Community-academic Research Partnerships Research Articles

255 The Community Research Liaison Model: Facilitating community-engaged research

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: The Community Research Liaison Model (CRLM) is a novel model to facilitate community engaged research (CEnR) and community–academic research partnerships focused on health priorities identified by the community. We describe the CRLM development process and how it is operationalized today. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: The CRLM, informed by the Principles of Community Engagement, builds trust among rural communities and expands capacity for community and investigator-initiated research. We followed a multi-phase process to design and implement a community engagement model that could be replicated. The resulting CRLM moves community–academic research collaborations from objectives to outputs using a conceptual framework that specifies our guiding principles, objectives, and actions to facilitate the objectives (i.e., capacity, motivations, and partners), and outputs. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: The CRLM has been fully implemented across Oregon. Six Community Research Liaisons collectively support 18 predominantly rural Oregon counties. Since 2017, the liaison team has engaged with communities on nearly 300 community projects. The CRLM has been successful in facilitating CEnR and community–academic research partnerships. The model has always existed on a dynamic foundation and continues to be responsive to the lessons learned by the community and researchers. The model is expanding across Oregon as an equitable approach to addressing health disparities across the state. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Our CRLM is based on the idea that community partnerships build research capacity at the community level and are the backbone for pursuing equitable solutions and better health for communities we serve. Our model is unique in its use of CRLs to facilitate community–academic partnerships; this model has brought successes and challenges over the years.

565 Empowering Community Organizations with the Team Science Community Toolkit

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: To introduce the new Team Science Community Toolkit, co-created by community and academic partners, and showcase its potential to empower Community Organizations (COs) in achieving equity in community-engaged research (CER). METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: In response to the challenges faced by COs in CER collaborations, qualitative interviews were conducted with CO staff from historically marginalized communities. These interviews informed the development of the Team Science Community Toolkit, a collaborative effort involving a Community Advisory Board (CAB) and Team Science experts from Northwestern University. The toolkit, designed using a community-based participatory research approach, incorporates the Science of Team Science and User-Centered Design principles. Integrated into the NIH-sponsored COALESCE website, it includes templates, checklists, and interactive tools, along with a real-world simulation, to support COs in all stages of the research process. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Focus groups and usability testing involving external community experts validated the toolkit’s content and usability. Participants expressed enthusiasm and a sense of empowerment, indicating that the toolkit allows them to actively shape research processes and infuse their specific voices and needs into their partnerships. The toolkit is designed to support breaking down barriers like jargon and cultural adaptability to improve accessibility and open conversation. The impact of this Team Science focused toolkit is under evaluation. This presentation will showcase the toolkit, detail its collaborative development, and explore potential applications, ultimately offering a path to more equitable and valuable community-based research. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: By providing COs with the resources and knowledge to participate as equal partners in research collaborations, it enhances self-advocacy, transparency, and equity. The toolkit has the potential to utilize Team Science to foster productive communication in community-academic research partnerships.

251 The Appalachian Translational Research Network (ATRN) Newsletter: Supporting Communication and Collaboration among Academic and Community Partners to Improve Health in Appalachia

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: The Appalachian Translational Research Network (ATRN) Newsletter provides a unique platform that facilitates communication among Appalachian-serving CTSAs/CTSIs and partnering academic and community organizations that strengthens research efforts and advances translational science across the region. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Published biannually, each ATRN Newsletter features content submitted by ATRN member universities and organizations. Members of the Communications Committee, who represent both CTSA- or non-CTSA- affiliated ATRN member institutions, provide as well as review and edit content for the Newsletter. Regular features include researcher and community member spotlights; funding opportunity announcements; information on upcoming seminars, trainings, and special events; and opportunities for collaborations among partnering ATRN institutions. Complementing regularly scheduled Newsletters, special editions are released as warranted, such as a special COVID-19 focused edition published in 2020. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: First published in 2012, the ATRN Newsletter initially represented founding ATRN institutions, the University of Kentucky and the Ohio State University CTSAs, and a readership of 50. Reflecting ATRN growth that now represents 9 academic centers including NCATS- and IDeA-funded hubs, affiliated universities and partnering organizations, readership has grown to include 500 subscribers from across the U.S. and 3 other countries. With the establishment of the official ATRN website in 2019, the ATRN Newsletter became a prominent addition, providing ATRN members’ access to both new and archived editions, thereby expanding reach and further strengthening critical communication across the Network. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Providing a vehicle for communication that supports ATRN collaborations and networking, the Newsletter is foundational to the success of the ATRN mission to improve health outcomes across Appalachia by fostering collaborative inter-institutional and community-academic research partnerships.

