PCVPC Cores
Operations/Administrative and Infrastructure Core
The Administrative and Infrastructure (A&I) Core provides support and coordination to the research and community collaborations required to meet the UPACE goals and objectives. The A&I Core guides and facilitates communication and collaboration between all other Center cores, and serves as a resource to the full range of community and research partners. The specific aims of the A&I Core are to: 1) create an interactive, supportive and collaborative environment for PCVPC partners; 2) enhance integration of PCVPC and local community resources; 3) perform necessary fiscal and administrative operations of the Center; 4) sustain and expand Center activities and funding beyond the scope of the initial CDC Academic Center funding.
Research Core
The Research Core plans and conducts research and evaluation of primary youth violence prevention programs. Its goals are to: 1) promote active engagement of community partners in the planning, implementation, evaluation, interpretation, and dissemination of research; 2) attract new investigators and community partners to youth violence primary prevention research; 3) evaluate the effectiveness of investigator – community partner processes in youth violence research; 4) form linkages with other cores for effective information flow and feedback loops for continuous quality improvement.
Information and Data Core
The Information and Data Core provides statistical and epidemiologic support to the research projects conducted by the Center. The Information Core also uses university – community partnerships to track changes in youth violence, youth activities, and youth environments in all of Philadelphia as well as the city's West and Southwest sections. University partners (University of Pennsylvania's Schools of Medicine, Social Policy and Practice, and Design as well as Temple University's College of Health Professions) provide data collection expertise and create database systems tailored to the Center's needs.
Communication and Dissemination Core
The Communication and Dissemination (C&D) Core ensures that information flows between researchers and the affected community, among community members and organizations, and within the group of partnering academic institutions. A fundamental principle guides the C&D core: There must be a two-way flow of information, in a continuous loop—community must inform research, and research must inform community. Through this interchange, we expect that both the academic and community partners will gain an enhanced capacity for action to prevent youth violence.
External Advisory Committee
The external advisory committee (EAC) provides an informed, forward-thinking view of the Center's strategic direction. The EAC examines the visions and missions of the Center, tracking its accomplishments and staying focused on what the Center hopes to accomplish. It also ensures that the Center is progressing according to the projected timetable, facilitating collaboration, encouraging new ideas across disciplines, and utilizing and emphasizing its strengths.
Resource Advisory Committee
The Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) plays a significant role in keeping the Center informed of local community and academic violence prevention efforts. The RAC reviews the Center's current and future programmatic and research efforts to ensure that they positively impact, but do not duplicate or interfere with, other violence prevention programs in the city.
