Community Engagement Core (CEC)
Community Engagement Core (CEC)
As a community centric institution, the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) has a strong history of educating and training students from our region for all sectors of the workforce, especially in healthcare associated professions such as nursing, health sciences, and pharmacy. Community-academic partnerships and collaborations have long been steeped in the expressed needs of our community. These partnerships provide the basis for research studies. Furthermore, our bidirectional partnerships allow community stakeholders, UTEP faculty and students to work collaboratively to find solutions and mitigate community problems. The proposed CEC activities are congruent with the mission and priorities of both the BBRC and UTEP, thus appealing to executive level and community support, important for long-term sustainability.
The CEC of the Border Biomedical Research Center (BBRC) has been developing and nurturing bidirectional community partnerships to facilitate the translation of scientific findings and increasing resources and the community’s capacity for research. The CEC of the BBRC will expand bidirectional partnerships between BBRC researchers, community collaborators, and stakeholders to gain insight into the expressed health-related needs of the region. The CEC can provide scientific expertise to facilitate the translation of science and the dissemination of key research findings. Through these efforts the CEC can stimulate discussions surrounding the importance of participating in research studies.
To meet the aims and the goals of BBRC investigators and research projects, the CEC will synergize partnerships and collaborations to facilitate cohesive strategies for participant engagement, recruitment, retention, and the dissemination of BBRC findings.
|
Leadership The CEC will be led by Bibiana M. Mancera, PhD. She has been instrumental in establishing clinical and community partnerships critical for conducting research studies. Dr. Mancera is a native, bilingual, El Pasoan, with deep roots in the community. Her research trajectory has focused on community engaged research and tailored translation of findings to provide information to the community. She is actively engaged with Community Based Organizations in bidirectional relationships to assess the needs of the community and work on sustainable strategies to improve health outcomes. |
Engagement Core
|
The CEC has been actively involved in the community with the UTEP BBRC team of Promotores de Salud/Community Health Workers (CHWs) who have been engaged in outreach and navigation to local health and human services in the northeast, central, and west El Paso County and in southern Doña Ana County. These trusted messengers and community advocates have been critical to increasing health literacy to facilitate informed health decision making. The UTEP BBRC team is comprised of New Mexico and Texas-certified CHWs. Team members are certified in the protection of human subjects through CITI. Team members include the following people: Maria Teresa “Tere” Gerber, Sandra Hernandez, Cesar Fong, Paulina Gonzalez Mendoza, Fabiola Rodriguez (Coordinator), Maria “Mari” Retana, Josefina ‘Josie” Carmona, Marylupe Sanchez, Martha Solano, Margarita Villegas, and Socorro Ivonne Garcia. The dissemination of BBRC associated work has occurred via publications and presentations. |
Mancera, B., Dorgo, S., Provencio-Vasquez, E. (2015). Male risk factors for Intimate Partner Violence perpetration. American Journal of Men’s Health, 11(4), 969-983. DOI: 10.1177/1557988315579196.
De Santis, J., Vasquez, E., Mata, H., & Mancera, B. (2017). A Comparison of sexual relationships among Hispanic men by sexual orientation in the U.S. – Mexico border region: Implications for HIV/STI prevention. Sexuality & Culture, 1-11.
Solis, G. R., Mancera, B. M., & Shen, M. J. (2018). Strategies used to facilitate the discussion of advance care planning with older adults in primary care settings: A literature review. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 30(5), 270-279.
Mancera, B. Mungal, A.S., De Santis, J., Provencio-Vasquez, E. (2018). Reflections of men of Mexican origin: A Grounded Theory study of intimate partner violence risk factors. American Journal of Men’s Health, 12(5), 1784-1798.
Mancera, B. Mungal, A.S., De Santis, J., Provencio-Vasquez, E. (2018). Accessing and Recruiting a Community-based sample of men of Mexican origin to explore intimate partner violence. Hispanic Healthcare International, 16(3), 127-133.
Henry Akintobi, T., Sheikhattari, P., Shaffer, E., Evans, C. L., Braun, K. L., Sy, A. U., Mancera, B., et al. (2021). Community Engagement Practices at Research Centers in U.S. Minority Institutions: Priority Populations and Innovative Approaches to Advancing Health Disparities Research. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(12), 6675. MDPI AG. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18126675.
