Yale Cultural Ambassadors: A Unique Community Partnership
YCCI recognizes that broadening community participation in clinical research involves linking investigators directly to resources in the community. To facilitate this, YCCI has partnered with Junta for Progressive Action and the African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AME Zion) Church to ensure that clinical trial participation reflects the diversity of New Haven’s population and will benefit patients in the community and beyond. Junta is the oldest Latino community based non-profit organization in New Haven and the AME Zion Church is New Haven’s oldest African American congregations.
YCCI’s goal in developing both partnerships is to help increase the participation of the Hispanic and African American populations in clinical trials. Representatives of Junta and AME Zion Church serve as Cultural Ambassadors to Yale's research programs. They act as expert resources, advising Yale investigators how best to raise awareness of clinical research and engage the community.
Cultural ambassadors are available to:
- Participate in projects, community engagement activities and community events designed to promote and increase participation in clinical trials.
- Assist in the development of recruitment plans for specific trials.
- Assist in the development of protocols for specific trials.
- Provide translation services for informed consents and other materials into Spanish.
- YCCI initially provided intensive training on topics such as the importance of clinical research, how it is conducted, and protections for human subjects. Continuing education is provided on an ongoing basis through monthly faculty presentations.
Website for more information on the Cultural Ambassadors program