title: Report on CTSA consortium use of the community engagement consulting service.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The CTSA Community Engagement Consultative Service (CECS) is a national partnership designed to improve community engaged research (CEnR) through expert consultation. This report assesses the feasibility of CECS and presents findings from 2008 to 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  A coordinating center and five regional coordinating sites managed the service. CTSAs identified a primary previsit CE best practice for consultants to address and completed self-assessments, postvisit evaluations, and action plans. Feasibility was assessed as the percent of CTSAs participating and completing evaluations. Frequencies were calculated for evaluation responses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 38 CTSAs, 36 (95%) completed a self-assessment. Of these 36 sites, 83%, 53%, and 44% completed a consultant visit, evaluation, and action plan, respectively, and 56% of the consultants completed an evaluation. The most common best practice identified previsit was improvement in CEnR (addressing outcomes that matter); however, relationship building with communities was most commonly addressed during consulting visits. Although 90% of the consultants were very confident sites could develop an action plan, only 35% were very confident in the CTSAs' abilities to implement one.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Academic medical centers interested in collaborating with communities and translating research to improve health need to further develop their capacity for CE and CEnR within their institutions.
authors: UNC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. lori_carter-edwards@unc.edu
authors: Lori
authors: L
authors: Carter-Edwards
authors: Jennifer L
authors: JL
authors: Cook
authors: Mary Anne
authors: MA
authors: McDonald
authors: Sarah M
authors: SM
authors: Weaver
authors: Kemi
authors: K
authors: Chukwuka
authors: Milton Mickey
authors: MM
authors: Eder
mesh_terms: D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D058028:Research Report; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012946:Social Welfare; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical; D014481:United States
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