Center for Healthy Communities staff are working with Dr. Betty Yung of the School of Professional Psychology on the Research and Evaluation Enhancement Project (REEP), sponsored by the Ohio Commission on Minority Health.

REEP has completed several projects since 2005. After a statewide kickoff meeting in January 2005, a series of regional task forces undertook the task of crafting a minority health research agenda. In addition, the REEP program evaluation work group created a culturally sensitive evaluation model for use in Commission funded programs. This evaluation model is available at the Commission’s web site: mih.ohio.gov.

In 2007, REEP conducted a capacity building needs assessment of Ohio minority health service provider organizations. Organizations were surveyed by telephone and were asked to indicate their level of need regarding technical assistance in 23 specific types of organizational activities. Additionally, focus groups were held with service providers in Akron, Dayton, Columbus, and Cincinnati. The results of the need assessment have been published in the journal Evaluation and Program Planning and can be read here.

REEP and the Ohio Commission on Minority Health sponsored a capacity-building conference for minority health organizations on September 5 and 6, 2007 in Columbus, Ohio.