# Community and Scientific Engagement & Administration Core

> **NIH NIH P50** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $884,246

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY — COMMUNITY AND SCIENTIFIC ENGAGEMENT & ADMINISTRATIVE CORE
The objective of the proposed Mental Health, Earlier (MHE) ALACRITY Research Center is equitable
implementation of early childhood mental health promotion in community pediatric care. The Community &
Scientific Engagement & Administrative (Engage-Admin) Core will provide critical infrastructure and
leadership to advance the Center's vision and objectives. As the nexus for the Center's community and scientific
engagement, career development, and administrative functions, the Engage-Admin Core will ensure a functional,
integrated whole, operationally, scientifically, and strategically. To achieve this, the Core is led by a
transdisciplinary team with a history of collaboration and leadership and spanning expertise in equitable
implementation, pediatric population health equity and early childhood mental health. AIM 1: STEER Center
strategic investments, and priorities via: (1a) a Steering Committee comprised of Center investigators,
community partners and emerging leaders; and (1b) an External Advisory Board comprised of national scientific
experts and health system leaders, policy experts, advocates, and payors with vested interest in pediatric mental
health to ensure strategies are relevant, disseminable and leverage emergent policies. AIM 2: SUPPORT
centralized management and oversight throughout the Center: (2a) Establish standard operating
procedures; (2b) Manage communications/ activities; (2c) Provide fiscal management; and (2d) Ensure
regulatory compliance. AIM 3: ENGAGE EQUITABLY WITH BROAD REACH: (3a) Foster an anti-racist Center
culture; (3b) Orchestrate bi-directional community engagement led by the Core's Community Engagement
Workgroup with practice-based and caregiver collectives. This includes facilitation of Center-wide and Project-
specific community partnerships; and (3c) Serve as a national resource for equitable implementation of mental
health promotion in pediatric primary care. Activities will be led by the Core's Equitable Implementation
Workgroup, including web-based Equitable Implementation Toolkit and Virtual Learning Community
deliverables. AIM 4: SPUR WORKFORCE DIVERSITY & CAREER DEVELOPMENT: Establish an Equity-
oriented Training and Career Development Hub to: (4a) Support scientific growth via a minimum of 10 nationally
competed R03 pilot studies, mentorship, and fostering a cadre of emerging leaders; and (4b) Advance inclusive
excellence in pediatric practice-based mental health implementation research and care. Provide training and
mentorship to Practice Champions, and participants in equity-oriented programs in which the Center team plays
leadership roles including a workforce diversity initiative, T32s, the RISER Network, and an NIH FIRST award
for underrepresented scientists. AIM 5: EVALUATE Center progress and impact, via a rigorous Results-Based
Accountability process: The Engage-Admin Core provides critical support to advance Center obj...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10843627
- **Project number:** 1P50MH132502-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** LAUREN S WAKSCHLAG
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $884,246
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-12 → 2029-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10843627

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10843627, Community and Scientific Engagement & Administration Core (1P50MH132502-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10843627. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*