Community-Engaged Research

Strategy 1

Overview

The focus of strategy 1 is to build ties between the University and communities around the state of Utah by engaging in interdisciplinary, community driven research. We have five activities that we focus on to help us achieve the goal of community-engaged research. 

Strategy Leader

Jayme Walters

Jayme Walters - Social work faculty

Assistant Professor, BSW Program Director, Director of the Transforming Communities Institute

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Activity 1
The purpose of activity 1 is to build an interdisciplinary faculty and student network with appropriate supports and benefits. This network is called the Community-Engaged Scholar Network.

The Community-Engaged Scholar Network (CESN) is a multidisciplinary fellowship program that assists faculty and students to conduct collaborative, community-engaged scholarship and implement evidence-informed solutions in, with, and for communities related to TCI's priority areas. Community-engaged scholarship is action-oriented, strengths-based, focused on solutions, and responsive to communities' needs and views. 

If you are interested in learning more, or would like to become a faculty or student member of the Community-Engaged Scholar Network, please contact Jayme Walters at jayme.walters@usu.edu
Email Jayme

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Activity 2
For strategy 2 we have developed and will maintain a statewide, e-collaborative program that connects community members, professionals, and academics across TCI priority areas. 

E-Collaborative Network
E-Collabs for Utah is a multidisciplinary program that promotes and supports collaborative, community-engaged scholarship and the development and implementation of evidence informed solutions in, with, and for Utah communities related to TCI's priority areas. 

E-Collabs (or collaboratives) are clusters of people across Utah from all sectors and backgrounds who connect virtually to share and create scholarship and work together to address social issues affecting the quality of like in communities. E-Collabs are housed on Facebook groups and on the TCI website.
E-Collaborative Facebook Groups (coming soon)

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Activity 3
We will conduct research in, with, and for communities, capitalizing on our relationships among faculty, current students, alumni, and community agencies for activity 3. 

TCI is actively working on 2 community-engaged research projects
  • Box Elder County Health & Social Support Services Assessment: LGBTQ+ Youth & Families
  • Uintah Basin Area Human Services Assessment: Domestic Violence
Email Jayme

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Activity 4
TCI will create an open-access journal that connects researchers, practitioners, and community rights holders and stakeholders in their efforts to develop effective solutions that improve community well-being and other outcomes. Activity 4 is an on-going activity that will publish a new issue of their peer reviewed work regularly.
Open Access Journal Website (coming soon)

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Activity 5
Activity 5 will have us translate and disseminate research into action and consumable products (e.g, plain-language summaries, toolkits, podcasts, fact sheets) for participants, general public, organizations, and policymakers.