CBPR Training & Capacity Building and Informing Policy
In addition to the ongoing development of Detroit URC-affiliated CBPR projects, the URC is currently focusing activities on two broad areas: CBPR training and capacity building, and informing policy based on findings from URC-affiliated projects. The URC uses the results of these affiliated projects to help establish new CBPR projects in Detroit, to develop and conduct workshops on CBPR, and to advance policy formulation, dissemination and education at all levels of decision making.
CBPR Training and Capacity Building
The URC is recognized as a national model for how to create and sustain university and community partnerships in addressing health issues and developing, conducting, evaluating and disseminating CBPR projects. The URC Board and affiliated projects bring together an interdisciplinary team of researchers based at the University of Michigan and Detroit-based partners in health and human service institutions and community-based organizations who have extensive experience implementing CBPR projects - working in community and academic partnerships.
As part of its dissemination activities, the Detroit URC provides technical assistance to new and emerging CBPR partnerships related to developing, maintaining, and sustaining partnerships. The URC also develops and conducts interactive, on- and off-site workshops focusing on a variety of topics related to CBPR aimed at building capacity within communities and institutions (e.g., academic, health departments, health systems, community-based organizations). The overall aim of these training and capacity building activities is to enhance the development and maintenance of CBPR partnerships and the use of a CBPR approach to research and interventions. Workshops are co-facilitated by community and academic partners affiliated with the URC and are tailored to the needs of the audience (e.g., topics covered, duration and follow-up). The URC partnership and its affiliated CBPR projects serve as case examples throughout the workshops. Topics covered in past workshops include: the definition, rationale and principles of CBPR; identifying and selecting partners and setting priorities; developing the infrastructure for a CBPR partnership (e.g., staffing, roles and responsibilities, CBPR principles, mission statement and norms of operation); establishing trust and effective communication; the application of qualitative and quantitative research methods (e.g., surveys, focus groups, in-depth interviews) using a CBPR approach; the interpretation of data and dissemination of results using a CBPR approach; and using a participatory and formative approach to evaluate the partnership process. Consulting fees for conducting these workshops are based on the scope of the workshop and determined on a sliding scale. For additional information, contact Detroit URC Project Manager Robert McGranaghan c/o rojomcg@umich.edu or 734.764.5171.
Informing Policy
The two-year Neighborhoods Working in Partnership program, funded by The Skillman Foundation and the University of Michigan and described in the "URC Project Matrix", will draw upon the URC's capacity building, intervention, research and policy experience. The URC intends to build upon the training and capacity building objectives of this program to achieve the following objectives: 1) to establish linkages with and mobilize other groups, organizations, community members and policy makers to work in partnership to achieve policy change; 2) to identify and analyze policy targets (e.g., decision makers, institutions, decision making bodies) and strategies for policy change (e.g., disseminating and translating scientific findings, dialogues with policy makers, media advocacy); and 3) to build and support policy campaigns addressing issues identified by the communities involved (for example, inadequate food access and poor air quality) working with other groups, organizations and community members. The URC Board is in the process of developing this longer term policy change initiative. |
 URC Board_files/logo.gif){kind=logo}
