Collaborative Reflection

Abstract

This paper describes the process through which a community family resource center and a state university forged a collaborative partnership to address an urgent need in an economically and ethnically diverse community. Stag had expressed concerns about a significant percentage of children demonstrating challenging behavior; with some questions about whether or not these might be neurologically based. The university faculty member had some experience with research on neurological risk. During a 3-month period, data were collected using a process of Participatory Action Research. The initial questions and process were guided by the issues identified as highest priority for staff Observation, surveys, interviews, video, focus groups, and other meetings were used to address the question of identification of specific characteristics about which staff had concerns, and what seemed to decrease those characteristics in terms of interactive patterns and or physical environment. It is clear that the collaborative research partnership as a process was mutually beneficial.