The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #48523

Cassandra L Brooks, MSA, BA, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 432 N. Saginaw Street, Suite 301, Flint, MI 48502 and Ella Greene-Moton, Health Awareness Center/Flint Odyssey House Inc., 1225 Martin Luther King Avenue, Flint, MI 48503, (810) 238-0483, clbrooks@umich.edu.

Community-based research has emerged as a vital strategy for developing effective, culturally relevant interventions for a number of populations at risk for negative health outcomes. Israel et al., (1998) conclude that the common element across all approaches to community-based research is the desire to improve health outcomes for participants through direct interventions or using research findings to inform action for change. Community-based participatory research, however, includes the additional element of equality among partners in the research process (Institute of Medicine, 1997). The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of the Fathers and Sons Project as an example of conducting community-based participatory research based on a community-academic partnership. This intervention was designed to prevent risky health behaviors and enhance positive health behaviors through strengthening father-son relationships among non-resident African American fathers and their 8-12 year old sons. As part of the Prevention Research Center of Michigan, this project was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and adheres to the community-based public health philosophy. The strengths and challenges of building a collaborative research partnership based on equality between academic researchers, public health practitioners, and representatives from community-based organizations will be discussed. The model of collaboration adopted for the Fathers and Sons Project will be described and examples of model applications will be presented. Lessons learned in the form of strengths/benefits and potential pitfalls in developing a community-based intervention designed to enhance the health behaviors of African American non-residential fathers and their preadolescent sons will also be shared.

Learning Objectives:

• 1.Recognize the importance of the community-based participatory research approach for preventive interventions with African American families.
• 2.Be able to link theory to practice in working with African American fathers and sons.
• 3.Appreciate the challenges involved in evaluating community-based interventions.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.