Administration on Community Living (ACL) - Fall Prevention Innovation Lab

Dates: Sept 1, 2023 – Aug 31, 2026

Overview: This project involves coordinating with partners at the ACL and National Council on Aging, participating in the Research Advisory Committee with experts in fall prevention research and practice, and facilitating the RFP process for sub-awardees. Responsibilities include providing guidance on sub-award development, assisting with falls prevention taxonomy development, and emphasizing equity and diversity in the application review criteria.

Funding: Administration on Community Living (ACL), $15,000

Principal Investigator: Marlana Kohn

Decision-Making in Alzheimer’s Research (DMAR)

Dates: Jun 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2026

Overview: Conduct research to keep older adults with dementia involved in decision-making by better understanding their decision-making processes and creating a novel tool to identify preferences related to transitions in care.

Funding: National Institute on Aging, $3.3 million

Principal Investigator: Anne Turner

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Enhance®Fitness Dissemination

Dates: Ongoing

Overview: Partner with Sound Generations to disseminate and evaluate Enhance®Fitness, an evidence-based physical activity program for older adults.

Funding: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Principal Investigator: Marlana Kohn

PEARLS® Dissemination

Dates: Ongoing

Overview: Collaborate with local, state, and national partners to disseminate the Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives® (PEARLS®) to improve late-life depression.

Funding: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Principal Investigator: Lesley Steinman

Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity (RAPA) Dissemination

Dates: Ongoing

Overview: Disseminate the Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity (RAPA), an instrument to measure physical activity among older adults.

Funding: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Principal Investigator: Kristen Hammerback

Care-Coordination for Hereditary Cancer Syndromes (CARE-HCS)

Dates: May 10, 2023 – Feb 29, 2028

Overview: Address roadblocks to cancer genomic testing by revising and evaluating two population management interventions: web resources and personalized outreach. Each intervention will be tested within a vertically integrated health system and a federally qualified health center. This project will help provide clinicians with essential data and tools to address gaps in post-testing quality and patient safety, further advancing preventive genomic medicine.

Funding: National Human Genome Research Institute, $4,430,000

Principal Investigator: Sarah Knerr

Evaluation & Technical Assistance for Washington State’s Cancer Programs

Dates: June 30, 2020 – June 30, 2027

Overview: Provide evaluation and implementation technical assistance to Washington State Department of Health in support of the Breast, Cervical, and Colon Health Program, along with the Washington Comprehensive Cancer Control Program’s HPV, colorectal cancer, tobacco cessation, and community health worker activities. Support health system partners’ implementation of evidence-based interventions to increase breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening.

Funding: Washington State Department of Health (DOH), $1,546,655

Principal Investigator: Peggy Hannon

Improving Healthcare Access for Latina Domestic Workers

Dates: March 1, 2026 – May 30, 2027

Overview: We will partner with Casa Latina to develop and pilot-test a culturally relevant healthcare navigation training for Latina domestic workers. The project will help participants better navigate health systems, access preventive services and connect to community resources, while generating policy recommendations to strengthen support for this essential workforce.

Funding: Latino Center for Health, $20,000

Principal Investigator: Pia Chaparro, PhD, MS (UW SPH) and Magali Sanchez, MPH (Latinx Health Board of Washington)

Nuestro Valor

Dates: Sept 24, 2024 – May 31, 2029

Overview: This research aims to accelerate the implementation of evidence-based interventions to promote health in the rural United States. In this study, we will determine the implementation outcomes and effectiveness of El Valor, a retail food store evidence-based intervention to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables delivered by community health workers for rural communities.

Funding: National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), $3,476,726

Principal Investigator: Barbara Baquero

Partnering with Latino-Owned Businesses to Advance Health Equity through Cancer Prevention and Control

Dates: Ongoing

Overview: Identify small Latino businesses’ key barriers and facilitators to adopting and implementing cancer prevention and screening interventions using mixed methods, and adapt, and pilot-test Connect to Wellness toolkits with Latino-owned businesses in collaboration with community partners including Latino business owners and employees.

Funding: Fred Hutchinson, University of Washington, and Seattle Children’s Cancer Consortium, $152,331

Principal Investigator: Barbara Baquero

Scaling Up Connect to Wellness for Employees in Low-Wage Industries Across Washington State

Dates: Ongoing

Overview: Partner with small, low-wage businesses in Washington state to promote cancer control and workplace wellness programming, and incorporate needed adaptations to support Connect to Wellness implementation in the food service and accommodation industries.

Funding: Andy Hill CARE Fund, $597,643

Principal Investigator: Peggy Hannon

Healthy Worksite Summit

Dates: Ongoing

Overview: Provide training and networking opportunities to promote worksite health in Washington state.

Funding: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Principal Investigator: Kristen Hammerback

Expanding Mental Health Care Through Promotores de Salud

Dates: March 1, 2026 – May 30, 2027

Overview: This project will adapt and evaluate a low-barrier mental health intervention delivered by Promotores de Salud at Villa Comunitaria in South Park. The initiative will pilot a culturally tailored group-based program aimed at reducing stress, depression, and anxiety among Latine immigrants and will produce a scalable model for trusted community organizations statewide.

Funding: Latino Center for Health, $20,000

Principal Investigators: Analia Bertoni, MA (Villa Comunitaria) and Lesley Steinman, PhD, MPH, MSW (UW HSPOP)

Community Codesign to Integrate Low-Barrier, Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Mental Health Care into Community-Based Social Services

Dates: Jan 1, 2024 – May 30, 2026

Overview: Co-led with Neighborhood House, this project integrates culturally responsive mental health care into community-based services for Somali communities in King County, aiming to improve access, reduce stigma, and build evidence for scalable, linguistically appropriate care.

Phase 1: (Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024) Adapted WHO’s Problem Management Plus (PM+) with Somali community members and providers using anti-racist, human-centered design and implementation science.

Phase 2: (June1, 2025 – May 30, 2026) Piloted, tested and adapted PM+ with 15 Somali community members and providers to assess reach, effectiveness and implementation, and refine delivery.

Phase 3: (proposed) Expand and evaluate adapted PM+ for Amharic, Spanish, Russian and Vietnamese speaking communities.

Funding: University of Washington Population Health Initiative, $90,000 and University of Washington ALACRITY Center, $50,000

Co-Investigators: Najma Mohamed and Lesley Steinman (Pase 1,2 and 3); Jacob Bentley (Phase 2)

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Evaluation of Pierce County Local Impact Network (LIN) Programs

Dates: Jan 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2026

Overview: Evaluate the strength of the community Piece County Local Impact Network and oral health intervention projects. The goal is to measure the effect of the interventions and improvements in oral health and oral health equity in Pierce County, Washington. The Pierce County Local Impact Network is a collaborative community effort supported by the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department Centers for Excellence and the Arcora Foundation.

Funding: Arcora Foundation, $145,800

Principal Investigators: Marlana Kohn