What+can+we+learn+about+best+processes+in+community+engagement

**What can we learn about best processes** **in community engagement from** **case studies of** **academic-community partnerships?** Melinda Forthofer, Associate Professor, University of South Carolina [forthofer@sc.edu], John Clarkson, Research Specialist, University of South Carolina [clarksog@mailbox.sc.edu] Robert Roscoe, Research Associate, University of South Carolina [roscoer@mailbox.sc.edu] Alyssa Mackelprang, Research Specialist, University of South Carolina [amackelp@mailbox.sc.edu]



** Keywords: ** academic-community partnerships, community-based initiatives, health sciences

 ** Track: ** Community partnerships and reciprocity

 ** Format: ** Poster presentation


 * Date & time: ** Friday 3:20 - 4:30
 * Location: **Salon 4/ Salon 9

**Summary:** This poster illustrates our use of case study research methods to understand commonalities and distinctions in how health sciences researchers partner effectively with communities across initiatives. The research employs mixed-methods, multi-site case study design that includes both individual case studies of academic-community partnerships and an examination of the commonalities and distinctions across community-based initiatives. Our study findings provide insight into the processes employed in sustaining productive academic community partnerships. Implications for preparing graduate students and faculty for community engagement in research and priorities for institutional capacity-building will be discussed.

In the health sciences, the notion that best practices are determined through randomized controlled trials is pervasive. Nonetheless, researchers and funding agencies have begun to recognize that efforts to define best practices must balance experimental control with sensitivity to the social and ecological context in which health interventions will be implemented. The rationale for use of case study methods in the proposed research project stems directly from the current state of evidence regarding promising approaches to community-engaged approaches to translational research.

Using both within-case and between-case analyses to highlight examples of factors related to best processes in community-engaged research, the study findings provide insight into the processes employed in sustaining productive academic community partnerships. We will discuss the implications of these findings in terms of strategies for preparing graduate students and faculty members to engage effectively in academic-community partnerships, enhancing the quality of existing academic-community partnerships, and infrastructure supports that may improve academic institutions’ capacity to engage in research that is responsive to community needs and concerns.

 ** References: ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Cronbach, L. J. (1975). Beyond the two disciplines of scientific psychology. //American Psychologist, 30,//116-27.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Goetz, J. P., & LeCompte, M. D. (1984). //Ethnography and qualitative design in education research//. Orlando, FL: Academic Press.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Green, L. W., & Kreuter, M. W. (2003). Ecological and systems models: From theory & research to best processes. American Academy of Health Behavior Annual Meeting, March 17, 2003. St. Augustine, Florida.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (2000). The only generalization is: There is no generalization. In M. Hammersley, R. Gromm, & P. Foster (Eds.), //Case study method// (pp. 27-44). London, England: Sage Publications, Ltd.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Mercer, S. L., & Green, L. W. (2003). Prevention science in the Office of Extramural Prevention Research at CDC: Sharpening the focus on translating prevention research into practice. Paper presented at the American Academy of Health Behavior Annual Meeting, March 2003, St. Augustine, FL.

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