South Texas Alzheimer’s Disease Center Outreach, Recruitment and Engagement Core

Summary Outreach, Recruitment and engagement (OREC) In 2050, Hispanic adults over age 65 are expected to account for 20% of the population, up from 7% in 20101. However, they remain underrepresented in research2,3. The situation is even more critical since Hispanics are disproportionately affected by Alzheimer´s disease (AD). As the

community facing entity of the South Texas Alzheimer´s Disease Center (STAC), the Outreach, Recruitment and Engagement Core (OREC) will support inclusive, engaged and sustained participation of diverse older adult populations and their caregivers in South Texas as research participants in social, behavioral, and biomedical research including clinical trials. Furthermore,

the OREC will strengthen current infrastructure to disseminate and translate research advances that can impact the engaged communities –local and lay- and has an active mechanism to obtain community feedback on its services and research, to establish true bi-directional communication. The specific aims of the OREC are (1) systematically assess community

priorities, needs, barriers to, and interests in AD and related disorders (ADRD) research in South Texas through conduct of open-ended focus groups, in-depth interviews, and surveys (2) expand capacity for community-academic partnerships that will support the recruitment and retention of older urban and rural Hispanics and their families in South Texas and in particular

along the US/Mexico border through a) receiving advice and input from a Community Advisory Board (CAB) b) providing technical assistance and training to key STAC members in other cores and c) providing technical assistance and training to key STAC members in other core; (3) work collaboratively with the other STAC cores to recruit, engage and retain participants; and

(4) disseminate research findings to the scientific community, health care providers and the communities we serve in South Texas, particularly to elderly and their caregivers. We will achieve these aims through an integrated program to promote a deep understanding of the determinants of participation and engagement of diverse and underserved populations of South

Texas and creating and maximizing channels for engagement and community training to facilitate the adoption of best practices promoting participation in research studies. We will create a state-of-the art infrastructure for researchers, health care providers, advocates and policy makers interested in decreasing health disparities affecting older Hispanics affected by

ADRD. To accomplish these goals, we have built a team of scientists with extensive experience in community change, community–based research, education, recruitment and retention of Hispanic populations, from two institutions within the University of Texas (UT) system, UT Health San Antonio and the UT Rio Grande Valley. By integrating and leveraging resources, we

will create a welcoming study environment and through our partnerships and direct access to health agencies, health care providers, clinicians and community-based organizations of South Texas we are uniquely positioned to maximize recruitment, assessment and retention of Hispanics, a group that is underrepresented in ADRD studies.