Georgia CEAL RESTORES Community Coalition Board
The Georgia CEAL RESTORES Community Coalition Board (CCB) is a community-majority board consisting of residents, community-based organizations (CBOs), and state agencies. Its goal is to ensure research and outreach are relevant, co-created, and effectively communicated. Focus areas include education, support, and research sustainability.
Georgia CEAL RESTORES CCB will assess the impact of policy and capacity building on diabetes prevention in targeted communities. Partnering with Georgia Watch, we aim to enhance civic and policy strategies related to diabetes and social determinants of health (SDOH). Our efforts will involve training community health advocates like community health workers, young adults, and faith-based leaders, in collaboration with organizations such as the Georgia Community Health Worker Support Coalition and the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power. We will also connect with support groups and state agencies, including the Georgia Department of Public Health.
Community health advocates will gain a working knowledge of supporter best practices and a core set of skills at different policy levels. They will receive the tools and resources needed to strategically mobilize marginalized communities around the social determinants of health that influence cardiovascular health. Through strategic linkages facilitated by Georgia Watch, we aim to create a sustainable ecosystem of community health advocates focused on civic support and community organizing for health equity.
The NIH launched the CEAL initiative in the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic. By 2023, the network expanded to address additional health disparities related to maternal health, climate health, health education, primary care research, and other critical public health issues. CEAL also provides technical assistance and continuous learning opportunities to support community engagement and community-engaged research.
Georgia CEAL RESTORES’ mission is to promote health neutrality, improve health outcomes, and strengthen community partnerships through community-engaged research to address racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic health disparities.
To achieve this mission, we aims to partner with communities to:
- Foster trust in science and research.
- Ensure inclusion across the research continuum.
- Advance community-driven solutions to address health inequities.
- Strengthen engaged research.
The Alliance consists of a diverse network of research and community partners, including trusted entities that engage with communities across the country. This includes community-based organizations, researchers, community health workers, healthcare providers, faith-based organizations, local and state governments, professional associations, policymakers, and more. These partnerships are integral to our efforts, and CEAL greatly benefits from their trusted voices and valued contributions.
Community Coalition Board
Shirley E. Borghi
Hispanic Health Coalition of Georgia
Community Coalition Board Co-Chair
Michael Armstrong, PhD
Georgia Campaign For Adolescent Power and Potential – GCAPP
Community Coalition Board Co-Chair