Building Research for Academic and Community Equity (BRACE): A Toolkit for Community Research Partnerships.

Health and human service community organizations and researchers have important insights and resources to share with each other, yet often have very little information about how to interact in meaningful and equitable ways. Conceptualized by and for community organization professionals wanting to equitably interact with academic researchers, BRACE (Building Research for Academic and Community Equity) is a toolkit easily accessible to community members which explains research information and jargon in clear terms. BRACE uses community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles to guide both community organizations and academics seeking to partner on research. The BRACE toolkit's two main sections focus on identifying ideal aspects of community-academic research partnerships and writing grant proposals. Tools such as BRACE have the potential to increase the impact of community-engaged research by providing concrete guides for building partnerships and potentially sustaining them through grant funding.

Engaging families and parent advocates in research on substance use and drug policy reform: Guiding principles from a Canadian community-academic partnership.

Canada is in the midst of a public health emergency in drug poisoning (overdose) deaths. In this context parents, and especially mothers, of those who have died from drug poisoning have mobilised to advocate for urgent responses and drug policy reforms. To document this emerging women-led advocacy, we initiated a community-academic research partnership with three parent groups representing families in Canada bereaved by drug-related deaths. In this commentary, we describe four guiding principles we developed during the course of this project, to ensure an ethical and equitable approach to conducting our research partnership. In particular, we emphasise how we navigated parents' roles as vocal advocates for addressing drug stigma and expanding harm reduction while actively working to avoid eclipsing the need to centre the perspectives of people who use drugs. Meaningful and collaborative partnerships between academics and community groups may facilitate greater understandings of how families and communities can be allied in drug policy reforms urgently needed to prevent drug poisoning deaths.

"I'm Fighting for My Life": Exploring Interactions Between Black Women with Breast Cancer and Healthcare Providers.

Black Americans face a multitude of problems in the healthcare system, including challenges during interactions with healthcare providers. The present study examined the quality of healthcare provider-Black patient interactions in a sample of Black American women with a breast cancer diagnosis. More specifically, the study examined potential contributors to Black Americans' current healthcare experiences and lack of trust by identifying their specific negative and positive encounters in the healthcare system. Three in-person Gatherings (i.e., culturally curated focus groups; N = 37) were conducted as part of a community-academic research partnership, Project SOAR (Speaking Our African American Realities). Four themes were identified through reflexive thematic analysis: Individual and Systemic Injustice Directed at Black Breast Cancer Survivors; Protecting Myself from an Untrustworthy Medical System; Stereotypes Interfered with My Care; and Good Care Should Include Compassion, Respect, Shared Decision Making, and Tailored Support. The present findings highlight the importance of addressing systemic and individual injustice toward Black Americans in healthcare settings generally, and Black women diagnosed with breast cancer specifically.

The Community Research Liaison Model: Facilitating community-engaged research.

The Community Research Liaison Model (CRLM) is a novel model to facilitate community-engaged research (CEnR) and community-academic research partnerships focused on health priorities identified by the community. This model, informed by the Principles of Community Engagement, builds trust among rural communities and expands capacity for community and investigator-initiated research. We describe the CRLM development process and how it is operationalized today. We followed a multi-phase process to design and implement a community engagement model that could be replicated. The resulting CRLM moves community-academic research collaborations from objectives to outputs using a conceptual framework that specifies our guiding principles, objectives, and actions to facilitate the objectives (i.e., capacity, motivations, and partners), and outputs. The CRLM has been fully implemented across Oregon. Six Community Research Liaisons collectively support 18 predominantly rural Oregon counties. Since 2017, the liaison team has engaged with communities on nearly 300 community projects. The CRLM has been successful in facilitating CEnR and community-academic research partnerships. The model has always existed on a dynamic foundation and continues to be responsive to the lessons learned by the community and researchers. The model is expanding across Oregon as an equitable approach to addressing health disparities across the state.

