CDIS Community Partner Spotlight: LAMP
Chicago Lawndale AMACHI Mentoring Program (LAMP) provides mentoring to children 5-24 years old impacted by incarceration and delivers programming focused on academic achievement, decision-making, social and emotional stability, and community pride in North Lawndale, Chicago. Dr. Natasha Crooks, CDIS Faculty Affiliate has been volunteering with LAMP over the past year facilitating monthly health education workshops (i.e., sexual health, mental health, bullying, self-esteem) workshops for Black girls. Dr. Betty Green the director of LAMP, is supportive of the Dr. Crooks study “A Family-Based HIV Prevention Program for Black Men to Protect Black Girls” and is currently facilitating recruitment for a different study. Since joining UIC in August 2019, the Dr. Crooks has developed collaborations with LAMP. LAMP has been Dr. Crooks longstanding community partner, as they have supported Dr. Crooks research by providing space for data collection at their facility and aiding with recruitment. Dr. Crooks conducted her pilot of IMAGE at the LAMP facility this summer. Dr. Green and the LAMP staff will consult throughout the study. The proposed work will strengthen partnership development and will allow for a long-term trusted relationship with Black Chicago communities.
Doctoral nursing students from the University of Illinois Chicago are completing their Community Health Rotation at LAMP this semester and work with the children and young adults enrolled in the program.
