P1-490: COMMUNITY-BASED PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH: INCLUDING SERVICE PROVIDERS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF PLAY INTERVENTION FOR DEMENTIA

Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is an approach that involves community members in research, not as research participants, but as partners. However, few studies have examined CBPR projects conducted among African Americans with serious and persistent mental illness (SPMI). This article focuses specifically on the Inspiring Change (IC) model, which includes a leadership trio comprised of an academic researcher, health service provider and an African American with lived experience of SPMI. Our purpose is to investigate how the IC model shapes not only how research is conducted but how research is understood and experienced by the community. We achieve this purpose by (1) describing an innovative CBPR model and pilot projects that involved African Americans with SPMI in all stages of the research project; and (2) presenting findings from qualitative interviews conducted with CBPR team members about strengths, challenges and leadership particular to this model of CBPR, an area rarely explored in CBPR literature. With the guidance of an advisory board and the manualised IC curriculum, two CBPR teams initiated and conducted nine-month long research projects focusing on health disparities for African Americans with SPMI. Members of the two CBPR teams (n = 13), which included individuals with lived experience, service providers and researchers, completed qualitative interviews. Benefits of CBPR projects included opportunities to learn, a sense of purpose in helping others and increased trust of research participants. Challenges pertained to disorganisation of leadership, lack of transparency with compensation, time pressures and interpersonal conflicts. These challenges highlight the importance of preparing and supporting those from both academic and lived experience backgrounds in skills necessary to thrive in leadership roles for CBPR projects.

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Project Lotus: A really cool community-based initiative assisting women post-homelessness

International Journal of Whole Person Care ◽

10.26443/ijwpc.v9i1.321 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 12-13

Author(s):

Karla Jacobsen ◽

Laurence Roy ◽

Sally Richmond ◽

Isabelle Boutemeur ◽

Eve De Macar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lived Experience ◽

Participatory Research ◽

Service Providers ◽

Virtual Community ◽

Community Based Participatory Research ◽

Research Literature ◽

World Health ◽

Community Based ◽

Research Initiative ◽

Individualized Approach

In Canada, recent conservative estimates report upwards of 235,000 individuals are homeless on a given night. Of those experiencing precarious housing situations, women make up approximately 30% and are among the most vulnerable. Their residential insecurity has been further exacerbated with the community and social restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Existing resources that assist women experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity are often stretched to the limit dealing with emergency and crisis housing situations, with less focus on post-shelter supports. To address this issue, a community-based participatory research initiative ‘Project Lotus - Hope Together’ was established in Montreal. Grounded in the World Health Organization’s Commission on Social Determinants of Health Framework, the overarching goal of this research is to co-design a housing supports program for women leaving a shelter stay. We created a cross-sectorial Advisory Committee consisting of women with lived experiences of homelessness, service providers, community leaders, and researchers. To date, we have conducted preliminary research (literature review, interviews with women with lived experience of homelessness, stakeholder meetings) to identity what has assisted women through this transition, and what barriers exist. We have also held virtual community consultation meetings to discuss preliminary findings of recommendations of key components that should be in a post-shelter support program for women. This presentation outlines the current findings and highlights the importance of participatory research. Implementing whole person care in the area of women’s homelessness requires both a comprehensive and individualized approach to help women and children secure home, health, and a sustainable future.

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Evaluation of a Community-Based Participatory Research Consortium From the Perspective of Academics and Community Service Providers Focused on Child Health and Well-Being

Health Education & Behavior ◽

10.1177/1090198110372876 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 38 (3) ◽

pp. 271-281 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Jayne R. Pivik ◽

Hillel Goelman

Keyword(s):

Community Service ◽

Participatory Research ◽

Information Dissemination ◽

Service Providers ◽

Community Based Participatory Research ◽

Well Being ◽

Community Based ◽

Community Partners ◽

Shared Commitment ◽

Health And Well Being

A process evaluation of a consortium of academic researchers and community-based service providers focused on the health and well-being of children and families provides empirical and practice-based evidence of those factors important for community-based participatory research (CBPR). This study draws on quantitative ratings of 33 factors associated with CBPR as well as open-ended questions addressing the benefits, facilitators, barriers, and recommendations for collaboration. Eight distinct but related studies are represented by 10 academic and 9 community researchers. Even though contextual considerations were identified between the academic and community partners, in large part because of their focus, organizational mandate and particular expertise, key factors for facilitating collaboration were found across groups. Both community and academic partners reported the following as very important for positive collaborations: trust and mutual respect; adequate time; shared commitment, decision making, and goals; a memorandum of understanding or partnership agreement; clear communication; involvement of community partners in the interpretation of the data and information dissemination; and regular meetings. The results are compared to current models of collaboration across different contexts and highlight factors important for CBPR with community service providers.

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Lessons Learnt on Designing a Community-Based Participatory Research Study on Trauma: A Qualitative Study with Arabic Speaking Refugee Newcomers and Their Service Providers

The Canadian Journal of Action Research ◽

10.33524/cjar.v21i2.494 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

pp. 25-46

Author(s):

Mehmoona Moosa-Mitha ◽

Bruce Wallace

Keyword(s):

Participatory Research ◽

Research Study ◽

Service Providers ◽

Community Based Participatory Research ◽

Community Based ◽

Lessons Learnt ◽

Preliminary Study ◽

Arabic Speaking ◽

Trauma Responses

Few studies engage refugee newcomers in the design phase of a research project even when studying issues that are of significance to them. This preliminary study aimed to engage Arabic speaking refugee newcomers living with trauma and their service providers in designing a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to the study of trauma within this community. Focus groups with Arabic speaking refugee newcomers and their service providers confirm participants’ views of trauma as a significant issue in their lives, affirm CBPR’s principles of participation and action-oriented research, and highlight the benefit of research that informs the integration of trauma responses within resettlement processes. Lessons learnt about implementing a CBPR approach to studying trauma include addressing power imbalances in research, the essential role of action within research, and the value of experiential knowledge and engagement.

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