CSULB Center for Health Equity

Organization Description

Mission

CHER promotes health equity by engaging researchers and community partners in conducting rigorous and innovative public health research.

History

The CSULB Center for Health Equity Research was created through support from the Research Infrastructure in Minority Institutions Project (RIMI) in an effort to improve research infrastructure at CSULB.

Formerly the Center for Health Care Innovation, CHER was reconstituted into a new center in 2013 to better reflect the focus of our work and our commitment to health equality research.

Dr. Laura D’Anna served as the associate director for CHER for 6 years and became the director in August 2014.

Overview of CHER

CHER is located in the College of Health and Human Services at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). Our research focuses on diverse, underserved, and high risk populations.

Center staff and affiliated faculty have extensive experience in community-based research with a focus on health equity, with much of our work in the area of HIV, other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and reproductive health.

CHER collaborates with public health departments and community based-organizations to bring health equity and inequities to light through research.

Interventions used in several of our HIV prevention studies (Project RESPECT, RESPECT-2, and Safe in the City) have been designated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as evidence-based behavioral interventions (EBI) and have been included in the Compendium of Evidence-Based Interventions and Best Practices for HIV Prevention. CHER faculty and staff have also worked on two other EBIs (Safety Counts and Community PROMISE). There are 84 EBI interventions, and we are proud of the contributions made in this area by our Center and our University

The CSULB Center for Health Equity Research also hosts the CHER Institute (funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences), an annual week-long gathering of early-career faculty from minority-serving institutions of higher learning from across the country, pairing them with seasoned mentors to help better prepare them for NIH research support. The skills and collaboration gained in previous CHER Institutes have proven invaluable for attendees in promoting diversity and equity in community-based health research.

Program Information

BACKGROUND

The Center for Health Equity Research (CHER) in the College of Health and Human Services at California State University, Long Beach, works with faculty, community members and partner organizations to promote health equity and reduce health disparities through social and behavioral research and evaluation in the areas of HIV/STI prevention, sexual health, social discrimination in health care, place-based community health, and training and mentoring of students and faculty.

OVERVIEW

As interns, students will gain experience in the area of minority health, health disparities and health equity research, and will learn valuable skills useful in job settings as well as contribute to their preparation for higher education.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Attend weekly staff meetings to discuss and report on work assignments.
Assist with the development of news items for Center website.
Perform literature searches and reviews using research databases.
Use and maintain reference library (EndNote) to create bibliography sections using a variety of manual styles (e.g. APA).
Provide assistance with manuscript and grant writing such as the preparation of drafts (i.e. background) and supporting documents.
Prepare graphs and tables in Excel, Word, PowerPoint and other software.
Assist with the development of quantitative and qualitative data collection instruments (i.e. surveys, interviews and focus group guides), and data collection.
Utilize SPSS, MS Excel or other appropriate software for data entry.
Assist with quantitative and qualitative data analysis using appropriate software (i.e. SPSS, NVivo).
Prepare brief summaries of data findings.
Assist with the preparation of Institutional Review Board (IRB) submissions.
Participate in other meetings as appropriate.
Clerical work as needed such as filing, making photocopies, and other office duties.

QUALIFICATIONS

Current enrollment in good standing in a CSULB social, behavioral or health sciences-related program
Strong written, verbal and organizational skills
Strong competency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook). Training in other software may be required and will be provided as needed.
Ability to work as a team member
Reliable attendance
Strong ability to develop work-plans, set deadlines, work with minimal supervision, manage duties, and prioritize among assignments