WFUSM-YWCA Collaborative
The WFUSM-YWCA Collaborative (The Collaborative), partially supported by funds from the TSI through the Community Engagement Program, is a demonstration project of the feasibility and benefits of university-community consortia. It is an innovative collaboration between the Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the YWCA of Winston-Salem to generate and test ideas that will improve the health of children and families in our community. The Collaborative’s mission is to build mutually beneficial collaborations between community and academic partners that promote the development, implementation, and translation of innovative and sustainable interventions that measurably improve child health by strengthening families and neighborhoods. We will focus initially on childhood obesity, but our focus may expand to include other childhood health needs and diseases, as well as health outcomes across the lifespan.
The Collaborative is physically located on the 2nd floor of the Southeast Gateway YWCA in Winston-Salem, NC. The 1,400 square foot space includes working space for Collaborative staff, projects, and programs, minor medical services space for blood pressure and height/weight checks, a conference room for formal meetings, informal meeting space, and a teaching kitchen with four stove tops designed to help individuals learn by doing rather than watching. The Collaborative is conveniently positioned directly across from the Family Fitness Center, which serves children from 7 - 12 years and their parents, and the Child Care Center, which serves children from 9 months - 6 years.
The Collaborative was initially funded by a grant from the Duke Endowment. Current funding comes from the WFU TSI, the WFUBMC Maya Angelou Research Center on Minority Health, the Division of Public Health Sciences and the Department of Pediatrics at WFUSM, and an intramural grant from WFUSM. The Collaborative has already generated one successful research project, En Sus Marcas, which focused on increasing physical activity among Latino families. Currently The Collaborative is hosting programs related to financial literacy, diabetes and weight management, and healthy cooking and nutrition practices.
The Collaborative is directed by Joseph A. Skelton, MD (Pediatrics) and Melicia C. Whitt-Glover, Ph.D. (Division of Public Health Sciences). Other staff members include Ms. Irma Richardson (Assistant Director), Ms. Angelica Guzman (Project Manager), and Ms. Rhonda Blaine (Program Coordinator). We are currently recruiting additional faculty and community partners to join us in our efforts.
Please visit the YWCA website at www.ywcaws.org and the website for The Collaborative at www.wfubmc.edu/collaborative .