Moving Parts and Balancing Acts: Building and Maintaining a Collaborative Community-Based Research Partnership in Detroit

Kanzoni Asabigi,Paul Draus,Juliette Roddy,Erin White

doi:10.4236/aasoci.2013.31004

Abstract

nd , 2012; revised December 27 th , 2012; accepted January 10 th , 2013 This paper describes the process of developing a research proposal for submission to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in collaboration with an urban public health agency. Two university-based researchers from different social science disciplines, each with previous experience in substance abuse research, invested significant time learning about the key questions and concerns of participants in several community-based programs, including clients, administrators and professionals from the county drug court, law enforcement, and substance abuse treatment and recovery services. They then developed a proposal which integrated their own academic interests with the questions and concerns that they uncovered in their preliminary research. After the proposal was written, the researchers presented it to an audience of community partners. Following the successful funding of the study, negotiations with various partners continued throughout the data collection process. The paper concludes with some suggestions for other researchers who may wish to engage in this type of applied, collaborative, interdisciplinary research.

Highlights

Collaborative, interdisciplinary research with public or community-based agencies presents one potential avenue for doing engaged or public scholarship that will be mutually beneficial for university-based researchers and practitioners as well as community members
This paper describes the experience of two university researchers as they engaged in a sustained research collaboration with various public agencies, working to develop and submit a proposal to the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Two specific programs were discussed in those early meetings: the Fresh Start Project, which focused on addressing the needs of street sex workers with histories of substance abuse and legal entanglement; and Guiding Light, which delivered substance abuse treatment and recovery services developed for men who have sex with men (MSM)

Summary

Introduction

Collaborative, interdisciplinary research with public or community-based agencies presents one potential avenue for doing engaged or public scholarship that will be mutually beneficial for university-based researchers and practitioners as well as community members It holds the promise of “bringing the academy into the street” and enriching discourse at both ends of the spectrum. The two university-based researchers from different social science disciplines, each with previous experience in substance abuse research, invested significant time learning about the key questions and concerns of participants in several community-based programs, including clients, administrators and professionals from the county drug court, law enforcement, and substance abuse treatment and recovery services They developed a proposal which integrated their own academic interests with the questions and concerns uncovered in their preliminary research. We conclude with some suggestions and considerations for other researchers who may wish to engage in this type of applied, collaborative, interdisciplinary research

The Process Begins

Getting with the Program

Various Detroit Treatment Agencies

The World of Recovery

Finding Funding and Developing a Theoretical Approach

Upon official intake to FS

Findings

Engagement Means Commitment