Community Engagement Core

SUMMARY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CORE As climate change impacts become increasingly visible in the US Caribbean (Puerto Rico [PR] and US Virgin Islands [USVI]), and adaptation measures move from the planning to the implementation stage, those affected by climate risks and adaptation strategies cannot be ignored. A fundamental principle of community-engaged

research is to involve people who are most likely to be affected by an issue, as partners in the research process; where research becomes a tool to be used by communities. The Community Engagement Core (CEC) is essential as an anchor to the multimethod approach and achievement of the goals proposed by the Caribbean

Climate Change Adaptation, Cancer, and Health Disparities Research Center (CCCARIB-CARES). The CEC will use a Human-Centered Approach to anchor the collaborative activities that will be designed to involve a range of stakeholders and community members in both PR and USVI in a Community Coalition of Partners whose

input and assistance will engender effective ways of supporting an increased understanding of climate change impacts and their linkages to public health issues such as managing cancer and responses to environmental pollution. It is expected that culturally and linguistically appropriate information and other outputs will be co-

created and applicably disseminated to the diverse and socio-economically challenged communities of PR and the USVI. The goal will be achieved through the following specific aims: 1) Co-develop and implement a Community Engagement Plan and establish a Community Coalition of Partners in PR and USVI to collaborate

with project personnel to co-create and disseminate culturally and linguistically appropriate information on cancer risk factors, cancer control and their linkage to climate change impacts; 2) Develop an inclusive, responsive, multi-level mechanism to effectively address translation and dissemination of research and CCCARIB-CARES

project findings to the varied audiences of PR and USVI communities and 3) Develop culturally sensitive Toolkits focused on preparedness for extreme weather events for stakeholders, communities and cancer patients in PR and USVI. The approach, relationships built and supported, and outputs of the CEC are expected to positively

impact community literacy regarding the linkages between climate change on health and the linkages between climate change and cancer health. Through the work of the CEC, members of the target communities will be aware of the resources available to them and can access care and services more effectively. The inclusive and

response approach taken by CEC will support targeted communities aiming to reduce health disparities and to increase their equity position in society.