The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #69088

Elmer R. Freeman, MSW, Center for Community Health Education, Research, and Service (CCHERS), 716 Columbus Ave., Suite 398, Boston, MA 02120, 617-373-4591, E.Freeman@neu.edu and Dawna M. Thomas, PhD, Center for Community Health Education Research and Service, 716 Columbus Avenue, Suite 398, Boston, MA 02120.

This presentation outlines the experiences of the Center for Community Health Education Research and Service (CCHERS), in its efforts to promote community-based participatory research in partnership with universities, academic medical centers and a network of community health centers serving the urban neighborhoods of the City of Boston, Massachusetts. CCHERS is a partnership between Boston University School of Medicine, Northeastern University Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Boston Medical Center, the Boston Public Health Commission and sixteen community health centers in the city.

CCHERS has served as the catalyst for the development of a network of "academic community health centers" committed to the integration of teaching and research into their historic missions of service to the underserved. CCHERS has forged new ground by working with communities of color and promoting a model of community-based participatory research.

The presentation will include lessons learned from our experiences in developing and working with research partnerships with case studies of specific projects including:

Lupus Awareness and Community Education (LACE) Boston Area Community Health (BACH) Survey Asthma Center on Community Environment and Social Stress (ACCESS)

Finally, we will discuss the challenges of the tenuous nature of university and community relationships; issues of power differentials in developing partnerships; financial and political realities that determine university research collaboration; and developing culturally competent methods to serve and research communities of color.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session the participant will be able to:
• Assess feasibility of entering into research partnerships between academic institutions and communities.
• Identify factors for developing successful partnerships.
• Employ principles of community-based participatory research.
• Engage communities of color in research efforts to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in health.

Keywords: Community Research, Community-Based Partnership

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employed as Executive Director