A second Study Location in North Carolina will be launching data collection for the NCS this year. Durham County was selected to be part of an expansion ofthe Vanguard Study beyond the seven original NCS Study locations. Thirty Study locations in the expansion will use one of three alternate recruitment strategies. Durham County will use a recruitment method that is health care provider-based, meaning that first contacts with prospective Study participants will occur through their providers rather than at their homes. Durham is one of ten counties nationwide chosen for this approach. Sharon Loza, Project Manager for the Study in Durham County, shared—The National Children's Study Durham team members are thrilled that Durham County was selected to become part of the Vanguard Study and are eager to work with the Durham community to help make the National Children's Study a success.
Since early February, when news of the selection was announced by the National Institutes of Health, members of the Durham County Study team, led by Dr. Anna Maria Siega-Riz at UNC and Dr. Emmanuel ("Chip") Walter at Duke, have been building awareness about the Study with prenatal care providers and forging partnerships with area obstetricians who serve Durham County women, which is no small goal. The longer-term goal of improving children's health for generations is a guiding principle for this work.
The Durham County Study Team is ready to expand the NCS in North Carolina!