Supporting the Outreach Strategy of the Office of Community Health

How health communication, public relations, and technical assistance work together to support the implementation of evidence-based, community-led interventions.

A family is enjoying time outdoors in a park. One child is sitting on an adult's shoulders, raising one arm in the air. Another child stands next to the adult, holding hands with the child on the shoulders. A second adult stands nearby, wearing a pink long-sleeve shirt and a white towel draped over their shoulder. The background features green trees and sunlight filtering through the leaves.

Overview

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is committed to cancer prevention as vital to its mission to end cancer. The Office of Community Health addresses the gap between knowledge and practice collaborating with community-based organizations and clinics to implement evidence-based interventions (EBIs) for cancer prevention.

The Center for Health Communication supports these initiatives as a full-service team dedicated to communication that engages in the following:

  • Communication and creative strategy
  • Environmental monitoring
  • Technical assistance
  • Implementation support
  • Web development and support
  • Applied research
  • Collaboration on academic scholarship

Expertise

  • Health communication
  • Message effects
  • Public relations
  • Information technology
VIEW THEIR WEBSITE

Timeline

A blue circle with a white outline of a clipboard and pencil. The clipboard shows a strategy plan with circles, crosses, and arrows.

YEAR 1

The relationship with the Cancer Prevention and Control Platform starts with the implementation of Be Well Communities™ in 2016 in Pasadena, TX.

A white outline of a rocket ship icon on a green circular background.

YEARS 2-7

The Be Well Communities program expands to encompass projects in Baytown and Acres Homes with support from the CHC as a key external collaborator.

A purple circle with a white outline icon of a person in front of a computer screen. The screen shows a play button and lines representing text.

YEAR 8+

The relationship between the CHC and the Office of Community Health continues to expand as they take on new initiatives. Most recently, the CHC joined the Acres Homes Cancer Prevention Collaboration and the Texas Health Equity Alliance for Breast Cancer. Be Well Communities continues to expand to new places in Texas, most recently Beaumont.

Approach

The Office of Community Health at UT MD Anderson addresses the gap between what we know and what we do by translating knowledge into practice. The platform builds the capacity of community-based organizations and clinics to deploy and evaluate EBIs for cancer prevention. The platform's commitment to collaborating with community and clinic leaders ensures that effective strategies for cancer risk reduction are available for all.

The CHC plays an important role in implementing and sustaining EBIs with community partners. We work with collaborating organizations and MD Anderson professionals to produce health communication materials that support interventions in the community across initiatives for active living, healthy eating, sun safety, tobacco-free living, and preventive care. In addition to creating and providing materials, the CHC also helps organizations build the capacity needed to continue communication efforts long-term in a way that maximizes time and effort.

A healthcare professional in a white lab coat and blue scrubs places a hand on the shoulder of another person. Both individuals have blurred faces for privacy. Medical equipment and a computer screen displaying data are visible in the background.

Materials

A collage of images related to the 'Be Well' community health initiative. The top row displays brochures and booklets with program information. The middle row includes a red sign promoting daily steps, a hand holding a health tips card, and a group of people at an outdoor event. The bottom row features a community map labeled 'Be Well Acres Homes' highlighting local activities and locations.

Impact

Success for this initiative is measured by the number of collaborators and projects completed across sectors since the beginning of the collaboration between the Office of Community Health and the CHC.

50+

collaborating organizations

7

major presentations

1

university award

Publications

Publications

Building and Maintaining a Whole Community Initiative: Health Communication in Practice with Be Well Communities™

Love, B., Ghosh, C., Kriss, L., Vieco-Garcia, M., Fick, H., Shin, E., Wagner, J.H., De Luca, D., Dermid, G., McDonald, L., Caballero, E., Oestman, K., Coffman, R., Aquino, M., Adams, T., Gardiner, H., & Rechis, R. (2024). Building and maintaining a whole community initiative: Health communication in practice with Be Well Communities™. Health Communication. 39(14), 3597-3605. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2024.2382869

Publications

Implementation and Evaluation of a Multi-Level, Place-Based Tobacco Prevention and Control Program

Love, B., Coffman, R., Ghosh, C., Cofer, J., Hurst, A.N., Oestman, K., Aquino, M., Kriss, L., Shah, M., Dermid, G., Raber, M., & Hawk, E. (2024). Implementation and evaluation of a multi-level, place-based tobacco prevention and control program at a minority-serving institution in Texas. Prevention Science, 25, 898-909. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-024-01708-4

Publications

Understanding the Impact of Community-Based Sun Safety Interventions on a College Campus in Texas

Love, B., Ghosh, C., Oestman, K., Aquino, M., Coffman, R., Shah, M., Dermid, G., & Rechis, R. (2024). Understanding the impact of community-based sun safety interventions on a college campus in Texas. Journal of American College Health. Advanced Online Publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2024.2367989

Publications

Leveraging Community Colleges for Cancer Prevention

Love, B., Raber, M., Kriss, L., Sesay, N., Shin, E., Coffman, R., Oestman, K., Gardiner, H., Aquino, M., & Rechis, R. (Advance online publication). Leveraging community colleges for cancer prevention: Aligning health communication science and higher education to reduce modifiable risk factors. Journal of American College Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2026.2652362

Publications

Strengthening Community-Based Communication Channels: A Sustainable Health Messaging Approach

Love, B., Kriss, L. A., Raber, M., Eatmon, E. R., Dailey, J., Oestman, K., Vieco-Garcia, M., McDonald, L., Gardiner, H., Adams, T., Shin, E., Mackert, M., Basen-Engquist, K., McNeill, L. H. & Rechis, R. (Advance online publication). Strengthening community-based communication channels: A case study of a sustainable health messaging approach. Journal of Public Health Management & Practice. https://doi.org/10.1097/PHH.0000000000002419

 

BACK TO OUR WORK