Review of the Assessing Community Engagement Conceptual Model

In order to better assess the extent, process, and impact of community engagement, the National Academy of Medicine Leadership Consortium partnered with a diverse and inclusive Organizing Committee to develop a new resource illustrating the dynamic relationship between community engagement and measurable and meaningful outcomes. This tool, called the Assessing Community Engagement Conceptual Model (ACE-CoM), demonstrates how meaningful community engagement can lead to strengthened relationships and alliances, expanded knowledge, improved health and health care programs and policies, and thriving communities – and ultimately health equity through transformed systems for health. Recognizing that a variety of systems (e.g., housing, education) ultimately influence health, it is critical that community engagement be at the center and that community engagement be measured.

During this conversation, participants:

-discussed the relationship between community engagement, meaningful outcomes in health and health care, and transformed systems for health;
-engaged the perspectives of Organizing Committee members on the development and potential implementation of the ACE-CoM;
-described forthcoming resources to support assessing community engagement; and
-answered questions and share reflections on the ACE-CoM.