2-096 - Advances in Community Engagement and Measurement in Longitudinal Cohort Studies

Session Type: Exchange Symposium

Integrative Statement

Prospective, longitudinal cohort studies are critical for understanding developmental phenomena in context, and for elucidating complex processes such as risk and resilience. However, many groups—particularly those that are most vulnerable—are consistently underrepresented in research. As a society, we are in a unique historical moment. We have the unprecedented technological ability to monitor and understand health and human behavior at a time when communities are becoming increasingly diverse and complex. Child development researchers should capitalize upon recent advances in community participatory methods to increase the diversity and representativeness of our samples and advances in data collection methodologies to increase the rigor and validity of our measurement. Advances in community engagement methodologies enable the development of true academic-community partnerships to engage underrepresented participants in research. Advances in smart technologies offer opportunities to collect real-time data on a range of social-behavioral and health variables with reduced participant burden and increased ecological validity. This symposium features three cohort studies that pair cutting-edge bio-behavioral and environmental measurement technologies with innovative participatory team science methods. Paper 1 describes Whole Community – Whole Health, a participatory team science cohort model focused on historically marginalized families in Texas. Paper 2 describes community engagement to establish a longitudinal cohort in rural South Dakota. Paper 3 describes use of baby teeth to examine exposure to environmental toxicants and community engagement efforts to develop trusting relationships with parents in an urban environment. Our discussion with the audience will focus on how community engagement and technology can advance developmental science.

Sub Unit

• Methods, History, Theory

Chair

• Sarah Kate Bearman, The University of Texas at Austin

Discussant

• Daniel Keating, University of Michigan

Individual Presentations

• Whole Community – Whole Health: A Participatory Team Science Cohort Model - Presenting Author: Julie Maslowsky, University of Texas at Austin; Non-Presenting Author: Sarah Kate Bearman, The University of Texas at Austin

• Bringing Cutting-edge Longitudinal Pediatric Research to the Prairie: A Story of Collaboration and Innovation - Presenting Author: Amy J Elliott, Avera Research Institute

• Toxicant Exposures and Child Development: Capitalizing on Cutting-Edge Technology and Fostering Community Collaboration - Presenting Author: Christopher Trentacosta, Wayne State University; Non-Presenting Author: Manish Arora, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai; Non-Presenting Author: Brendan Coyle, Wayne State University; Non-Presenting Author: Moriah E. Thomason, New York University