Join our community for fun health and science learning!

What is We Engage 4 Health?

We Engage 4 Health (WE4H) is a community health project supported by the Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) Program of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS). WE4H is a partnership between the University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Miami University, and Cincinnati-area community partners.

The goals of We Engage 4 Health are to

  • Improve health and science knowledge in the community
  • Reduce chronic disease in communities where it occurs most
  • Increase citizens’ involvement in their own and community’s health
  • Strengthen science competencies and encourage STEM careers in youth

How to get involved...

Humans are wired for stories.

Stories speak to the part of the brain where decisions are made.

Stories make it easier for people to remember.

Reading out loud can help people to feel ownership of the information.

Explore our programs...

Who’s it for? Teens and adults who want to learn about health in the community and how to help improve it.

Health is Happenin’ RAP Sessions are a series of 8 meetings about health topics relevant to YOU and YOUR community! These topics include wellness; chronic diseases such as heart disease, asthma, and diabetes; nutrition and lifestyle; genetics; and environmental health. Participants learn through stories co-developed by community members. Sessions offer hands-on experiences to make learning fun and interactive!

  • Get Set Day: Enjoy a meal, answer some questions to help us learn how well the project works, get to know the digital tablets you’ll use.
  • The 6 RAP Sessions: Health and science learning and activities with food, fun, and comic stories!
  • RAP It Up Day: Bring friends and family to enjoy a meal and share what you’ve learned!

You will learn:

  • How to promote wellness in daily life.
  • How genes, environment, and lifestyle affect the change of getting chronic diseases
  • How food and nutrition can reduce the symptoms of chronic disease

Learn about hosting HH RAP at your location!

Who’s it for? Teens and adults who want to learn about being citizen scientists in the community.

Citizen Science (CS) RAP Sessions are a series of eight meetings to learn how to be a citizen scientist. Citizen Science RAP graduates can work alongside health professionals at our community health fairs to collect attendees’ health information or to make observations using our Eyewitness Community Survey. Those who have their own community health questions can apply for our micro-grants to design and implement studies of their own to answer their questions.

You will learn

  • What is citizen science?
  • What qualities does a good citizen science health research project have?
  • What rights do research subjects have in health research projects?
  • What should we do with the results of a health research project?

In each session, comic-style stories set the stage for health research topics that follow. Participants do a variety of activities to learn about each topic.

Learn about hosting CS RAP at your location!

Who’s it for? Anyone middle school age on up who enjoys using a smart phone and wants to experience research firsthand as a citizen scientist!

With the Eyewitness Community Survey tool, participants collect information about their local environment and its effects on community health as trained citizen scientists. Participants will walk their communities and make observations. Photos will also be collected and mapped. We encourage groups of friends to work together!

Learn about using the ECS tool at your location!

Who’s it for? Fun health learning for community members of all ages!

Community Health Fair events will offer health screenings, health resources, healthy food, fun giveaways, and raffle prizes. Citizen scientists will also collect community health data to support future community studies and programs. Attendees data will be collected via a health passport tool (with no names or other identifiers) and shared to be used as a health data resource to support future programming and evaluate the events’ success over time. Partnering community organizations will be asked what health screenings and information they would like to see at their health fair, and appropriate providers will be invited.

Learn more!

Who’s it for? Community members with a passion for health outreach?

Community Research Advocates (CRAs) share the “Research Ready” story to inform community members about the value of participation in health research.

Learn about becoming a CRA!

Request More Information!

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Meet Big Sam

Big Sam is a 40-something security guard at the high school Jazzy and Vito attend. Big Sam is worried about his health and recently found out his blood pressure is high. He covers up his worries with jokes. He lives in the apartment above Miss Georgia.

Meet Jazzy

Jazzy is a cheerful younger high school age girl. She is a cheerleader and does gymnastics. She enjoys spending time with older people and loves to bake with Miss Georgia. She has asthma and works hard to control it so she can enjoy her activities.

Meet Cardi

Cardi is a 30-something aerobics teacher at the community center who loves to help people get more fit and healthy but can be a bit too much “in your face” about it. She means well though!

Meet Vito

Vito is a plays-it-cool older high schooler who is sweet-natured at heart. He plays basketball at the community center and is friends with Jazzy. He loves pop and chips and can’t see why eating all he wants of them is a problem.

Meet Pops

Pops is a retired high school science teacher who loves to keep helping people learn about science and health. He likes to check out what everyone is doing or talking about and step in to give his opinion.

Meet Miss Georgia

Miss Georgia is a fun-loving lady in her 50’s who loves to sing, dance, and bake. She is always helping out at community events. She recently found out she has diabetes, and she is learning new ways to cook.