Why a Systems Alignment Innovation Hub?

The S4A Program prioritizes community-engaged research, but too often community-based organizations (CBOs) face barriers that make it difficult to engage in the research process. As a result, well-resourced universities and research institutions tend to play the leading roles in developing research ideas and in conducting and interpreting scientific studies, with CBOs playing more limited roles. CBOs often have promising ideas for systems alignment, but may face difficulties in moving these ideas forward into rigorous research studies. This could create a gap in the questions being asked and solutions being tested; would less traditional researchers have different questions and approaches? A key aim of the S4A program is to connect research findings with end users, but how would that aim shift if a CBO were conducting the research?
 The Robert Wood Johnson Foundations S4A program launched the Systems Alignment Innovation Hub (SAIH) in November 2022 to help CBOs develop and lead systems alignment research, especially those organizations that serve racially and socially marginalized communities. The purpose of SAIH is to empower CBOs to access, develop, and lead research and implementation of systems alignment strategies for racially and socially marginalized communities, informed by their culture, needs, priorities, and values.

SAIH works directly with a broad array of CBOs that include community-based nonprofits, public agencies, professional associations, and advocacy organizations that are uniquely positioned to develop new ideas for systems alignment, but could benefit from additional resources and supports to plan and implement strong research designs to determine the impact of their ideas on health — and on health equity. In this way, we can position vital organizations to receive targeted research funding while expanding the evidence base for alignment innovations that improve health outcomes and reduce disparities.

SAIH does this by providing four specific services:

• Free technical assistance and consultation services to develop and test systems alignment strategies.
• A Community Power Network to foster a community of practice focusing on the potential for systems alignment initiatives to improve outcomes for Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities.
• Research funding for the development, testing, and implementation of systems alignment strategies.
• Tools, guides, and resources to support these efforts.

The SAIH put out their first request for proposals in summer 2023 and is currently working with their first cohort of grantees.