Exploring the Digital Divide among the Bhutanese Refugee Community during COVID-19: Engaged Research in Action

The digital divide proved a critical barrier to accessing information and healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic and negatively impacted the Bhutanese refugee community. Moving beyond a technological model of the digital divide that highlights a lack of access to computers and the internet, we engaged the community to co-produce a dynamic approach that identifies the impact of socio-cultural and socio-environmental factors as well. Our paper reports on our community-academic research partnership and explores how the digital divide exacerbates health disparities in a midwestern Bhutanese refugee community. Combining the efforts of the community, anthropologists and social workers, this paper reports on the health disparities that confront the community as well as interventions designed to mitigate social inequities.

Building the foundation for equitable and inclusive research: Seed grant programs to facilitate development of diverse CBPR community-academic research partnerships.

The effectiveness of community-based participatory research (CBPR) partnerships to address health inequities is well documented. CBPR integrates knowledge and perspectives of diverse communities throughout the research process, following principles that emphasize trust, power sharing, co-learning, and mutual benefits. However, institutions and funders seldom provide the time and resources needed for the critical stage of equitable partnership formation and development. Since 2011, the Detroit Urban Research Center, collaborating with other entities, has promoted the development of new community-academic research partnerships through two grant programs that combine seed funding with capacity building support from community and academic instructors/mentors experienced in CBPR. Process and outcomes were evaluated using mixed methods. From 2011 to 2021, 50 partnerships received grants ranging from $2,500 to $30,000, totaling $605,000. Outcomes included equitable partnership infrastructure and processes, innovative pilot research, translation of findings to interventions and policy change, dissemination to multiple audiences, new proposals and projects, and sustained community-academic research partnerships. All partnerships continued beyond the program; over half secured additional funding. Keys to success included participation as community-academic teams, dedicated time for partnership/relationship development, workshops to develop equity-based skills, relationships, and projects, expert community-academic instructor guidance, and connection to additional resources. Findings demonstrate that small amounts of seed funding for newly forming community-academic partnerships, paired with capacity building support, can provide essential time and resources needed to develop diverse, inclusive, equity-focused CBPR partnerships. Building such support into funding initiatives and through academic institutions can enhance impact and sustainability of translational research toward advancing health equity.

The Ubuntu Approach in Project SOAR (Speaking Our African American Realities): Building a robust community-academic partnership and culturally curated focus groups

Community-academic partnerships to enable research within minoritized communities are ever more important. Building on community-based participatory research frameworks, the Ubuntu Approach is offered as a set of principles for initiating and supporting meaningful and productive community-academic research partnerships. Particularly pertinent when the research is for and about systemically oppressed groups, the action principles are: 1) take risks; 2) identify and align core values; 3) create connection; 4) convey respect; 5) cultivate trust; and 6) put the work (i.e., benefit to the community) first, all of which are designed to create a culture for the partnership. These principles formed the foundation for the authors’ community-academic partnership that resulted in Project SOAR (Speaking Our African American Realities), research to advance the understanding of the nature and consequences of the Strong Black Woman schema, and other culturally-relevant constructs, in the context of the breast cancer experience. Data from the first, qualitative phase of Project SOAR, in which 37 Black women diagnosed with breast cancer took part in culturally curated Gatherings (i.e., focus groups), provide evidence that steps toward the goal of benefiting the community were accomplished and that the Ubuntu Approach can be an effective method for community-academic partnerships.

Innovative participatory bilingual data analysis with Latinx/@ immigrants: Language, power, and transformation.

The insights of Latinx/@ immigrants are essential to developing interventions that better address complex multilevel phenomena impacting mental health. Despite important advances in methods that genuinely embody participatory research practices, attention to collaborative data collection, analysis, and dissemination are limited. Our aim is to describe the development and implementation of research practices to address these gaps through an emphasis on and understanding of the centrality of language in collaborative research processes. Guided from the outset by community-based participatory research principles, our community-academic research partnership recognized the importance of developing and intentionally studying our collaborative processes. As part of an ethnographic interview study with 24 Latinx/@ immigrants, a community-university research team developed innovative methods, including practices related to research team meetings, data collection, analysis, and dissemination, which we documented through ongoing discussion and reflection. The resulting participatory research processes were grounded in a theoretical framework of praxis and language and included six innovative and iterative stages: (a) Establishing the research team, (b) planning the interview process/data collection, (c) developing the data analysis methodology, (d) interpreting findings to adapt the intervention, (e) integrating results of the participatory process into the analysis, and (f) data analysis for dissemination. A focus on praxis and language revealed how the language of research structures' power, meaning, feeling, collaboration, analysis, and transformation. We also found that bilingual participatory analytic processes have important implications with respect to achieving genuine inclusion in rigorous research that moves toward equity for Latinx/@ immigrants and other populations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

CBPR Implementation Framework for Community-Academic Partnerships.

