Linking Research to the Community
What is a CHE?
CHEs (Community Health Educators) are trained professionals who provide health related education, information and resources to community members. Additionally, CHEs assist with the creation, tailoring, and evaluation of research educational programs and recruitment materials to fit the needs of the communities in which they serve. Overall, CHEs are important to community based research because they serve as pivotal liaisons between the research enterprise and communities at-large.
What is the NON-CHE program?
The National Outreach Network (NON)
The National Outreach Network (NON) seeks to strengthen NCI's ability to develop and disseminate culturally appropriate, evidence-based cancer information that is tailored to the specific needs and expectations of underserved communities, working through NON community health educators (CHEs) located at NCI-designated Cancer Centers.
Building and expanding upon previous efforts, NON is strengthening the ability of cancer centers and NCI to reach underserved communities with NCI cancer information and enhance community engagement in cancer research. Access and engagement of underserved communities is facilitated by close linkage of NON CHEs with the Geographic Management of Cancer Health Disparities Program (GMaP) hubs. NON CHEs are situated in 1 of 6 NCI regions.
NON CHE program objectives include:
- Integrating NON CHEs within the research and outreach efforts of the cancer centers and the communities in their catchment areas.
- Plan, conduct, and assess CHE-facilitated community education and outreach, aligned with NCI and cancer center research and outreach priorities, within underserved communities.
- Strengthen partnerships and collaborations with key NCI-sponsored academic, research, community, and regional partners to enhance NCI’s ability to effectively reach underserved communities with tailored cancer information and foster community engagement in research.
To view the full listing of NCI programs participating in NON click here.
Region 2 CHE
There is 1 National Outreach Network (NON) CHE and 1 Partnerships to Advance Cancer Health Equity (PACHE) CHE, in Region 2.
Your CHE is only an email away! Feel free to schedule a brief call to introduce yourself to your regional CHE and discuss ways in which you can collaborate.
Khaliah Fleming, MPH, CHES
Moffitt Cancer Center