Community Engagement Initiative: Academia Partnering with the Health Department and Community Agencies for Change

Abstract

The Community Engagement Initiative developed at the University of South Florida, College of Public Health illustrates the importance of developing partnerships between academia, health departments and community agencies to build capacity and expand the cadre of researchers equipped with skills in community organization, community participation, constituency development, capacity building, community empowerment, and coalition building.  A case study of the organization Champions for Children is provided to demonstrate how the initiative functioned in a real world environment.