Report on the TREE Center’s Contributions to Sustainable Development Goals through Health Equity Research

A forthcoming supplement of the journal Health Education & Behavior will detail the significant contributions of the University of New Mexico’s Transdisciplinary Research, Equity and Engagement (TREE) Center to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Center’s work, which focuses on eliminating health disparities through participatory science, provides a functional blueprint for achieving key SDG targets related to health, equality, and institutional partnerships.

Advancing Health, Well-being, and Equality (SDG 3 & SDG 10)

The TREE Center’s core mission directly addresses SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). By conducting community-engaged research, the Center aims to dismantle systemic health disparities that affect marginalized populations.

• Targeting Health Disparities: The research initiatives focus on critical health issues within Tribal, Latinx, immigrant, and LGBTQ+ communities, directly contributing to SDG Target 3.4 by promoting mental health and well-being.
• Promoting Inclusion: By centering its work on underrepresented groups, the Center actively works towards SDG Target 10.2, which calls for the social and economic inclusion of all, irrespective of origin or other status.
• Equity-Focused Interventions: The development of multi-level interventions rooted in community priorities ensures that solutions are culturally relevant and effective, aligning with SDG Target 10.3 to ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome.

Fostering Partnerships and Strong Institutions (SDG 17 & SDG 16)

The operational model of the TREE Center exemplifies the principles of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). The emphasis on co-leadership and collaboration builds trust and creates more responsive and inclusive institutional frameworks.

1. Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships: The Center’s network of over 300 community partners is a testament to its commitment to SDG Target 17.17, which encourages effective public and civil society partnerships.
2. Inclusive Decision-Making: The practice of “participatory team science,” which integrates academic knowledge with traditional community wisdom, ensures that research is conducted with and for communities. This model supports SDG Target 16.7 by promoting responsive, inclusive, and representative decision-making.
3. Building Capacity: Through mentorship, leadership development for early-stage investigators from underrepresented groups, and pilot project funding, the Center strengthens the capacity for equitable research, contributing to robust and just institutions.

Summary of Key Contributions to Sustainable Development

The research documented in the special issue highlights several key outcomes that align with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development:

• Community-Led Health Solutions: Research on topics such as immigrant mental health and Latinx youth resilience provides actionable data to improve well-being, supporting SDG 3.
• Strengthened Tribal–Academic Partnerships: Collaborative projects enhance knowledge sharing and build institutional trust, advancing SDG 16 and SDG 17.
• Empowerment of Underrepresented Scholars: Mentorship programs promote inclusive and equitable opportunities in higher education and research, contributing to SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 10.
• A Replicable Model for Equity: The TREE Center’s framework offers a proven approach for how collaborative, culturally centered research can generate lasting public health impact and reduce systemic inequalities, providing a valuable model for achieving the SDGs globally.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article’s primary focus is on public health, specifically “eliminating health disparities,” addressing “immigrant mental health,” and achieving “lasting public health impact.”
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The core mission of the TREE Center is to conduct “equity-focused research” and work with “underrepresented groups,” including “Tribal, Latinx, immigrant, and LGBTQ+ communities,” directly tackling social and health inequalities.
• SDG 4: Quality Education: The article is centered around a university research center (UNM) and highlights “mentorship and leadership development of early-stage investigators,” “knowledge translation,” and integrating “academic theory with traditional community knowledge,” all of which are components of higher education and research.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The methodology described is fundamentally based on collaboration, referred to as “participatory team science,” “community-engaged” research, and “Tribal–academic partnerships.” The article explicitly mentions mobilizing “more than 300 community partners.”

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being. This is relevant due to the article’s specific mention of research on “immigrant mental health.”
   • Target 3.d: Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks. The mention of research on “COVID-19 policy response” aligns with this target of managing global health risks.
2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status. The work with “Tribal, Latinx, immigrant, and LGBTQ+ communities” is a direct effort to promote the inclusion of these groups.
   • Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices. The goal to “eliminate health disparities” is a direct action toward reducing inequalities of outcome.
3. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including…appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development. The approach of integrating “academic theory with traditional community knowledge” and emphasizing “cultural relevance” directly supports this target.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The article describes a partnership model involving a university (public), the NIH (public), and “300 community partners” (civil society).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For SDG 3: While specific health outcome data is not provided, the article implies measurement through its focus on “immigrant mental health” and “COVID-19 policy response,” suggesting that indicators would relate to mental health service access and the effectiveness of pandemic policies in specific communities.
• For SDG 10: Progress is measured through the “mentorship and leadership development of early-stage investigators from underrepresented groups,” which can be quantified. The “evaluation of TREE’s impact on community partnerships” also implies the use of indicators to measure the reduction of health disparities among the mentioned communities.
• For SDG 4: A direct indicator is the financial support provided for research and education, specifically the “$763,000 in pilot project funding” for scholars. The development of “innovative multi-level interventions rooted in community priorities” serves as a qualitative indicator of applying culturally relevant knowledge.
• For SDG 17: The article provides a clear quantitative indicator for partnership scale: the mobilization of “more than 300 community partners.” The “evaluation of TREE’s impact on community partnerships” is an indicator of partnership effectiveness.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: miragenews.com