Integrating Special Populations (ISP) is a program focused on increasing engagement, enrollment, and retention of children, youth, and older adults, particularly from racially/ethnically and economically diverse populations, in research. ISP works closely with the Seattle Children’s Center for Diversity & Health Equity (CDHE) and Health Equity Research Community Advisory Council (CAC).
Our approach
In partnership with CDHE and CAC, the ISP program focuses on:
- Broad stakeholder engagement to affect change
- Eliminating institutional barriers to diversity in research participation
- Identifying strategies that can be implemented at the study, program, center, and institutional level to advance access to research for children, youth, and older adults, particularly from racially/ethnically and economically diverse populations.
ISP develops services and training for investigators and community organizations to enable more racial/ethnic and economic diversity of youth and older adults in research. For example, our Community Guide provides a framework for community-based organizations that want to partner with academic teams in research.
The ISP program works closely with the Community Engagement program within ITHS to provide training to researchers on community-engaged research. Community Engagement also has a system in place to link community-based organizations interested in research with academic research partners.
