Lessons Learned from Three Models that Use Small Grants for Building Academic-Community Partnerships for Research

Abstract

Despite the direct contribution of community-engaged research towards effective translation, establishing strong and sustained community academic research partnerships remains a challenge. The Atlanta Clinical and Translational Science Institute's Community Engagement Research Program (CERP) has developed and implemented three models for using small grants to seed new community academic partnerships for research: 1) community-initiated health projects with faculty partners, 2) dissemination of discoveries to community partners, and 3) building collaborative research capacity. In this paper, we describe each model in terms of its purpose, funding level, funding period, proposal requirements, selection criteria and faculty involvement. Resulting partnerships are described, along with benefits and challenges from faculty and community perspectives, and lessons learned in using these mechanisms to promote community-engaged research. These models may aid others attempting to promote community-engaged research for the purpose of narrowing the gap between research, practice and ultimately, impact on community health.

Using community-based participatory research and organizational diagnosis to characterize relationships between community leaders and academic researchers

“…However, since community and academic interviews were analyzed separately, the results are a reflection of one group's view of the other group or their own group, rather than an exploration of the inter-organizational dynamics ( Goldberg-Freeman et al, 2007 , Kennedy et al, 2009 ). Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge, it seems that previous studies have not included community participants as full partners in the data collection and analytic process ( Freudenberg, 2001 , Goldberg-Freeman et al, 2007 , Kennedy et al, 2009 , Lantz et al, 2001 , Metzler et al, 2003 , Sullivan et al, 2001 , Tandon, 2007 , Cashman et al, 2008 , Drahota et al, 2016 , Kegler et al, 2016 ).…”

Identifying the Community-Engaged Translational Research Collaboration Experience and Health Interests of Community-Based Organizations Outside of Metropolitan Atlanta

“…Georgia CTSA CE Program aims to support community-university research partnerships, to facilitate community input into university research, and to increase health research in community settings that is both responsive and relevant to the health needs of the community. The CE Program supports community-university research partnerships through a required Master'-level course, community-and university-focused research capacity building workshops, pilot awards and research studio consultations that facilitate community input or co-creation of research with academic partners and increases health research in community settings (Henry Kegler et al, 2016;Rodgers et al, 2014). Together these activities are designed to enhance public trust and capacities community-engaged clinical and translational research.…”

CBPR Implementation Framework for Community‐Academic Partnerships

“…Community-engaged research (CEnR) is increasingly recognized and adopted within implementation science to involve community participants in testing, implementing, and adapting evidence-based practices in their settings (Holt & Chambers, 2017). Community engagement within CEnR is presented as a continuum of community participation, beginning with minimal outreach and consultation, moving toward involvement, collaboration, and shared leadership (Kegler et al, 2016;McCloskey et al, 2011). This variation in engagement illustrates differences in the value-based intent and extent of community engagement.…”

“…The furthest point on the CEnR continuum, shared leadership, is where CBPR resides, implying a strong bidirectional and equitable relationship between researchers with communities. Even beyond shared leadership, CBPR also embraces community-led research; both of these define community as an equal partner in every research stage (Kegler et al, 2016).…”