Community partners essential to Ohio State’s mission, researchers say

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Community partners essential to Ohio State's mission, researchers say

Panel discussion centered on community-engaged research

Partnerships with residents and community organizations are essential to carrying out The Ohio State University's land-grant mission, researchers said during a recent panel discussion.

The discussion was hosted by University Libraries Research Commons, the Office of Outreach and Engagement and the Center for Urban and Regional Analysis (CURA). Jason Reece, vice provost for urban research and community development, moderated the panel. Panelists included:

· Mikyung Baek, senior data science analyst at the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity.

· Lauren Doocy, postdoctoral scholar and data science lead for the Battelle Center for Science, Engineering, and Public Policy.

· Stephen Gavazzi, professor and director of the Center for Human Resource Research (CHRR).

· Harvey Miller, professor and CURA director.

Baek said the Kirwan Institute collaborated with community partners to conduct a recent study about internet accessibility for older adults in central Ohio.

"There were areas where there are those who have computers and who know how to use computers and who have subscriptions to broadband, but in the community, the [broadband] speed is not fast enough to do any meaningful technology," she said. "I think that's one of the ways that data coming out of the community directs us to look at new perspectives of their experiences."

Miller said CURA partnered with the Central Ohio Trauma System, a coalition of health care professionals and first responders that collects emergency department trauma-related data, to create a digital map that is publicly available. The map indicates gaps in recovery care for opioid addiction in Franklin County.

"We found that, yes, there are opioid recovery 'deserts' in central Ohio," Miller said. "This is an example of research that was able to lead directly to community intervention at multiple levels."

Doocy said the Battelle Center conducted a study in which researchers collected data from school districts across Ohio and created a dashboard showing the number of students in each district who go on to college.

"It's very interesting to look at each individual community and start conversations with specific school districts to see where we can create a plan," she said, "so that the opportunity to obtain higher education degrees is equal throughout the state."

The Battelle Center also collects data about child care centers throughout Ohio. Interviews with individual families put into context large data sets about Ohio's early education system and the access to quality, affordable child care, Doocy said.

"It's that experience with individual families and providers to really see what the other things that these families are facing and what's actually going on and what could actually help in providing the best education possible here in the state," she said.

Gavazzi said community partnerships are also essential to CHRR's interdisciplinary research. The work that the center has participated in since its founding 60 years ago includes the groundbreaking mental health study, the State of Ohio Adversity and Resilience Study (SOAR).

"I think the community members themselves are resources," Gavazzi said. "I think we really do need to … empower community members to let them know that their voices really matter. They really count."

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