The Engage for Equity (E2) study is an intervention trial for community-academic research partnerships that seeks to improve partnering practices and health equity outcomes by providing community and academic partners with tools to enhance and advance power sharing and health equity. Twenty-five community/academic research teams completed a two-day training intervention where they were introduced to the CBPR Conceptual Model and corresponding applied tools to their partnerships. We report on team interviews conducted immediately after the training, where teams discussed opportunities and challenges using the CBPR Model as an implementation framework as they considered their own contexts, their partnering processes/practices, actions, and their desired outcomes. We applied Diffusion of Innovation theory to guide data collection and analysis; augmented by intent to use and collective reflection. Results pointed to the flexibility of the CBPR model, concrete use of tools (e.g., planning/evaluation), and broader use in inspiring collective reflection to improve partnering practices and inform equity values. As an implementation framework, the CBPR model incorporates collaborative processes and strategies to mitigate power differentials into key phases of implementation studies, adding factors central to health equity work, not existing in previous implementation frameworks.

58096 A community-academic partnership to implement DASH diet and social/behavioral interventions in congregate meal settings to reduce hypertension among seniors aging in place

ABSTRACT IMPACT: Our implementation model translates two evidence-based nutritional and behavioral interventions to lower blood pressure, into a community-based intervention program for seniors receiving congregate meals. OBJECTIVES/GOALS: The Rockefeller University, Clinical Directors Network, and Carter Burden Network received an Administration for Community Living Nutrition Innovation grant to test whether implementation of DASH-concordant meals and health education programs together lower blood pressure among seniors aging in place. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: n=200, >60 yr, >4 meals/week at CBN; engagement of seniors/stakeholders in planning and conduct; Advisory Committee to facilitate dissemination; menus aligned with Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) and NYC Department for the Aging nutritional guidelines; interactive sessions for education in nutrition, BP management, medication adherence. Training in use of automated daily home BP monitors (Omron 20). Validated surveys at M0, M1, M3, M6. Taste preference and cost assessed through Meal Satisfaction (Likert scale) and Plate Waste measures. Primary Outcome: Change in Systolic BP (SBP) at Month 1; change in %BP controlled. Secondary: validated cognitive, behavioral, nutritional measures (SF-12, PQH-2), economics; staff/client satisfaction, trends and significant associations. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: n=94, x2 age =73 +/- 8 years, 65% female, 50% White, 32% Black/African American, 4% Asian, 1% American Indian, Alaskan Native, 13% Other, 32% Latino/a, 43% with income <$20,000. Mean SBP at Baseline was 137.87 +18.8 mmHg (range 98-191). Menus were adapted to provide 20% daily DASH requirements at breakfast, 50% at lunch. Participants attended classes in nutrition and medication management and were provided with and trained to use an automated home BP monitor. Meal satisfaction scores dipped briefly then met or exceed pre-DASH levels. Home BP data was downloaded every 2-4 weeks with social/behavioral support. The COVID-19 closures interfered with BP outcome data collection and meal service ceased. Primary outcome: x2 change in SBP at Month 1 = -4.41 mmHg + 18 (n=61) (p=0.713). Significant associations will be reported. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF FINDINGS: Our community-academic research partnership implemented the DASH diet in congregate-meal settings to address uncontrolled hypertension in seniors. COVID-19 interrupted the study, but encouraging trends were observed that may inform refinement to this community-based health intervention for seniors.

Using attendance data for social network analysis of a community-engaged research partnership.

The Rockefeller University Center for Clinical and Translational Science (RU-CCTS) and Clinical Directors Network (CDN), a Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN), fostered a community-academic research partnership involving Community Health Center (CHCs) clinicians, laboratory scientists, clinical researchers, community, and patient partners. From 2011 to 2018, the partnership designed and completed Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Project (CAMP1), an observational study funded by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), and CAMP2, a Comparative Effectiveness Research Study funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). We conducted a social network analysis (SNA) to characterize this Community-Engaged Research (CEnR) partnership. Projects incorporated principles of Community-Based Participatory Research (CAMP1/2) and PCORI engagement rubrics (CAMP2). Meetings were designed to be highly interactive, facilitate co-learning, share governance, and incentivize ongoing engagement. Meeting attendance formed the raw dataset enriched by stakeholder roles and affiliations. We used SNA software (Gephi) to form networks for four project periods, characterize network attributes (density, degree, centrality, vulnerability), and create sociograms. Polynomial regression models were used to study stakeholder interactions. Forty-seven progress meetings engaged 141 stakeholders, fulfilling 7 roles, and affiliated with 28 organizations (6 types). Network size, density, and interactions across organizations increased over time. Interactions between Community Members or Recruiters/Community Health Workers and almost every other role increased significantly across CAMP2 (P < 0.005); Community Members' centrality to the network increased over time. In a partnership with a highly interactive meeting model, SNA using operational attendance data afforded a view of stakeholder interactions that realized the engagement goals of the partnership.

