Addressing health inequities by collaborating with our community is at the core of how we do what we do. We offer various health leadership training programs that allow us to engage directly with our community members to address health-related issues and guide research that impacts our communities. The ultimate goal of these programs is to build a network of community residents who can partner equitably in the existing infrastructure of community health initiatives and public health research and practice. Together, we can effectively identify health inequities and work toward achieving real systemic change.

Health Leadership Programs

Programs & Projects

  • In the Community Research Fellows (CRF) Program, we seek to build power among New Haven and Bridgeport area residents through a 9-month training program. These residents are trained and placed with Yale Cancer Center (YCC) investigators, providing invaluable community expertise on research projects. The program equips participants with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to be equitable partners at research centers, driving forward community engaged research.

    The CRF Program is a novel approach, as there are limited opportunities for residents – particularly residents who are lower-income and from communities of color – to effectively partner across a broad array of research activities at Yale. The CRFs participate in workshops, where they learn about health equity, health disparities, and the social influencers of health; basic research terminology and concepts; principles of community engaged research; and basic cancer terminology and concepts. This unique opportunity ensures that community perspectives are represented in various research activities at Yale, creating meaningful and equitable collaborations.

  • Our New Haven Health Leaders Program is a 9-month initiative designed for New Haven residents. This program provides comprehensive training and support on project development, health disparities, social influencers of health, community-level health interventions, community leadership, and overall community health.

    With a strong focus on improving health in New Haven, this program supports residents to become effective advocates for better community health. Together, we work towards a healthier and more equitable New Haven.

  • At CARE, we believe that engaging community leaders is key to effective vaccine outreach and education. That's why we've developed our Vaccine Equity Fellowship (VEF) program as part of our comprehensive approach.

    Through this unique initiative, we train community "lay" leaders to become influential spokespeople, equipped with educational material on COVID-19 and other vaccinations. Our VEFs play a crucial role in communicating vital messages to their own neighborhoods and community networks.

    By tapping into the trust and familiarity that community leaders have within their circles, we can ensure that accurate and essential information about vaccines reaches those who need it most. Item description