When conducting community-based research, it's likely that you will need to find individuals, groups or organizations that in some way speak for their segment of the community. The ideal community partners are ones that may put a higher priority on health, who put the community needs above their own, and who have the "bridge" skills to communicate and work effectively on a team with health professionals. Similarly, the research partners must not only bring special skills such as data management, research design, and statistical analysis, but the ability to listen and to value the priorities articulated by members of the community, and to engage in true partnership. We will discuss some guidelines for making a difference and convincing a community through the development of trust, respect, and finally data.
Principles for building trust and respect include the following:  Real partners respect and value each other’s knowledge and skills.  Real partners share control.  Real partners share the money.  Real partners share the glory.  Real partners are in it for the long haul. Communicating results to the community is different from communicating findings to other researchers. Data for community partners has some value but it may not be a primary interest. Other methods of reporting data may be more effective when communicating to community partners such as telling stories about findings that can influence community leaders who can convince others about important results
Learning Objectives: Please group with Rust invited session titled "Making a Difference? Prove It!" (Presenters: Rust, Chin, Murray, & Daniels)
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.