An interdisciplinary community-academic CBPR partnership addressing environmental health concerns from litter and Brownfields

Background: Objectives of a translational science pilot study- On our soil: Brownfields and litter in Weinland Park that had two primary objectives - were to partnership with an underserved minority community to identify salient environmental public health (EPH) concerns, and use residents' and EPH experts' input to develop a common EPH vocabulary to describe the concerns. The community has two Brownfield sites and persistent problems with litter. Methods: This descriptive study grounded in the community-based participatory research (CBPR) orientation was guided by a steering committee (community residents, community partners, and faculty [PH nursing, PH, environmental sciences]). Photovoice, go-alongs, interviews, and focus group data were analyzed using content analysis. Process evaluation data (SC meeting surveys, checklists, and minutes) were analyzed using content analysis and descriptive statistics. Results: Differences and commonalities were noted in residents' and experts' perceptions of causes and remediation of litter and Brownfields. Residents acknowledged lacking information about Brownfields, felt knowledgeable about factors related to litter in the community, and identified health threats from both EPH hazards and impact on residents' physical and mental health. A community forum prioritized findings and identified action steps to address both EPH concerns. Conclusions: CBPR orientation and innovative data collection methods were crucial to the study's success and the on-going academic-community partnership. Implications for PH nursing interventions, CBPR and research partnerships with communities, community engagement and empowerment, environmental health and environmental justice have relevance for addressing the link between healthy communities and healthy minds and bodies in PH nursing, practice, and research.