The UNC School of Nursing proudly announces that Jian (Lily) Chen, a second-year Ph.D.
student and Royster Fellow, has been awarded a 2-year grant from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation. This grant, totaling $544,140.60, will support Chen’s research project in collaboration with the United Chinese Americans (UCA) WAVES Youth Mental Health Collaborative.
As WAVES Executive Director and Principal Investigator of the project, titled “Identifying Health Priorities in Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities,” Chen, alongside Dr. Grace Wu, who will provide methodology support as a statistician and Dr. Paohwa Lin, the Co-PI, will lead efforts to assess the health needs and barriers faced by Asian American Native Hawaiians Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) communities across North Carolina. Through data collection and analysis methods, including focus groups, comprehensive health surveys, and in-depth interviews, the research seeks to shed light on the unique challenges and disparities experienced by these communities.
“I am thrilled to receive this incredible support from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation,” says Chen. “For too long, the AANHPI community has been underrepresented and underreported in health research, yet experienced large health disparity due to unique cultural and structural barriers. The grant will allow our coalition to build scientific evidence through authentic community engagement and empowerment using vigorous research methodology. I am so grateful for our community to be seen and heard, and excited to start this important work.”
The project will be conducted in partnership with various community organizations, including the Karen Community Farm at Oaky Groves, a Refugee Community, and 13 other community partners, including AAPI organizations, county and municipality senior services, and an education center. Researchers from North Carolina Central University, Duke University, and UNC-Chapel Hill will also collaborate closely to ensure the success of the project.
For more information about the project, please visit ucausa.org/waves-programs/