National Initiative to Address COVID-19 Health Disparities Award

With funding from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) through the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) National Initiative to Address COVID-19 Health Disparities Award, we are working on a series of projects focused on understanding and addressing inequities related to the COVID-19 pandemic. These projects aim to ensure that people directly impacted by COVID-19 are an active part of the evaluation process and public health response.

With support from TIER, CEs help design evaluation projects, talk with members of their communities about challenges related to COVID-19, conduct data analysis, share results, and help translate findings into program and policy recommendations.

Root Cause Solutions Exchange

TIER is partnering with a new MDPH program called the “Root Cause Solutions Exchange” focused on working with communities to change the social, economic, and physical conditions that shape health inequities. With support form TIER, CEs will collaborate on a project focused on identifying and understanding policy solutions to address structural racism and social determinants of health at the community level

Community Health Equity Initiative

TIER is working with MDPH’s Community Health Equity Initiative (CHEI) on a collaborative project with communities throughout the state to collect and use data to change conditions that get in the way of health. Through this project, TIER will be recruiting a cohort of CEs from across Massachusetts to carry out qualitative data collection in their communities. This initiative will supplement a statewide online survey and explore topics and experiences that are difficult to understand from survey data. More information to come this summer!

To learn more about the CEs roles and current opportunities, check out the details below!

Who are CEs?

CEs are community members, parents, youth, policy leaders, service providers, and other partners who care deeply about the lives of children, youth, and families. CEs also have a shared interest in ensuring that evaluation projects are responsive to the experiences of families, program participants, and communities.

What would I do as a CE?

Activities – All CEs will be asked to commit to the following:

  • • Participate in approximately 20 training hours (a mix of in-person and virtual) during the summer and fall. Trainings will be primarily virtual with 1–2 in-person trainings (held at Tufts University in Medford, MA).
  • • Participate in ongoing training, coaching, and meetings on topics specific to your project and your interests and goals.
  • • Design and carry out an evaluation project in your community (this could include talking with members of your community through interviews, meetings, or focus groups, etc.).
  • • Work on and review project materials on a computer, laptop, or tablet, and assist with writing and sharing the results of these projects and our collective work.
  • • Participate in virtual meetings, respond to emails, and complete tasks following project timelines.
  • • All CEs receive training to complete these tasks. No evaluation experience is necessary to become a CE.

Time Commitment

Although time commitment will vary based on project needs, we are estimating that CEs will work 12–15 hours per month for the duration of the project (6–9 months beginning July 2023). We recognize CEs may be balancing other jobs and priorities, and work to keep the hours flexible. 

Compensation

Each CE will be compensated at a competitive rate (compensation includes participation in trainings), and we will help with the costs of any travel for this work. CEs will also receive ongoing mentoring and support, as well as a certificate of completion. CEs also receive access to Tufts University resources as a staff member (such as a Tufts University email address, access to the library, online resources, etc.)

Tufts University COVID-19 Vaccination Update

As of May 2023, Tufts University no longer requires COVID-19 vaccination for employees.

What topics will these projects focus on?

CEs, with support from TIER, will collaborate with MDPH to design and implement a series of evaluation projects. We are currently recruiting CEs for upcoming projects that will begin in Summer 2023, and will share information on these projects soon!

How can I become a CE?

Thank you for your interest in becoming a CE; the 2023 CE recruitment is currently closed. Check back at a later date for more opportunities or contact Emma using the link below.

For more information about the Community Evaluator Project, contact Emma.