An Exploration of U.S. Southern Faith Leaders' Perspectives of HIV Prevention, Sexuality, and Sexual Health Teachings.

Reducing human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) racial/ethnic disparities in the Deep South has been a critical objective of the U.S. National HIV/AIDS Strategy. This finding, originally published in 2010 by the Office of National AIDS Policy, serves as a complement to the Health and Human Resources and Services Administration’s Ending the HIV Epidemic (EtHE): A Plan for America. The EtHE plan, released in 2019, emphasizes community stakeholder involvement to achieve the planning goals of decreasing new HIV infections in key U.S. geographic areas. According to the plan, an important stakeholder is faith leaders, especially around stigma reduction. This paper focuses on a community–academic research partnership’s exploration of southern Black faith leaders’ teaching perspectives regarding HIV prevention, sexuality, and sexual health in predominantly Black congregations in Memphis, Tennessee. The partnership conducted four focus groups using a semi-structured discussion interview. Any adult faith leader involved in ministry work in a predominantly Black church was eligible to participate in the discussion. A total of 26 faith leaders with a mean age of 54, representing four Christian denominations, consented to participate in the study. Emerging themes included: (1) restriction of scripture to teach prevention and address sexuality, (2) role of secrecy and silence in living with HIV, and (3) impact of the stigma of HIV and sexuality. Findings may inform nationwide jurisdictional implementation plans, particularly for faith-based interventions in southern churches working toward ending the HIV epidemic.

Utilizing CBPR Charrette in Community-Academic Research Partnerships – What Stakeholders Should Know

The purpose of this article is to describe how researchers and community stakeholders can use Charrette processes to effectively build partnerships and stimulate successful community-based participatory research (CBPR). The term “Charrette” originated in the architectural design field. Kotval et al. (2014) described the Charrette as “a process of collaboration, intense dialogue and deliberation among participants to promote understanding and facilitate planning activity” (p. 494). The use of Charrette in CBPR is still an emerging concept in the literature, however, a few key studies have demonstrated that Charrette is a promising tool for CBPR researchers and stakeholders. Kennedy’s (2017) eight Charrette characteristics serve as an evaluative framework for examining the use of the Charrette in the two CBPR projects described in this paper. These cases illustrate how the CBPR Charrette was tailored to fit the needs of the project stakeholders. Recommendations for utilizing the CBPR Charrette are discussed, and important considerations are highlighted for community and academic groups who engage patients and community stakeholders in the research process.

Developing an Infrastructure to Cultivate Equitable and Sustainable Community-Academic Research Partnerships: Meharry Community Engagement Core

ObjectivesAchieving health equity and reducing racial and ethnic health disparities require intentional community engagement efforts by academicians. Primary among these efforts is the acknowledgement of research-related mistrust. Efforts to build trust must begin with recognition of the invaluable knowledge and experience community stakeholders possess. MethodsThe Meharry Community Engagement Core builds on the foundation provided by Meharry Medical College, a Historically Black College and University, to achieve its mission to improve health and health outcomes through long-term collaborative research partnerships with community stakeholders. Early in its development, the Core actively engaged community stakeholders throughout all research phases. ResultsEarly successes include achieving community feedback on research priorities, policies, and procedures and developing partnerships that span the research spectrum. Core work to date is promising and may serve as a model for addressing research-related mistrust and efforts to build trust.

