Project Summary/Abstract-Partnership and Engagement Core States across the U.S. have important data that could be used to improve care coordination, transitions, and health equity in dementia care; however, they often do not have the resources to plan and conduct the required research. Time, funds, and expertise are needed to create and strengthen collaborations between disparate stakeholders. Moreover, guidance is needed to help states identify the most pressing system-based issues when designing impactful, innovative, and feasible studies to address them. In close collaboration with the other Cores, the Partnership and Engagement Core (PE Core) of the State Alzheimer’s Research Support Center (StARS) will assist states with these activities by completing the following three aims. First, over a two- year, two-phase process per state (N=8 “State Partners”; two per year for Years 1-4), we will strengthen and support new, within-state partnerships and guide the development and completion of one or more state-based research pilot projects. In the Partnership Phase (Year 1), we will conduct information gathering with each state through surveys, interviews, and a desk analysis, all of which will inform an in-person Partnership Building Roundtable with SWOT analysis to be held in that state. This activity will be followed by ongoing virtual support check-in meetings until that State Partner’s pilot proposal has been submitted to the Center. In the Pilot Phase (Year 2), we will support the efforts of the Research/Pilot Core in leading a second, in-person Pilot Roundtable and take part in ongoing research support. Second, we will create Lived Experience Panels in each state, composed of persons living with dementia (PLWD) and caregivers of PLWD that will provide feedback on all Aim 1 activities. Third, we will offer national expertise to State Partners and pilot awardees from three National Advisory Boards, namely: researchers with expertise in dementia services, public and private long-term care providers, and state dementia service coordinators. A detailed evaluation plan with clear benchmarks has been developed, and we will publish a minimum of three manuscripts highlighting the processes and tools used as well as our learnings from working with State Partners and the state LEPs. Through these activities, the PE Core will help build a Center where research-activated, forward-thinking states from all U.S. regions will serve as “seeds” to encourage the involvement of additional states in creating a national data source that can inform policy making around effective practices in integrated/coordinated dementia care services.