Building Bridges: How Community Engagement is Rebuilding Trust in Public Health
At the APHA 2024 Annual Meeting & Expo, Nicole Wolfe, Co-Director of Community Engagement at the Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute, shared powerful insights into rebuilding trust in public health, particularly within lower-income communities of color. In conversation with JMIR Publications Managing Editor Shruti Kochhar, Nicole highlighted the importance of continuous engagement, culturally tailored communication, and respectful partnerships in addressing historical mistrust and combating misinformation.
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Addressing Historical Mistrust Through Continuous Presence
She emphasized that building trust requires a sustained effort. Her team, which includes members from the communities they serve, focuses on maintaining a continuous presence through listening sessions, health education workshops, and community events. This ongoing engagement helps to build relationships, foster open communication, and establish credibility as trusted messengers.
Culturally Tailored Communication and Trusted Messengers
Recognizing the diverse needs of communities, Nicole stressed the importance of culturally tailored health information and the role of trusted messengers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, people often turned to familiar figures like faith leaders, doctors, and community health workers for reliable information. Her team works diligently to provide accurate, culturally appropriate materials in multiple languages, ensuring that health information is accessible and relevant to the communities they serve.
Respectful Partnerships and Community Engagement in Research
She highlighted the importance of respect and partnership in research and emphasized the need to address historical mistrust of research participation, particularly within communities of color that have experienced exploitation in the past. By involving communities in research design and decision-making, and by sharing research findings transparently, her team aims to build trust and ensure that research benefits a wider range of people.
Conferences: Fostering Ongoing Dialogue and Knowledge Sharing
Nicole underscored the value of conferences like APHA in fostering ongoing discussions about trust in public health. She encouraged presenters to integrate the topic of trust into all sessions, ensuring that attendees have ample opportunity to learn about strategies for addressing misinformation and building trust in diverse communities. She also highlighted the importance of networking and knowledge sharing among attendees from different backgrounds, enabling them to take valuable lessons back to their own organizations.
Looking Ahead: Maintaining Momentum and Expanding Awareness
She concluded by emphasizing the need to maintain momentum and continue the conversation about trust in public health. She noted an increased awareness among researchers about the problem of misinformation following the pandemic and expressed optimism that this awareness will translate into more community-engaged research practices.
This insightful discussion provided valuable guidance for public health professionals seeking to rebuild trust and strengthen community relationships. By prioritizing continuous engagement, culturally tailored communication, respectful partnerships, and ongoing dialogue, we can create a more inclusive and trustworthy public health system.
Read Nicole Wolfe’s research in JMIR Research Protocols here.
Watch the full interview here.
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