4114 A Community/Academic Partnership to Implement Nutritional and Social/Behavioral Interventions to reduce Hypertension among Seniors Aging in Place

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: The Rockefeller University CCTS, Clinical Directors Network (CDN), and Carter Burden Network (CBN) received a DHHS-Administration for Community Living Nutrition Innovation grant to test whether implementation of DASH-concordant meals and a program to enhance self-efficacy, could lower blood pressure among seniors aging in place. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: CEnR-Nav model to engage stakeholders, enroll seniors age &gt;60 yr., eating 4 meals a week at 2 CBN congregate meal sites; Advisory Committee to facilitate dissemination; menus aligned with Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) and New York City Department for the Aging (DFTA) nutritional guidelines; interactive sessions for education (nutrition, blood pressure, medication adherence); Omron 10 home BP devices for daily home monitoring. Plate Waste and Meal Satisfaction (Likert scale) to assess taste preference and cost impact. Outcomes: Primary: Change in Systolic BP at Month 1; change in percent with controlled blood pressure. Secondary: change in validated measures of cognitive (e.g. SF-12, PHQ-2), behavioral (Home BP monitoring), nutritional (food frequency) variables, satisfaction, costs. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Menu alignment required multiple iterations. Plate Waste and Menu Satisfaction tools were developed. Site 1 enrollment began June 2019; educational sessions and home BP monitors and training were provided. Baseline mean blood pressure (Site 1) was 138/79 +20.5; (range: 7% hypertensive crisis, 36% stage 2 hypertension, 22% stage 1 hypertension, 22% elevated, and 13% normal). DASH-aligned meals began October 2019; Meal satisfaction declined briefly, chefs adjusted menus, and meal satisfaction rose to pre-intervention levels. Site 2 enrollment is ongoing; dietary intervention will start in 2020. Primary outcome data (change in BP) will be complete in March 2020. Secondary outcome data on social and behavioral impact of the interventions will also be presented. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: We leveraged our community-academic research partnership to conduct research addressing uncontrolled hypertension, an urgent unmet health need among seniors. The DASH Implementation Study can inform the broader aging services and healthcare community of the potential for congregate nutrition programs to improve cardiovascular health outcomes.

Engage for Equity: Development of Community-Based Participatory Research Tools.

We developed a set of four community-based participatory research (CBPR) partnership tools aimed at supporting community-academic research partnerships in strengthening their research processes, with the ultimate goal of improving research outcomes. The aim of this article is to describe the tools we developed to accomplish this goal: (1) the River of Life Exercise; (2) a Partnership Visioning Exercise; (3) a personalized Partnership Data Report of data from academic and community research partners; and (4) a Promising Practices Guide with aggregated survey data analyses on promising CBPR practices associated with CBPR and health outcomes from two national samples of CBPR projects that completed a series of two online surveys. Relying on Paulo Freire's philosophy of praxis, or the cycles of collective reflection and action, we developed a set of tools designed to support research teams in holding discussions aimed at strengthening research partnership capacity, aligning research partnership efforts to achieve grant aims, and recalling and operationalizing larger social justice goals. This article describes the theoretical framework and process for tool development and provides preliminary data from small teams representing 25 partnerships who attended face-to-face workshops and provided their perceptions of tool accessibility and intended future use.

The Washtenaw ID Project: A Government-Issued ID Coalition Working Toward Social, Economic, and Racial Justice and Health Equity.

Introduction. The policing of identities through policies that restrict access to IDs issued by U.S. governmental entities disparately affects communities of color; communities who identify as low-income, immigrant, older, and/or transgender; and community members who experience chronic mental illness, housing instability, or incarceration. Yet government-issued IDs are increasingly needed to access health-promoting resources such as housing, banking, social services, and health care, and in interactions with law enforcement. Methods. Since 2012, the Washtenaw ID Project's coalition-building process has involved communities affected by restrictive ID policies, advocates, and institutional stakeholders to enact community and systems change regarding inequities in government-issued IDs. We discuss the coalition-building process that culminated in the implementation of a photo ID issued by Washtenaw County government as a policy change strategy. We also highlight the community-academic research partnership evaluating the effectiveness of the Washtenaw ID in order to ensure equity in Washtenaw ID access and acceptance. Results. In 2015, 77% of Washtenaw ID holders reported having no other locally accepted ID. At follow-up, Washtenaw ID holders reported favorable Washtenaw ID acceptance rates in several domains (e.g., health care, school), but not when accessing banking services and housing. Additionally, community discussions suggested racial inequities in carding and ID acceptance. We discuss next steps for policy improvement to ensure equitable impact of the ID. Conclusions. Without national policy reform instating access to government-issued IDs for all, the social movement to establish local IDs may improve access to health-related resources contingent on having an ID. Careful attention must be paid to community organizing processes, policy implementation, and evaluation to ensure equity.