About COAACH

Our Mission, Vision & Three Pillars

 

Promoting Healthy Aging. Preserving Independence. Strengthening Communities.

The Center for Outreach in Alzheimer’s, Aging, and Community Health (COAACH) at North Carolina A&T State University is dedicated to empowering individuals and communities through educational outreach, advocacy, and research. Building upon the university's commitment to education, research, and service, COAACH connects university expertise with community priorities to advance brain health, healthy aging, and overall well-being.
Our work emphasizes the needs of older adults, family caregivers, and underserved populations while recognizing that opportunities to achieve good health, preserve independence, and enjoy a high quality of life are important for everyone.

 

Our Mission

The Center for Outreach in Alzheimer’s, Aging, and Community Health (COAACH) is a community-centered hub for educational outreach, advocacy, and research dedicated to advancing brain health, healthy aging, and overall well-being. Through evidence-based health education, community engagement, interdisciplinary research, and strategic partnerships, we empower individuals and families, support caregivers, advocate for underserved populations, and promote opportunities for all people to live healthier lives, age with dignity, and maintain independence.

 

Our Vision

To create a future where all individuals, regardless of race, background, or socioeconomic status, have the opportunity to achieve optimal health, age with dignity, maintain independence, and enjoy a high quality of life.

 

Our Three Pillars

COAACH advances its mission through three interconnected pillars:

 

Educational Outreach, Advocacy, and Research.
These pillars reflect our commitment to empowering communities through knowledge, championing the health and well-being of individuals and families, and strengthening the connection between university research and community needs.

 

Educational Outreach

 

Empowering Communities Through Knowledge

COAACH empowers individuals, families, and communities through accessible, evidence-based health education focused on brain health, Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, chronic disease prevention, caregiving, and healthy aging.  Our educational initiatives include Lunch & Learns, caregiver education and support workshops, community health seminars, MyChart Ready digital health literacy classes, and educational outreach activities designed to increase health awareness and promote informed decision-making. We also invest in developing the next generation of health educators, scholars, and community leaders by providing educational and experiential learning opportunities for students and training community ambassadors to share relevant and evidence-based health information within their communities.
Through these efforts, we seek to equip people with the knowledge and skills to take an active role in maintaining their health and well-being throughout their lives.

 

Advocacy

 

Championing Health, Dignity, and Independence

COAACH advocates for the health, dignity, independence, and well-being of older adults, family caregivers, and underserved populations.  We recognize that informed and empowered communities are essential to improving health outcomes. Through education, awareness-building, community engagement, and collaborative partnerships, we amplify community voices, increase awareness of health-related challenges, and advocate for policies and practices that support healthy aging and improved quality of life.  Our advocacy efforts emphasize reducing barriers to health information, promoting greater awareness of available resources, supporting family caregivers, and ensuring that the needs and perspectives of older adults and underserved communities are represented in conversations that influence health and well-being.
Above all, we believe that every individual deserves the opportunity to age with dignity, maintain independence, and live as healthily as possible.

 

Research

 

Connecting University Research with Community Needs

COAACH serves as a vital bridge between North Carolina A&T State University researchers and the communities we serve, fostering meaningful connections that strengthen community engagement in research and expand awareness of opportunities to participate in scientific studies.  Through interdisciplinary collaborations, our Faculty Affiliate Program, and partnerships with researchers across the university and beyond, we support research that addresses important questions related to brain health, aging, Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, chronic disease prevention, and health disparities.  We help introduce research opportunities to community members, promote greater understanding of the importance of research participation, and encourage community engagement throughout the research process.  COAACH also supports faculty and emerging investigators by facilitating community connections, fostering collaborative research opportunities, and encouraging the translation of scientific knowledge into evidence-based educational approaches, practices, and policies that benefit communities.
Our goal is to help ensure that research is not only scientifically meaningful but also responsive to the needs and priorities of the populations it seeks to benefit.