The Effects of Two Community-Based Participatory Action Research Programs on Violence Outside of and in School Among Adolescents and Young Adults in a Latino Community

IntroductionWith rapid urbanisation in low-income and middle-income countries, health systems are struggling to meet the needs of their growing populations. Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) in Ghana have been effective in improving maternal and child health in rural areas; however, implementation in urban areas has proven challenging. This study aims to engage key stakeholders in urban communities to understand how the CHPS model can be adapted to reach poor urban communities.Methods and analysisA Participatory Action Research (PAR) will be used to develop an urban CHPS model with stakeholders in three selected CHPS zones: (a) Old Fadama (Yam and Onion Market community), (b) Adedenkpo and (c) Adotrom 2, representing three categories of poor urban neighbourhoods in Accra, Ghana. Two phases will be implemented: phase 1 (‘reconnaissance phase) will engage and establish PAR research groups in the selected zones, conduct focus groups and individual interviews with urban residents, households vulnerable to ill-health and CHPS staff and key stakeholders. A desk review of preceding efforts to implement CHPS will be conducted to understand what worked (or not), how and why. Findings from phase 1 will be used to inform and co-create an urban CHPS model in phase 2, where PAR groups will be involved in multiple recurrent stages (cycles) of community-based planning, observation, action and reflection to develop and refine the urban CHPS model. Data will be managed using NVivo software and coded using the domains of community engagement as a framework to understand community assets and potential for engagement.Ethics and disseminationThis study has been approved by the University of York’s Health Sciences Research Governance Committee and the Ghana Health Service Ethics Review Committee. The results of this study will guide the scale-up of CHPS across urban areas in Ghana, which will be disseminated through journal publications, community and government stakeholder workshops, policy briefs and social media content. This study is also funded by the Medical Research Council, UK.

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Community-Based Participatory Action Research in Mental Health: A Special Focus on Photovoice

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckv169.056 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 25 (suppl_3) ◽

Author(s):

O Camar

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Action Research ◽

Participatory Action Research ◽

Special Focus ◽

Participatory Action ◽

Community Based

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“Different but connected”: Participatory action research using Photovoice to explore well-being in autistic young adults

Autism ◽

10.1177/1362361319898961 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 24 (5) ◽

pp. 1246-1259 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gary Yu Hin Lam ◽

Emily Holden ◽

Megan Fitzpatrick ◽

Linda Raffaele Mendez ◽

Karen Berkman

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Action Research ◽

Participatory Action Research ◽

School Transition ◽

Past Research ◽

Well Being ◽

Transition Program ◽

Research Approach ◽

Participatory Action ◽

Autistic Community

Past research has largely focused on the negative aspects of well-being of autistic young adults during the post-school transition. Research that meaningfully includes autistic individuals and captures their perspectives of positive well-being is essential for stakeholders to better understand how to provide services that respond to the needs and wants of the autistic community. In the current study, 14 autistic young adults in a post-school transition program participated in a Photovoice project and used photos to express their ideas about well-being. A participatory action research approach was used to support participants’ active engagement in the research processes and to encourage meaningful expression of their first-person perspectives. Results revealed an account of well-being reflecting expressions of individuality and growth, the significance of having close relationships, and a sense of connection with the community. This study has implications for research and practice that promotes well-being among the autistic community using approaches that are ethically informed and inclusive of autistic voices. Lay abstract Past research has mainly focused on autistic people’s deficits and poor outcomes compared to other groups of people. Little is known about their positive life experiences, and how to support them to achieve a higher quality of life. It is important to include autistic individuals in research so that they can influence how their voices are represented in a meaningful way and how the research results will be useful to them. In this study, a university researcher collaborated with 14 autistic young adults in a post-school transition program to design and run the research, collect and analyze the data, and use the results to create a presentation to the community. Specifically, the participants took photos in daily life and discussed their ideas about what a good life means to them. Results showed that these young adults described themselves as uniquely and different, but they were eager to learn and adapt. They also valued their relationships with their families, friends, and animals around them, as well as the community at large. This research shows that autistic individuals have important perspectives to share and knowledge to contribute when they are given the opportunities to participate in different aspects of research. The findings will be useful in developing services and influencing policies that promote well-being among autistic adults.

