150602 Assessing adherence to CBPR principles as a mechanism for strengthening community-academic partnerships

Monday, November 5, 2007: 8:45 AM

Giselle Corbie-Smith, MD, MSc , TraCS Community Engagement Core, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Melvin Muhammad, AA , Community Enrichment Organization, Tarboro, NC
Connie Blumenthal, MPH , Cecil B. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Selena Youmans, BA , Cecil B. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Doris Stith, BA , Community Enrichment Organization, Tarboro, NC
Arlinda Ellison, MS , Edgecombe County Health Department, Tarboro, NC
Adaora Adimora, MD, MPH , Division of Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Stacey W. Lloyd, BS , Cecil B. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Dionne M. Smith, PhD , Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Washington, DC
Barbara Council , Community Enrichment Organization, Oak City, NC
Stacey Henderson, MEd , Educational, Research, & Technical Consultant, Project GRACE, Rocky Mount, NC
  
Issues: Evaluation of community based participatory research (CBPR) efforts can be important in strengthening partnerships. We describe preliminary data from process evaluations of Project GRACE (Growing Reaching, Advocating for Change and Empowerment) to determine adherence to CBPR principles in the initial phases of partnership development.

Description: Project GRACE uses a CBPR approach to develop culturally sensitive and sustainable interventions to prevent HIV in African American communities. An independent contractor conducted semi-structured interviews with project steering committee members to assess project knowledge, general climate, awareness of “isms” (i.e. classism, racism), cultural differences, and whether members felt empowered to make project decisions. Members placed a premium on specificity regarding tasks to be completed, resources needed, and processes for sharing information and accountability. They also expressed concern about addressing tension and conflict on committees; sharing information about how organizations and community members are working together; addressing issues of racism, sexism and internalized racism among the group; and having community member representation on working committees.

Lessons Learned: Evaluation results were presented to the steering committee and used as a basis for changes in activities, procedures and policies. Reporting from involved organizations, community member leadership of working committees and attention to capacity building ensures that all members were empowered to make decisions regarding the project and had working knowledge of project activities.

Recommendations: Early assessment of adherence to CBPR principles can provide a practical mechanism for addressing partner concerns and strengthening community-academic partnerships.

Learning Objectives:
Describe the methods and goals of process evaluation for CBPR projects. Identify key concerns expressed CBPR partners about adherence to CBPR principles. List changes in activities, procedures, and policies that can strengthen community-academic partnerships engaged in CBPR research.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: What Works? Identifying and Assessing Models, Structures, and Factors that Make or Break Partnerships
See more of: Community-Based Public Health Caucus