PRC Program Commitment to Addressing Health Disparities

Prevention Research Centers work closely with communities to address health concerns and resolve health disparities through prevention research. By developing and disseminating research interventions that promote healthy living, PRCs are ensuring that future generations of all ethnicities and backgrounds will share a healthy society. Research designed to address health disparities covers nutrition, physical activity, medical screening, and other health risks. The PRC Program’s commitment to reducing health disparities is stated in its policy statement for core research.

A recent external evaluation revealed that the PRC Program reaches 41 million people in 66 partner communities, and PRCs work with some of the most underserved communities in the country.  In contrast to the national average, PRC partner communities have

• Lower average per capita income ($14,745 vs. $21,587).
• Higher unemployment rate (7% vs. 5%).
• Higher percentage of children eligible for free or reduced school lunches (63% vs. 37%).

For almost all ethnic minorities, the percentages in PRC communities are higher than in the United States as a whole.

See examples of PRC research in underserved communities

• Mexican-American families on the Arizona border at high risk for diabetes.
• African Americans in Alabama, who are part of the southern “stroke belt,” and have an increased risk for cardiovascular disease.
• American Indians in the Pacific Northwest lacking access to eye care.
• Korean-American men who have a high rate of smoking.
• Residents of low-income, inner-city neighborhoods of New Orleans striving to rebuild communities conducive to physical activity.
• Residents of Harlem, New York, seeking health information and local resources.

Read results from the PRCs’ commitment to reducing health disparities

• Stories about research that capture participants’ experiences.
• Case studies of selected interventions.

Learn other ways the PRC Program addresses health disparities

Training

In collaboration with the Association of Schools of Public Health, the PRC Program supports the PRC Minority Fellowship Program. The fellows, doctoral-level students of racial or ethnic minority origin, are mentored by academic researchers and community participants as they conduct research with PRC partner communities.

PRCs offer public health training across the country to public health practitioners, advocates, and students. The trainings cover a wide range of topics and vary in length and formats. Many trainings are designed specifically for community health workers and members of community-based organizations in underserved communities.

Developing community partnerships

The PRC Program’s National Community Committee (NCC) comprises representatives from each of the 33 PRC partner communities. The NCC provides a voice for the community and works closely with the program to set a research agenda. The booklet, A Collective Voice for Well-Being: The Story of the National Community Committee (PDF-914K), tells the story of the NCC’s development and accomplishments.

The partnership trust tool, developed by the PRC Program, aims to encourage discussion between partners at PRCs (such as academic and community members) about issues that can promote and hinder trust. This process may help partners work together to meet their goals.

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