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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Thomas Robins¹, Wilma Brakefield-Caldwell, BSN², Katherine Edgren, MSW³, Barbara Israel, DrPH⁴, Toby Lewis, MD¹, Edith Parker, DrPH⁵, Paul Max⁶, Sonya Grant Pierson, MSW⁷, Maria Salinas⁸, Donele Wilkins⁹, and J. Timothy Dvonch, PhD¹. (1) Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 109 S. Observatory, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, 734-936-0757, trobins@umich.edu, (2) Steering Committee Member, 259 Cherry Pointe Dr., Canton, MI 48187, (3) Health Promotion and Community Relations, University of Michigan Health Services, 207 Fletcher, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, (4) Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan, 109 S Observatory, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, (5) Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 109 S. Observatory, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, (6) Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion, 1151 Taylor, Detroit, MI 48202, (7) Warren Conner Development Coalition, 11148 Harper, Detroit, MI 48213, (8) CHASS, 5635 W. Ford, Detroit, MI 48209, (9) Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice, 8469 E. Jefferson, Detroit, MI 48214

There is increasing recognition of the critical role that can be played by community members throughout the research process working in partnership with scientists to achieve environmental health research aims. Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is one such partnership approach that has been used effectively to examine and address numerous environmental issues. Community Action Against Asthma (CAAA) has used a CBPR approach to conduct both an exposure assessment study to assess the separate and possible interaction effects of outdoor and indoor air quality on exacerbation of asthma in children, and a household intervention component to reduce environmental triggers for childhood asthma. This presentation will focuses on how the CAAA Steering Committee, composed of representatives from community-based organizations, a local health department, an integrated health care system, and academia from the University of Michigan, was involved in the design and implementation of this children's asthma study in Detroit, Michigan. The presentation will highlight examples of how community members participated throughout the research process – from identifying the area of research focus, to the research design and in the data collection of the project (including collection of exposure assessment data). We will also discuss the challenges of ensuring community participation and the strategies used to overcome these challenges. We will examine lessons learned and recommendations for other environmental health projects that seek to maximize community participation through CBPR partnerships.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify at least 3 ways community members can be directly involved in the design and implementation of an environmental health study.
• Articulate at least 2 challenges to community participation in research project design and implementation, and strategies to overcome them.
• Describe at least 3 lessons learned and recommendations for other environmental health projects that seek to maximize community participation in research project design and implementation

Keywords: Community-Based Partnership, Asthma

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No