Challenges and Facilitating Factors in Sustaining Community-Based Participatory Research Partnerships: Lessons Learned from the Detroit, New York City and Seattle Urban Research Centers

Abstract

In order to address the social, physical and economic determinants of urban health, researchers, public health practitioners, and community members have turned to more comprehensive and participatory approaches to research and interventions. One such approach, community-based participatory research (CBPR) in public health, has received considerable attention over the past decade, and numerous publications have described theoretical underpinnings, values, principles and practice. Issues related to the long-term sustainability of partnerships and activities have received limited attention. The purpose of this article is to examine the experiences and lessons learned from three Urban Research Centers (URCs) in Detroit, New York City, and Seattle, which were initially established in 1995 with core support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The experience of these Centers after core funding ceased in 2003 provides a case study to identify the challenges and facilitating factors for sustaining partnerships. We examine three broad dimensions of CBPR partnerships that we consider important for sustainability: (1) sustaining relationships and commitments among the partners involved; (2) sustaining the knowledge, capacity and values generated from the partnership; and (3) sustaining funding, staff, programs, policy changes and the partnership itself. We discuss the challenges faced by the URCs in sustaining these dimensions and the strategies used to overcome these challenges. Based on these experiences, we offer recommendations for: strategies that partnerships may find useful in sustaining their CBPR efforts; ways in which a Center mechanism can be useful for promoting sustainability; and considerations for funders of CBPR to increase sustainability.Israel, Lichtenstein, and McGranaghan are with the

Taking note of obstacles research partners negotiate in long-term higher education community engagement partnerships

“…The theme of increased job-related responsibilities as barrier to partnership initiatives is often prominent in research partnerships at an international level (Bennell, 2004;Israel et al, 2006Israel et al, , 1998Kegeles et al, 2005;Lantz et al, 2001;Yoo et al, 2009). Likewise, the results of our study are consistent with recent studies that focused specifically on teachers as community engagement partners (Nhamo, 2012).…”

“…Another trend in participatory methodology debates relates to the challenge of partner expectations and the attrition of community partners (Harper et al, 2004;Israel et al, 2006). Foremost amongst such research-partnership barriers is the additional responsibilities and time constraints associated with the role of community partners (Bennell, 2004;Israel et al, 2006;Israel, Schultz, Parker, & Becker, 1998;Kegeles, Rebchook, & Tebbetts, 2005;Lantz, Viruell-Fuentes, Israel, Softley, & Guzman, 2001;Yoo, Butler, Elias, & Goodman, 2009).…”

“…Foremost amongst such research-partnership barriers is the additional responsibilities and time constraints associated with the role of community partners (Bennell, 2004;Israel et al, 2006;Israel, Schultz, Parker, & Becker, 1998;Kegeles, Rebchook, & Tebbetts, 2005;Lantz, Viruell-Fuentes, Israel, Softley, & Guzman, 2001;Yoo, Butler, Elias, & Goodman, 2009). Gaventa and Cornwall (2006) argue that the issue of power is dominant to participatory methodologies as a relationship of domination in the control and the production of knowledge.…”

Studying and Addressing Urban Immigrant Restaurant Worker Health and Safety in San Francisco’s Chinatown District: A CBPR Case Study

“…45 It also involves many challenges, from the substantial time and labor involved to the compromises that must sometimes be reached over research design and other key aspects of the work. 18,36,37,39 As suggested above, these challenges may be intensified when immigrant community partners, often with limited English skills and severe time and income constraints, are involved as key partners. Yet as illustrated through the Chinatown study described above, the potential benefits of CBPR may well outweigh the limitations involved.…”

“…Building and maintaining partnerships take substantial time and resources both early on and throughout the research and action process. 18,36,37 This often is compounded when partnering with immigrant workers who frequently work long hours and return home to serve as primary caregivers across generations. Major time and financial investments in professional, highquality language access services (interpretation at meetings and translation of documents ahead of time) are essential, and relying on bilingual communitybased organization partners to meet these needs limits their own ability to participate in the process.…”