Developing a Community-Based Participatory Research Curriculum to Support Environmental Health Research Partnerships: An Initiative of the GROWH Community Outreach and Dissemination Core

Abstract

Background The Transdisciplinary Research Consortium for Gulf Resilience on Women’s Health (GROWH) addresses reproductive health disparities in the Gulf Coast by linking communities and scientists through community-engaged research. Funded by the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences, GROWH’s Community Outreach and Dissemination Core (CODC) seeks to utilize community-based participatory research (CBPR) and other community-centered outreach strategies to strengthen resilience in vulnerable Gulf Coast populations. The CODC is an academic-community partnership comprised of Tulane University, Mary Queen of Vietnam Community Development Corporation, Bayou Interfaith Shared Community Organizing, and the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI). Methods Alongside its CODC partners, LPHI collaboratively developed, piloted and evaluated an innovative CBPR curriculum. In addition to helping with curriculum design, the CODC’s community and academic partners participated in the pilot. The curriculum was designed to impart applied, practical knowledge to community-based organizations and academic researchers on the successful formulation, execution and sustaining of CBPR projects and partnerships within the context of environmental health research. Results The curriculum resulted in increased knowledge about CBPR methods among both community and academic partners as well as improved relationships within the GROWH CODC partnership. Conclusion The efforts of the GROWH partnership and curriculum were successful. This curriculum may serve as an anchor for future GROWH efforts including: competency development, translation of the curriculum into education and training products, community development of a CBPR curriculum for academic partners, community practice of CBPR, and future environmental health work.

Metal air pollution partnership solutions: building an academic-government-community-industry collaboration to improve air quality and health in environmental justice communities in Houston

“…Another accepted principle of the CBPR process is that of equal partnership and shared responsibility in all phases of the research process [2]. Community (AAH) and governmental (HHD) partners shared budget resources from the grant, but the PI assumed overall control over the project and assumed responsibility for oversight and integration of all aspects of the project, including those spearheaded by the sub-contracting organizations.…”

“…Metal recycling is a robust industry in Houston, Texas with over 100 metal recycling facilities in operation [1]. Metal emissions can be generated during outdoor operations in most scrap yards, which include gas torch cutting and mechanical cutting methods that help to downsize scrap metal for eventual consumption by end users [2]. Metal torch cutting typically is of most concern because it has the potential to generate inhalable particles containing toxic heavy metals.…”

Framework for a Community Health Observing System for the Gulf of Mexico Region: Preparing for Future Disasters

“…Prior to recruitment of participants, the GoM CHOS should initiate a broad community engagement effort employing a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach (68)(69)(70)(71)(72) and specifically including environmental justice communities. This should be a robust engagement and awareness campaign to inform the public about the CHOS, raise public awareness, provide information, and encourage participation utilizing public news media, GoM Sea Grant programs, healthcare providers, social media, community organizations, pharmacies, churches, grocery and convenience stores, and other willing outlets.…”

The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Through the Lens of Human Health and the Ecosystem

“…Table 1 summarizes the ecosystem and human health research studies and/or programs described in this article. In addition to basic research and environmental epidemiology studies, most of those research consortia feature two unique aspects: a dedicated project targeting resilience and a Community Outreach and Dissemination Core (CODC) [27]. Among the research consortia, the Gulf Resilience on Women’s Health (GROWH) (www.gulfcoastenvironmentalhealth.com) centered its research on addressing three key community questions: is the seafood safe to eat?, is the air safe to breathe?, will our babies be safe?…”

“…Community dissatisfaction and often distrust in the results is compounded by the lag time between design and dissemination. A long standing track record of partnership, using a CBPR approach and being flexible while assuring scientific rigor are key to successfully designing and implementing environmental epidemiology studies in the context of natural and technological disasters [49, 27]. …”