The first training workshop for RESPECT NC took place on Tuesday, December 8, with 45 participants and 23 individuals from 14 community organizations. RESPECT NC, sponsored by DUSON Center for Nursing Research, includes three aims: 1) Build capacity among community partners and DUSON faculty to effectively partner on Community Engaged Research (CEnR); 2) Develop and implement a research training program for existing networks of community health workers (CHWs) in Durham that aims to expand their capacity to partner with academics in CEnR; and 3) Assess the feasibility and acceptability of the RESPECT NC and obtain formative feedback needed for quality improvement.

The workshop was held by Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda, associate professor, Maralis B. Mercado Emerson, clinical research coordinator, and Heather Mountz, D-CHIPP Community Health program coordinator. Assistant Professors Alison Edie and Schenita Randolph and Associate Professor Devon Noonan presented, while Caroline McEachern, assistant research practice manager, gave the final presentation of the workshop about regulatory requirements associated with CEnR.

The workshop also consisted of a presentation from Luke Smith, executive director of El Futuro. Smith discussed the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Toolkit for Community Behavioral Health Organizations Serving Latinos, a tool to guide community organizations in engaging in academic research. A panel of Duke researchers and community partners presented their projects, outcomes, benefits, and challenges of research. Community partners who participated on the panel were: Tamica Campbell Hughes, cosmetologist and founder of Level Up Parenting; Tammy Jacobs from Durham Housing Authority; Tasha Melvin from Families Moving Forward; and Natalie Rich from Durham Public Health.

Community partners part of the planning committee include Smith and Melvin, Harvey Hinton from CAARE: The Healing Center, and Ann Tropiano from Families Moving Forward. Additional training workshops will be announced soon.