Developing the Community Empowered Research Training (CERT) program: Building research capacity for community-initiated and community-driven research

Using a participatory approach, the Community Empowered Research Training (CERT) program aims to provide research training and education workshops geared to community partners to facilitate their ability to engage, participate, and develop health research. CERT is guided by a national committee comprised of community-based and academic experts representing diverse organizations serving the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) populations. The Research Capacity Assessment survey was designed to inform the development of the CERT program. The on-line survey assessed research training gaps, needs, and resources among community organizations and clinical providers. The survey was administered nationally to leadership and health/research staff (N=50). Results reveal that agencies' main motivations for building their research capacity include policy and sustainability goals. Majority of respondents noted that senior leadership and management should attend such programs including: at the Program Director or Manager level (91%) and at the Executive Director level (52%). Respondents noted that effective training included: 1) interactive, hands-on participation, 2) relevancy and applicability of the trainings to current organizational work; 3) involvement of community as facilitators of trainings. The majority of respondents indicated that a 2-3 day intensive program was favored over a multi-week seminar training program. Priority research training topics included finding and capitalizing on funding opportunities, grant writing, policy/dissemination, and sustaining programs and initiatives. Results of the survey along with round table discussions with community-based experts has guided the development of research training initiatives relevant to the needs and resources of community organizations