Research Community Engagement Program
Strengthening Community Engagement in Omaha, Rural Nebraska and Iowa
The Research Community Engagement Program works to make research more accessible and meaningful for the communities we serve. Our goal is to invite more families and community members to take part in research while building strong, lasting relationships with Boys Town National Research Hospital. We focus on listening to community voices, reducing barriers to participation and creating opportunities for communities who have been less involved in research. By partnering closely with families, educators, healthcare providers and local organizations, we help ensure that research reflects real experiences, real needs and real priorities. Together, this approach supports research that not only advances science, but also benefits children, families and communities in practical and lasting ways.
Community Screenings and Educational Events
Community screenings and educational events are designed to meet families where they are—offering welcoming, accessible opportunities to learn, ask questions and connect. These events provide families with information and resources related to early childhood communication development, including speech, language and hearing, in ways that are easy to understand and relevant to everyday life.
By sharing how the research process works and why community involvement is essential, these events help build trust and encourage meaningful participation. Families are invited to explore current and future studies, understand how their participation contributes to shared knowledge and see how their voices and experiences contribute to improving outcomes for young children. Through education, relationship-building and collaboration, community screening and educational events strengthen partnerships between families, researchers and the broader community.
Current Initiatives
Our current initiatives focus on connecting families and communities with helpful health resources, including hearing and speech and language screenings, easy-to-understand information about research and referrals for hearing and speech and language services when needed.
Some examples of how we support the community include:
- Offering free hearing and speech and language screenings at community health fairs
- Bringing opportunities to learn about and participate in research studies directly to local and rural communities across Nebraska through our mobile research resources, including the Boys Town Research Vehicle and Mini RV
- Providing hearing and speech and language screenings for preschool and school-aged children at after-school programs and public libraries using our mobile research resources
- Hosting research camps that give children hands-on, age-appropriate opportunities to learn about science and research in a fun, supportive environment while supporting curiosity, learning and positive experiences with research
Community Connections
Community Connections is an engagement initiative focused on building strong, lasting relationships built on trust and collaboration between Boys Town National Research Hospital and the communities we serve. By working closely with local organizations, schools, and families, opportunities are created for community members to learn about and take part in research in ways that feel accessible and meaningful. Just as importantly, community voices and experiences help inform how research is planned and carried out. We are committed to sharing study results back with the communities involved, so families and community partners can see how their participation contributes to learning and progress. Through these partnerships, Community Connections helps ensure research is relevant, trusted, and beneficial for both the community and the researchers involved.
Contact Us
If you are interested in partnering with the community engagement team to bring research to your community, please email Trinity Williams at trinity.williams@boystown.org.