nease and Sarah Brewer
Community-Designed Dissemination and the Value of Partnership October 19, 2022 Presenters: Ramona Koren, Dennis Gurfinkel, Robyn Wearner, Sharon Trujillo Moderated by Sarah Brewer and Don Nease
Understanding and Appreciating the Capacities of the Community: How Community Partners Support More Equitable Data Design, Collection, and Interpretation July 27, 2022 Presenters: Jamie Dominguez, Lisa Lucero, Emma Gilchrist, Don Nease Moderated by Sarah Brewer
Understanding and Appreciating the Capacities of the Community: Relational and Practical Partnerships, Part 2 April 6, 2022 Guest presenters: Adrian Miller, Joshua Williams, Gordon Duvall, Leslie Wright and Lorenzo Ramirez
Understanding and appreciating the capacities of the community: Relational and Practical Partnerships December 15, 2021 Guest presenters: Jamie Dominguez, Ramona Koren, Leslie Wright and Lorenzo Ramirez
It's Our Turn Now; Understanding and Appreciating the Capacities of the Communities September 22, 2021 Guest presenters: Jamie Dominguez and Ramona Koren
Including Diverse Populations in Research and Public Health Interventions: The Importance, Historical Issues, and Recommendations for the Future May 5, 2021 Guest Presenters: Eric Ishiwata, Susana Guardado, Mohamed Mahad Darar
Community Perspectives on the 'How's' of Engagement February 17, 2021 Guest Presenters: Sarah Lampe, Rudy Gonzales, Aaron Miltenberger
Future Leaders of Community Engaged Research: Education, Experience, and Lessons Learned From Student Research October 28, 2020 Guest Presenters: Janet Meredith, Ben Fuller, Amelia Davis, Kathryn, Katie Havranek, Bela Mohapatra, Clinton McBride
The Relevance of CBPR for Promoting Health Equity During the Time of COVID-19 July 29, 2020 Guest Presenters: Gordon Duvall, Ricardo Gonzalez-Fisher
Maintaining Community Connections and Relationships During the COVID-19 Crisis April 29, 2020 Guest Presenters: Leslie Wright, Marlayna Martinez, Charlene Barrientos Ortiz
How to Show Up; Working In and With Community January 29, 2020 Guest Presenter: Grant Jones
What is Community Engagement? October 23, 2019 Guest Presenters: Don Nease, MD; Lucille Campbell; Amy Huebschmann, MD

Colorado Immersion Training

CIT is for researchers from all disciplines seeking new skills and knowledge in community engaged translational research. Junior faculty, early career researchers and doctoral students are encouraged to apply. 

Learn core principles of community-based participatory research and community engaged translational research.

Develop skills to engage community partners in research.

Spend time in a local Colorado community to learn first-hand about the community and begin relationship-building. 

Program Dates

2022 Tracks
Urban Denver/Aurora Communities and Rural Southeast Colorado Communities. To find more information please visit our CIT webpage

​​Please contact Kaylee Rivera, 303-724-7979 if you have any questions.

Pilot Grant Program

CE Pilot Grants

Community Engagement and Health Equity pilot grants to strengthen community-academic partnerships for translational research. Eligible grants support:

• ​​12-month Joint pilot projects proposed by established community-academic partnerships, or
• 9-month Partnershop Development grants for new community-academic partnerships.

Pilot Grantee Training

Prepares CCTSI Community Engagement and Health Equity Pilot Grantees with basic knowledge of community-based participatory research principles and partnership development.