Community Outreach and Translation Core: translating research findings to improve the health of our children.A key goal of the Centers for Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research is translating basic research findings into intervention and prevention methods to enhance awareness among communities, health care professionals, and policy makers of environmentally related diseases and health conditions. In 2003, research translation was formalized with the establishment of a Community Outreach and Translation Core (COTC COTC Clan of the Cats (webcomic) COTC Central Ohio Technical College COTC Church Of The Creator (hate group) COTC Canadian Officer Training Corps (Canada) COTC Corn on the Cob ) in each Center. A COTC develops, implements, and evaluates strategies to translate and apply the Center's scientific findings into information that can be used to protect the health of children. Members bring together diverse expertise to communicate research findings to the intended audiences. COTCs employ a variety of methodologies, from very basic communication strategies to intensive capacity-building exercises to achieve their goals. Following are examples of outreach strategies. The University of Southern California The U.S. News & World Report ranked USC 27th among all universities in the United States in its 2008 ranking of "America's Best Colleges", also designating it as one of the "most selective universities" for admitting 8,634 of the almost 34,000 who applied for freshman admission COTC operates a program where researchers train residents to use air monitoring equipment. Such capacity building enables residents to participate in the research process. The University of Washington COTC partners with a Pediatric pediatric /pe·di·at·ric/ (pe?de-at´rik) pertaining to the health of children. pe·di·at·ric adj. Of or relating to pediatrics. Environmental Health Specialty Unit to conduct continuing education continuing education: see adult education. continuing education or adult education Any form of learning provided for adults. In the U.S. the University of Wisconsin was the first academic institution to offer such programs (1904). courses for health care professionals who work with children and parents. Center investigators present their research at these courses. The Columbia Center applied its research findings to an Integrated Pest Management Integrated Pest Management (IPM), planned program that coordinates economically and environmentally acceptable methods of pest control with the judicious and minimal use of toxic pesticides. Intervention in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. low-income public housing, convincing city officials to replace traditional extermination extermination mass killing of animals or other pests. Implies complete destruction of the species or other group. methods in public housing with lower toxic techniques. COTCs inform families in their studies and throughout local neighborhoods of their research and other health findings through low-literate print materials, which also offer tips for reducing exposures to harmful environmental pollutants environmental pollutants, n.pl the substances and conditions, including noise, that adversely affect the health and well-being of the people within a community. at home and in the community. COTCs help advance the rate at which the Centers for Children's Environmental Health translate their research to improve the health of children. Even still, there exist opportunities to improve, enhance, and coordinate COTC efforts to have an even greater impact at the local and national level. For more information on these centers or to contact the program officials see: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/translat/children/children.htm Contacts Kimberly Gray, Ph.D.|gray6@niehs.nih.gov Annette Kirshner, Ph.D.|Kirshner@niehs.nih.gov Cindy Lawler, Ph.D.|lawler@niehs.nih.gov Liam O'Fallon|ofallon@niehs.nih.gov |
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