Characteristics of strong academic/community partnerships in CBPR

There is a growing interest in community- based participatory research (CBPR) methods to address issues of health disparities. Because the success of CBPR is dependent upon the formation of strong academic/community partnerships, it is helpful to identify those factors which promote successful partnerships, from the perspective of both investigators and community members.

This session will include presentations by a nurse researcher and community activist, each of whom has been involved in several CBPR projects. Topics of interest to academic researchers will include selection of community partners, degree of community engagement, moving from clinical collaborations to research projects, the community's role in problem identification, ”insider vs outsider” concerns and time commitment issues. Themes of interest to community members and community based organizations will include issues of trust, fear of exploitation, transparency, power sharing, empowerment strategies and the sustainability of the partnership. Presenters will offer strategies for addressing areas of disagreement and promoting collaboration. This is an interactive presentation and attendees will be encouraged to ask questions and share their own experiences in the development of CBPR partnerships.