Capacity building, community engagement and data collection: An exemplar model for CBPR

Community engagement and capacity building is vital to addressing health disparities at the community level. As part of our efforts to foster community engagement and capacity building, we recruited and trained sixteen high school and community college students to conduct the population based survey for our federally funded community-based participatory research project. Project IMPACT (Influencing the Media and Public Agenda on Cancer and Tobacco Disparities) aims to build capacity in Lawrence, Massachusetts by mobilizing community groups to change the public agenda on health and tobacco-related disparities. To this end we are first examining the current media environment and public opinion on health disparities. Second, we are developing an intervention targeting staff at community-based organizations that work with underserved populations and ethnic and minority groups. The intervention will focus on how to work with local media to advance the public agenda around health and tobacco related disparities. In preparation for the public opinion assessment, we held a two-day intensive training for both students and community-based supervisors on survey methods and administration. We also provided ongoing coaching and support during the survey administration period. Students successfully administered over 900, thirty minute surveys between August and December 2011. This example of community capacity building demonstrates both the feasibility of this type of partnership and serves as an exemplar model for CBPR.