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Alang SM, Letcher AS, Mitsdarffer ML, Kieber-Emmons A, Rivera J, Moeller C, Biery N, Batts H. The Radical Welcome Engagement Restoration Model and Assessment Tool for Community-Engaged Partnerships. Health Promot Pract 2024:15248399231223744. [PMID: 38293773 DOI: 10.1177/15248399231223744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
People experiencing addiction, houselessness, or who have a history of incarceration have worse health outcomes compared with the general population. This is due, in part, to practices and policies of historically White institutions that exclude the voices, perspectives, and contributions of communities of color in leadership, socio-economic development, and decision-making that matters for their wellbeing. Community-based participatory research (CBPR) approaches hold promise for addressing health inequities. However, full engagement of people harmed by systemic injustices in CBPR partnerships is challenging due to inequities in power and access to resources. We describe how an Allentown-based CBPR partnership-the Health Equity Activation Research Team of clinicians, researchers, and persons with histories of incarceration, addiction, and houselessness-uses the Radical Welcome Engagement Restoration Model (RWERM) to facilitate full engagement by all partners. Data were collected through participatory ethnography, focus groups, and individual interviews. Analyses were performed using deductive coding in a series of iterative meaning-making processes that involved all partners. Findings highlighted six defining phases of the radical welcome framework: (a) passionate invitation, (b) radical welcome, (c) authentic sense of belonging, (d) co-creation of roles, (e) prioritization of issues, and (f) individual and collective action. A guide to assessing progression across these phases, as well as a 32-item radical welcome instrument to help CBPR partners anticipate and overcome challenges to engagement are introduced and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sirry M Alang
- Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA
- University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Jose Rivera
- Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley, Allentown, PA, USA
- Pinebrook Family Answers, Allentown, PA, USA
| | | | - Nyann Biery
- Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, PA, USA
| | - Hasshan Batts
- Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley, Allentown, PA, USA
- Prison Survivor Network, Allentown, PA, USA
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Lusambili A, Chabeda S, Khaemba P. In our own eyes: ethical dilemmas and insights encountered by researchers conducting qualitative research in high ambient temperatures in Kilifi, Kenya. Int Health 2023:ihad115. [PMID: 38147498 DOI: 10.1093/inthealth/ihad115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Abstract
We reflect on our fieldwork experience from the Climate Heat Maternal and Neonatal Health Africa (CHAMNHA) project in Kilifi, Kenya, which focused on studying the effects of extreme heat on women during pregnancy, delivery and the post-partum period. We describe the ethical and practical challenges encountered, highlighting valuable lessons learned. We propose potential solutions to address issues concerning the reciprocity of vulnerable participants and the provision of childcare and food for accompanying children. Further, we address challenges related to engaging specific participants, interview cancellations attributed to extreme temperatures and discuss the perpetuation of inequalities by ethics and academic institutions. With the anticipated increase in research at the intersection of climate change-induced heat exposure and its impacts on human populations, research institutions and ethics committees in low- and middle-income countries are responsible for instituting guidelines that account for the risks for the subjects under study and the field researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Lusambili
- Environmental Health and Governance Centre, Leadership and Governance Hub, School of Business, Africa International University, Kenya
- Institute for Human Development, Aga Khan University, East Africa
| | - S Chabeda
- Institute for Human Development, Aga Khan University, East Africa
| | - P Khaemba
- Institute for Human Development, Aga Khan University, East Africa
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Akintobi TH, Barrett R, Hoffman L, Scott S, Davis K, Jones T, Brown NDV, Fraire M, Fraire R, Garner J, Gruner A, Hill J, Meckel R, Obi C, Omunga P, Parham Q, Rice T, Samples O, Terrill T. The community engagement course and action network: strengthening community and academic research partnerships to advance health equity. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1114868. [PMID: 37404270 PMCID: PMC10317472 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1114868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions are uniquely positioned to implement community-campus research partnerships based on a history of service, the pursuit of community trustworthiness and student demographics often similar to surrounding marginalized communities. The Morehouse School of Medicine Prevention Research Center collaborates with members of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Minority Serving Institutes, and community organizations on the Community Engaged Course and Action Network. This network is the first of its kind and aims to strengthen members' ability to implement Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) principles and partnerships. Projects address public health priorities including mental health among communities of color, zoonotic disease prevention, and urban food deserts. Materials and methods To assess the effectiveness of the network, a Participatory Evaluation framework was implemented to conduct process evaluation which included review of partnership structures, operations, project implementation processes, and preliminary outcomes of the research collaborations. A focus group of Community Engagement Course and Action Network members (community and academic) was also conducted to identify benefits and challenges of the network with emphasis on key areas for improvement to further enhance the relationships between partners and to facilitate their subsequent community-campus research. Results Network improvements were tied to themes strengthening community-academic partnerships including sharing and fellowship, coalition building and collaboration, and greater connections and awareness of community needs through their current community-academic partnerships. The need to conduct ongoing evaluation during and after implementation, for determining the early adoption of CBPR approaches was also identified. Conclusion Evaluation of the network's processes, infrastructure, and operation provides early lessons learned to strengthen the network. Ongoing assessment is also essential for ensuring continuous quality improvement across partnerships such as determining CBPR fidelity, assessing partnership synergy, and dynamics, and for quality improvement of research protocol. The implications and potential for advancing implementation science through this and similar networks are great towards advancing leadership in modeling how foundations in community service can advance to CBPR partnership formation and ultimately, health equity approaches, that are local defined and assessed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tabia Henry Akintobi
- Morehouse School of Medicine Prevention Research Center, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - R. Barrett
- Morehouse School of Medicine Prevention Research Center, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - L. Hoffman
- Morehouse School of Medicine Prevention Research Center Community Coalition Board, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - S. Scott
- Morehouse School of Medicine Prevention Research Center, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - K. Davis
- Morehouse School of Medicine Prevention Research Center, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - T. Jones
- Morehouse School of Medicine Prevention Research Center, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - N. De Veauuse Brown
- Georgia State University, School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - M. Fraire
- Coalition of Latino Leaders (CLILA), Dalton, GA, United States
| | - R. Fraire
- Coalition of Latino Leaders (CLILA), Dalton, GA, United States
| | - J. Garner
- Georgia State University, School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - A. Gruner
- Coalition of Latino Leaders (CLILA), Dalton, GA, United States
| | - J. Hill
- Georgia State University, School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - R. Meckel
- Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - C. Obi
- Fort Valley State University College of Agriculture, Family Sciences and Technology, Fort Valley, GA, United States
| | - P. Omunga
- Savannah State University, Political Science and Public Affairs, Savannah, GA, United States
| | - Q. Parham
- Savannah State University, Political Science and Public Affairs, Savannah, GA, United States
| | - T. Rice
- Dalton State College Allied Health and Social Work, Dalton, GA, United States
| | - O. Samples
- Fort Valley State University College of Agriculture, Family Sciences and Technology, Fort Valley, GA, United States
| | - T. Terrill
- Fort Valley State University College of Agriculture, Family Sciences and Technology, Fort Valley, GA, United States
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