ADMINISTRATIVE CORE

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The overall theme for the proposed exploratory National Center for Minority Health and Disparities Research in Arkansas (NCMHDA) is to develop research to improve access to quality prevention and health care programs for racial and ethnic minorities with a goal of reducing health disparities. The proposed Center will focus on chronic disease disparities with an initial emphasis on cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, obesity, and cancer. Arkansas consistently ranks among the worst in the nation in health indicators, particularly for CVD and cancer morbidity and mortality. Already large disparities continue to increase. Arkansas has the fastest growing Latino population in the country and the largest Marshallese community outside of the Marshall Islands, in addition to a substantial African-American population. The proposed Administrative Core for this Exploratory NCMHDA will be composed of the Director's Office and a Steering Committee, each with its own functions and responsibilities to collectively facilitate and support the Center. The Director's Office will be responsible for fiscal and administrative management of the Center and implementation of Center-wide policies. The Steering Committee will be responsible for evaluating the progress of the Center and its activities, setting research priorities and policies, and determining research infrastructure needs of the Center. In addition to the Administrative Core, the Center will support: a Research Core, including a Full Research Project and six initial Pilot Projects; and an Education/Training Core to develop a combined BA/MPH program with Arkansas' three HBCUs. The Administrative Core willalso work with two advisory committees - one National and one Local. A NAC has been recruited to: 1) evaluate the progress and accomplishments of the NCMHDA; 2) provide feedback about evidence-based priorities for future research projects developed through analyses of statewide data in the DOH's Center for Public Health Practice; and 3) review and provide feedback about the Center's educational programs supported by the proposed Education/Training Core. The'NAG will also serve as the Data Safety and Monitoring Board (DSMB) for both the Full and Pilot Research Projects. The Local Advisory Board will provide local insight into the focus of the research projects, inform investigators about local assets, and provide oversight of the acceptability of proposed projects and center priorities in general. The LAC will also assist in disseminating information about the Center's activities to key agencies, agency leaders, and lay leaders.