Robles-Escajeda, E., Mohl, J. E., Contreras, L., Betancourt, A. P., Mancera, B. M., Kirken, R. A., & Rodriguez, G. (2023). Rapid Shift from SARS-CoV-2 Delta to Omicron Sub-Variants within a Dynamic Southern US Borderplex. Viruses, 15(3), 658.
PROFESSONAL COMMUNICATIONS (Refereed)
2023 Mancera, B.M., Padilla, M.E. (August 23, 2023). Strategies to increase vaccine uptake among older adults and people with disabilities. National Alliance for Hispanic Health: Vaccines for All, COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccine Uptake Initiative Program. Virtual presentation, 2023.
2022 Mancera, B.M., Rodriguez, F., Garcia, E., Diaz, H. (November 7, 2022). Reduce the Risk/Reduce el Riesgo: Partnering with CHWs to conduct COVID-19 outreach and navigation among Hispanics in rural and underserved areas of the Borderplex region. American Association of Public Health (APHA) 2022 Annual Meeting and Expo. Boston, MA.
2022 Mancera, B.M., (September 23, 2022). Long COVID & Bivalent Vaccines. Texas A & M Colonias Program Annual Promotora 2022 Conference. El Paso, TX, 2022.
2017 Mancera, B.M., Sy, A., Williams, C.D., Jackson, C., Hargreaves, M.K. (2017). Recruiting Diverse Populations in the “All of Us” Program. RCMI Translational Science 2017 Conference. Research Centers in Minority Institutions biannual conference. Washington, DC, 2017.
2017 Mancera, B., De Santis, J., Vasquez, E., & Mata, H. (2017). “Health risk and protective factors among Hispanic women living in the U.S. - Mexico border region”. Podium Presentation. National Association of Hispanic Nurses 42nd Annual Conference. Phoenix, AZ, 2017.
2015 De Santis, J.P., Mancera, B.M., Provencio-Vasquez, E., & Mata, H.J. “HIV risk and protective factors of Hispanic women living in the U.S.-Mexico border region.” Podium presentation. Association of Nurses in AIDS Care 28th Annual Conference. Chicago, IL.*
2014 Robbins, L., Mancera, B., & Vasquez, E. Knowledge among Hispanic Women along the U.S.-Mexico border: Implications for intervention development. Southern Nursing Research Society. San Antonio, Texas. 2014.
2014 Mata, H., Vasquez, E., & Mancera, B. Does self-esteem mediate the relationship between childhood abuse and depression? New insights from a community-based sample of Hispanic men. Southern Nursing Research Society. San Antonio, Texas. 2014.
2013 Mata, H., Mancera, B., Martinez, J*., Hernandez, K*., & Provencio-Vasquez, E. Mentoring and Modeling to Promote Diversity in Health Disparities Research. Presented (panel presentation) Mentoring Institute, Albuquerque, NM. 2013.
PROFESSONAL COMMUNICATIONS (Invited)
2022 Mancera, B.M. (2022). Long COVID & Bivalent Vaccines. Texas A & M University Colonias Program Annual Promotora 2022 Conference. El Paso, TX, 2022.
2022 Mancera, B.M., (2022). Long COVID & Bivalent Vaccines. La Red de Promotores Annual Promotora 2022 Conference. El Paso, TX, 2022.
2022 Mancera, B.M. (2022). COVID-19 Implementing Community-based Approaches to Increase SARS-CoV-2 Testing among an Underserved and Vulnerable Hispanic Population. RCMI Annual Conference. Virtual, 2022.
2021 Mancera, B.M., Rodriguez, F. (2021). Radio Reduce el Riesgo. Texas A & M University Colonias Program Annual Promotora 2021Conference. El Paso, TX, 2021.
2021 Mancera, B.M. (2021). Research Centers in Minority Institutions (NIH) Panel. UCR-RCMI Center for Health Disparities Research Annual Symposium. Virtual, 2021.
CURRENT GRANT SUPPORT
1. Research Center at Minority Institutions and Borders Biomedical Research Center. NIH grant (PI Kirken). Mancera, Director Community Engagement. 2U54MD007592-30. August 2, 2019, to February 29, 2024. $19,198,789.
2. Research Center at Minority Institutions and Borders Biomedical Research Center. NIH RADx-UP grant (PI Kirken). Mancera, Co-Investigator. 3U54MD007592-27S1. November 13, 2020, to February 29, 2024. $1,036,464.
