Community Research Advocates
What are Community Research Advocates (CRAs)?
- CRAs are community volunteers who help their friends and neighbors BECOME “Research Ready.”
- CRAs work in teams of two as co-CRAs.
- CRAs schedule and conduct Research Ready Discussion Sessions in their communities.
- CRAs follow the Research Ready Discussion Plan to conduct Research Ready Discussion Sessions.
What is the Research Ready program?
- Research Ready is a program of outreach to help community members BECOME “Research Ready”
- Being “Research Ready” means understanding the 3 P’s.
- Purpose: What is the purpose of health research?
- Protection: How are people kept safe when they participate in health research?
- Participation: Why should people participate in health research?
What do CRAs do in the Research Ready program?
- Schedule and invite people to Research Ready Discussion Sessions.
- Conduct Research Ready Discussion Sessions following the Research Ready Discussion Plan.
- Complete the Research Ready Discussion Log after each session and submit to WE4H staff.
How do I become a CRA?
All you need to become a CRA and help your community learn more about health research is enthusiasm and two sessions of training available in person or via Zoom. Use the form below (select “Get volunteer information”) and we will let you know about upcoming training dates!
Stories used by CRAs for outreach
The Research Ready story is used by CRAs to start the discussion about health research. Research Ready focuses on the three big ideas below. A series of shorter “add-on” stories explore specific health conditions for which health research may be conducted.
Research Ready three big ideas:
- Health research uses organized methods to understand disease risk and improve the health of people.
- People of all ages and backgrounds need to take part in research so the results are safe and relevant for everyone.
- Rules and regulations protect and ensure the safety of human subjects participating in research.
Carter starts a smoking cessation program at the community center and discusses with Vito how quitting smoking would help a friend of Vito reduce health risks.
Vito wonders how genes affect a person’s risk for disease and Pops explains how genes and environment affect our risk of developing health conditions.
Big Sam learns that an older half-brother died from pancreatic cancer years ago. He discusses his concerns with his primary care doctor, and she recommends risk-reducing lifestyle choices. Vito helps Sam work on his plan to walk more.
The Research Ready story introduces the topic of health research and how to decide whether to participate.
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