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Supporting institution-to-community transitions for people with psychiatric disabilities: Findings and implications from a participatory action research project

Disability Studies Quarterly ◽

10.18061/dsq.v34i4.3834 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 34 (4) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Andrea Gossett Zakrajsek ◽

Mansha Mirza ◽

Nathan Kai-Cheong Chan ◽

Tom Wilson ◽

Mark Karner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Action Research ◽

Nursing Homes ◽

Participatory Action Research ◽

Virtual Communities ◽

Psychiatric Disabilities ◽

Second Phase ◽

Participatory Action ◽

Action Research Project ◽

Community Based ◽

Research Project

<p><span>Despite preference for community-based living, large numbers of people with psychiatric disabilities live in nursing homes throughout the US. Community-based services for this population are limited by public policy and service system barriers. This paper summarizes these barriers and presents the second phase of a participatory action research project jointly developed by university-based researchers and two Centers for Independent Living. A qualitative case study methodology was used to understand the experiences of three individuals with psychiatric disabilities reintegrating into the community from nursing homes. Findings revealed themes of social isolation, participation in virtual communities, variability of impairment experiences and unmet needs for community supports. In addition to thematic findings, action products were generated for the benefit of community partners. These products included national best practice resources and a needs assessment survey tool. Study findings and products point to specific systems change and policy recommendations to better support community reintegration for this population. These recommendations are discussed in light of U.S. healthcare reform and broader disability advocacy efforts.</span></p>

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A framework for entry: PAR values and engagement strategies in community research

Gateways International Journal of Community Research and Engagement ◽

10.5130/ijcre.v3i0.1328 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

pp. 1-19 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Joanna Ochocka ◽

Elin Moorlag ◽

Rich Janzen

Keyword(s):

Action Research ◽

Participatory Action Research ◽

Research Study ◽

Community Research ◽

Participatory Action ◽

Community Based ◽

Community Based Research ◽

Engagement Strategies ◽

Sensitive Topics ◽

Collaborative Community

The purpose of this article is twofold: to explore the entry process in community-based research when researching sensitive topics; and to suggest a framework for entry that utilises the values of participatory action research (PAR). The article draws on a collaborative community-university research study that took place in the Waterloo and Toronto regions of Ontario, Canada, from 2005–2010. The article emphasises that community entry is not only about recruitment strategies for research participants or research access to community but it is also concerned with the ongoing engagement with communities during various stages of the research study. The indicator of success is a well established and trusted community-researcher relationship. This article first examines this broader understanding of entry, then looks at how community research entry can be shaped by an illustrative framework, or guide, that uses a combination of participatory action research (PAR) values and engagement strategies. Key words: research entry, community engagement, participatory action research, mental health and cultural diversity

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Spaces and places for popular education and participatory action research

Community-based Learning and Social Movements ◽

10.1332/policypress/9781447343257.003.0003 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 41-56

Author(s):

Marjorie Mayo

Keyword(s):

Action Research ◽

Participatory Action Research ◽

Lifelong Learning ◽

Public Services ◽

Popular Education ◽

Participatory Action ◽

Community Based ◽

Community Based Education ◽

The Impact ◽

Informal Settings

Governments have supported popular education initiatives in the past. And so have community organisations and social movements. But the spaces for popular education have been shrinking in recent times, as part of the impact of neo-liberal globalisation. Public services have been increasingly subjected to pressures from market forces, pressures that have impacted on community-based education and lifelong learning. Despite these wider pressures, educators have continued to find spaces and places for popular education and participatory action research, however, working across sectors in a variety of contexts. The chapter includes examples of innovatory approaches in both formal settings and informal settings (such as libraries and community centres) including examples from both Northern and Southern American contexts.

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