3. National Alliance for Hispanic Health (PI Mancera). Todos Juntos: All of Us Research Program. July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024. $108,000.
4. National Alliance for Hispanic Health Foundation (PI Mancera). UTEP BBRC Mi Hermana. July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024. $85,000.
5. National Alliance for Hispanic Health (PI Mancera). UTEP BBRC CDC Vacunas para Todos. February 1, 2023, to January 31,2024. $120,000.
6. The University of New Mexico (PI Mancera). UTEP BBRC CDC Vaccine Equity.
July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2024. $600,000.
7. Paso Del Norte Health Foundation. (PI Mancera). UTEP BBRC Community Health Worker (CHW) led diabetes intervention capacity building. September 1, 2023, to August 31 2024. $163,219.
8. National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities Rapid Research RADx-UP RP2pilot grant (PI Frietze). Mancera, Co-Investigator. September 1, 2022, to January 31, 2023. $307,000.
9. The University of New Mexico (PI Mancera). UTEP BBRC CDC Behavioral Equity. January 15, 2023, to June 30, 2024. $90,000.
10. National Alliance for Hispanic Health (PI Mancera). UTEP BBRC COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccine Uptake Initiative Program (National Council on Aging). April 1, 2023 to March 1, 2024. $94,875.
PAST GRANT SUPPORT
1. Paso Del Norte Health Foundation. (PI Mancera). UTEP BBRC Community Health Worker (CHW) led diabetes intervention capacity building. August 15, 2022, to August 14, 2023. $125,147.
2. National Alliance for Hispanic Health Foundation (PI Mancera). UTEP BBRC Mi Hermana. July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023. $100,000.
3. National Alliance for Hispanic Health (PI Mancera). Todos Juntos: All of Us Research Program. July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023. $35,000.
4. National Alliance for Hispanic Health (PI Mancera). Todos Juntos: All of Us Research Program (Facilitated Enrollment). April 13, 2023, to June 30, 2023. $50,000.
5. Paso Del Norte Health Foundation. (PI Mancera). Community Health Worker Outreach. January 25, 2022, to December 31, 2022. $49,000.
6. National Alliance for Hispanic Health (PI Mancera). UTEP BBRC CDC Vacunas para Todos. February 1, 2022, to January 31,2023. $135,000.
7. The University of New Mexico (PI Mancera). UTEP BBRC CDC Vaccine Equity. January 1, 2022 to June 30, 2022. $150,000.
8. National Alliance for Hispanic Health (PI Mancera). Todos Juntos: All of Us Research Program. July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022. $35,000.
9. National Alliance for Hispanic Health (PI Mancera). UTEP BBRC HRSA Certified Community Navigator. August 1, 2021, to April 30, 2022. $789,533.
10. Paso Del Norte Health Foundation. (PI Mancera). COVID-19 Promotora de Salud Community Project. February 1, 2021, to October 31, 2021. $370,722
11. National Alliance for Hispanic Health (PI Mancera). UTEP BBRC CDC Vaccine Uptake. September 1, 2021, to January 31,2022. $42,000.
12. National Alliance for Hispanic Health (PI Mancera). Todos Juntos: All of Us Research Program. July 1, 2020, to Jun 30, 2021. $17,500
13. National Alliance for Hispanic Health. Mancera (PI). Todos Juntos: All of Us Research Program. December 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021. $15,000
14. Paso Del Norte Community Foundation. (PI Mancera). COVID-19 Promotora de Salud Community Project. January 1, 2021, to January 31, 2021. $13,000
15. Paso Del Norte Community Foundation. US Department of the Treasury (FED) - SPN02384US grant (PI Mancera). CARES Act: Promotor de Salud COVID-19 Community Engagement Project. October 1, 2020, to December 30, 2020. $90,000
16. Research Center at Minority Institutions and Borders Biomedical Research Center. NIH grant (PI Kirken). Mancera, Director Community Engagement. 5G12MD007592. April 1, 20015 to March 31, 2019. $15,106,787.
17. Hispanic Health Disparities Research Center. NIH Grant (PI Provencio Vasquez, E), Mancera, Project Manager at 100% effort. May 1, 2009, to June 30, 2016. $7,475,122
