Pillars
iServe
Behavioral Health Intervention Development and Program Evaluation
We specialize in developing and evaluating health behavior interventions. Over the past decade, Dr. Ingram has implemented culturally adapted interventions and led program evaluation activities in underserved ethnic communities.
Social Justice & Strengths-Based Practice
Training for graduate-level public health scholars interested in community engagement in practice and fostering scholarly activities. Community Health Practitioner Trainees (CHPTs) work will include creating safe spaces for community advocacy and community health policy development.
Building Health EQUITY
Our research seeks to ensure that all populations have an equal opportunity to live a healthy and quality life. We focus our research on the prevalence of minority health disparities. We seek to build knowledge and understanding around the issues fostering minority health disparities to develop culturally appropriate interventions that seek to eliminate these disparities.
MEET THE CHERJ FOUNDER
Dr. LaDrea Ingram
Dr. LaDrea Ingram is the Co-Founder of ProjectiGive and Associate Research Scientist/Faculty of Public Health at Yale University, School of Public Health, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
She is a social behavioral scientist and certified health education specialist (CHES). She earned her doctoral degree in Health Education & Behavioral Studies from Columbia University, Teachers College. Dr. Ingram also received a Master of Arts in Government from Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Science in Health and Medical Policy from George Mason University.
Dr. Ingram’s work focuses on the connection between biopsychosocial factors (i.e., trauma,stress, adverse childhood experiences-interpersonal childhood violence) and co-occurring disorders (substance use, mental illness) in people of color and socially disadvantaged populations. Correspondingly, she explores the racial/ethnic disparities in health-related outcomes.
As a scholar-practitioner, Dr. Ingram recognizes the dynamic interplay between research and community change thus, applies a social justice-oriented approach to community-based participatory research (CBPR). She is also interested in implementation science and developing evidence-based interventions that improve psychological wellness and health-enhancing behaviors in young women of color.
Founder, Social Behavioral Scientist
The Center for Health Equity and Racial Justice (CHERJ) is at the forefront of transforming the landscape of health equity and racial justice through a collaborative and strategic approach. By fostering partnerships grounded in democracy, CHERJ works alongside key stakeholders to forge a unified pathway towards addressing health disparities and racial injustices. This collective effort is rooted in a shared community vision that prioritizes the well-being and dignity of every individual.
CHERJ's commitment to innovation is evident in its research initiatives, which prioritize the amplification of voices and lived experiences from underserved communities. This vital work not only sheds light on the systemic barriers to health equity but also serves as a foundation for developing comprehensive strategies aimed at dismantling these obstacles. As a result, CHERJ is emerging as a national model for multilevel system practices in health equity and racial justice.
Transformational and Collaborative Partnerships
An essential part of CHERJ's strategy is its partnership with ProjectiGive, an organization dedicated to enhancing community engagement and promoting evidence-based practices. Together, they are nurturing a new generation of scholars and practitioners equipped with the knowledge and skills to advance health equity. Dr. LaDrea Ingram, Co-founder of ProjectiGive, exemplifies this mission. With the support of seed funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the National Collaborative for Health Equity through the Culture of Health and Racial Healing Leadership Institute, Dr. Ingram is leveraging her academic and community expertise to make significant contributions to CHERJ's goals.
Through pioneering research, strategic partnerships, and a commitment to community engagement, the Center for Health Equity and Racial Justice is paving the way for a future where health equity and racial justice are not just ideals but realities for all.
Foster transformational and collaborative partnerships that empower and inspire the use of healthcare data to address healthcare disparities through policy, programs, and practice. Build a pipeline of healthcare scholars trained in monitoring and evaluating health disparities data and developing programs to achieve health equity.