The Origins and Overview of the W. K. Kellogg Community Health Scholars Program

Background: This paper describes the history and components of the W. K. Kellogg Community Health Scholars Program (CHSP). From 1998 to 2007, CHSP trained 46 postdoctoral fellows to develop and enhance skills in working with communities and engage in community-based participatory research (CBPR).

Objectives: The original goal of CHSP was to increase the number of faculty at health professional schools who possess the capacity to carry out CBPR and teaching; however, the goal of the program was revised to highlight the importance of having public health professionals in all professional settings with CBPR knowledge and expertise.

Methods: CHSP was a training program whose design and implementation exemplified the partnership principles at the core of the training it provided. An external participatory evaluation was conducted to strengthen the maturing program. Key program components included a National Advisory Committee, training sites, academic and community mentorship, and a structured Scholar Program Plan.

Conclusion: The CHSP has had an impact on academic institutions, community-based organizations (CBOs), policies relating to research funding and implementation, and professional organizations (e.g., founded the Community-Based Public Health Caucus of the American Public Health Association). As the result of the continued interaction of CHSP alumni and their academic and community mentors and partners, that which began as a training program evolved into much more. Although the CHSP as a discrete program came to an end in 2007, its principles and methods were sustained as it continued as the Community Track of the Kellogg Health Scholars Program in that year.