Applying community-based participatory research to local policy change: Lessons learned from a social justice, regional foundation

There is a growing recognition amongst public health practitioners that community-based participatory research (CBPR) partnerships are uniquely qualified to devise and propose healthy public policies that promote health equity and reduce health disparities, while improving capacity for communities to advocate for healthy conditions and support healthy behaviors. However, there is still a need for rigorous and practical examples of the application of CBPR to influence policies. Furthermore, funders who support CBPR to advance public policy agendas can often face challenges in effectively allowing for the CBPR processes to unfold.

Since 2003, Northwest Health Foundation, a non-profit, philanthropic community foundation based in Portland, Oregon, has been supporting local CBPR efforts to build community capacity for advocacy for public health policies, as well as to support dissemination of CBPR results to drive systemic and policy changes that promote health equity and decrease health disparities. We describe three CBPR case studies whose outcomes have informed local policy agendas. These include a CBPR health impact assessment aimed at state legislation to reduce vehicular use, improve physical activity, and reduce air pollution; a study to explore new methods for how local government collects data on people of color that directly impacts funding policies for community-based organizations; and a study aimed at reducing mold exposure among low-income tenants through county rental housing policies. We will also discuss key lessons learned for assuring the principles of CBPR are upheld within a participatory policy research process, giving recommendations for both funding institutions and CBPR partnerships seeking funding.