Community-based Research Program Research Articles

Factors associated with ART interruption during the COVID-19 crisis in Burundi (the EPIC community-based research program)

With a national prevalence of 0.9%, Burundi is close to achieving UNAIDS’ 2025 targets. Despite this, different types of crises periodically disrupt its HIV health services. The community-based program EPIC measured the impact of the COVID-19 health crisis on people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Burundi in 2021. Specifically, it assessed ART interruption and associated factors since the beginning of the pandemic. The study questionnaire was administered to PLHIV in three cities between October and November 2021. Participants were recruited using convenience sampling. Logistic regression models helped identify factors associated with ART interruption. Of the 317 respondents, 37 (11.7%) reported interruption. The majority (79.2%) self-identified as belonging to key populations. Interruption was significantly associated with: fewer HIV medical follow-up visits (adjusted Odds Ratio, aOR = 7.80, p = 0.001) and forced HIV status disclosure (aOR = 4.10, p = 0.004). It was inversely associated with multi-month ART dispensing (aOR = 0.36, p = 0.017) since the beginning of the pandemic and the perception of not having been sufficiently informed by the HIV medical team about the risk of COVID-19 infection (aOR = 0.11, p < 0.001). Our results highlight the importance of multi-month ART dispensing, enhanced communication, and voluntary disclosure of one’s HIV status in preventing ART interruption in times of crises in Burundi.

Nunavik Sentinels: documenting northern insect biodiversity and supporting Indigenous youth leadership through participatory research and education

Abstract There is strong evidence that a biodiversity crisis is underway, fuelled by pollution, climate change, and invasive species. These impacts are especially important in northern Canadian regions. However, insect and other arthropod monitoring in Northern Canada urgently needed for land preservation is lacking. This paper presents the Nunavik Sentinels, a community-based participatory research programme (see definition, Table 1), that is aiming to fill those knowledge gaps while promoting collaboration among all stakeholders (organisations and members of northern communities, and scientists). Nunavik Sentinels is a unique insect-monitoring programme facilitated by the Montréal Insectarium – Espace pour la vie (Montréal, Québec, Canada), making entomology accessible to Indigenous youth by providing them with tools to lead expeditions in unexplored habitats and involving them in data collection. We present how this programme came to existence and its four-pillar framework (i.e., training land camp, summer employment, educational kit, and research). We touch upon how the programme is continually evolving. Finally, we demonstrate the benefits of the programme and how it will help better define the actions to be taken to prepare for future changes in northern biodiversity.

Impact of the COVID-19 Health Crisis on Key Populations at Higher Risk for, or Living With, HIV or Hepatitis C Virus and People Working With These Populations: Multicountry Community-Based Research Study Protocol (EPIC Program).

Information concerning the impact of the COVID-19 health crisis on populations most affected by HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV; or key populations [KP]), and those working with these populations in community settings, is limited. Community-based organizations working in the field of HIV and viral hepatitis are well placed to identify and meet the new needs of KP owing to the health crisis. This study aims to describe the development and implementation of an exploratory and descriptive multicountry, community-based research program, EPIC (Enquêtes Pour évaluer l'Impact de la crise sanitaire covid en milieu Communautaire), within an international network of community-based organizations involved in the response to HIV and viral hepatitis. The EPIC program aimed to study the impact of the COVID-19 health crisis on KP or people living with HIV or HCV and people working with these populations at the community level (community health workers [CHWs]) and to identify the key innovations and adaptations in HIV and HCV services. A general protocol and study documents were developed and shared within the Coalition PLUS network. The protocol had a built-in flexibility that allowed participating organizations to adapt the study to local needs in terms of the target population and specific themes of interest. Data were collected using surveys or interviews. From July 2020 to May 2022, a total of 79 organizations participated in the EPIC program. Across 32 countries, 118 studies were conducted: 66 quantitative (n=12,060 among KP or people living with HIV or people living with HCV and n=811 among CHWs) and 52 qualitative (n=766 among KP or people living with HIV or people living with HCV and n=136 among CHWs). The results of the EPIC program will provide data to describe the impact of the health crisis on KP and CHWs and identify their emerging needs. Documentation of innovative solutions that were put into place in this context may help improve the provision of services after COVID-19 and for future health crises. DERR1-10.2196/45204.

Ensuring continuity and impact in Arctic monitoring: a solution-orientated model for community-based environmental research

Community-based monitoring (CBM) is increasingly cited as a means of collecting valuable baseline data that can contribute to our understanding of environmental change whilst supporting Indigenous governance and self-determination in research. However, current environmental CBM models have specific limitations that impact program effectiveness and the progression of research stages beyond data collection. Here, we highlight key aspects that limit the progression of Arctic CBM programs which include funding constraints, organisational structures, and operational processes. Exemplars from collaborative environmental research conducted in the acutely climate change impacted Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk, Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR), Canada, are used to identify co-developed solutions to address these challenges. These learnings from experience-based collaborations feed into a new solution-orientated model of environmental community-based research (CBR) that emphasises continuity between and community ownership in all research stages to enable a more complete research workflow. Clear recommendations are provided to develop a more coherent approach to achieving this model, which can be adapted to guide the development of successful environmental CBR programs in different research and place-based contexts.

Preferences of women in difficult life situations for a physical activity programme: protocol of a discrete choice experiment in the German NU-BIG project

IntroductionThe BIG project (‘Bewegung als Investition in die Gesundheit’, ie, ‘Movement as Investment in Health’) was developed in 2005 as a community-based participatory research programme to offer accessible opportunities for...

Female sex workers and police violence during the Covid-19 health crisis in 2020–2021: results from the EPIC multi-country community-based research program in Argentina

BackgroundFemale sex workers (FSW) have been disproportionately impacted by the Covid-19 crisis. Data show increases of police violence toward key populations (KP), likely a consequence of their role in enforcing health government measures. This study aimed to identify factors associated with police violence experienced by FSW during the Covid-19 crisis in Argentina.MethodsEPIC is a multi-country, cross-sectional, community-based research program evaluating the impact of Covid-19 among KP. In Argentina, the study was conducted in collaboration with FSW community-based organizations (CBO). Participants completed an online survey (October 2020–April 2021). Police violence was measured as having experienced episodes of violence (physical, verbal, psychological or sexual) by security forces since the start of the health crisis. Factors associated with police violence were assessed in logistic regression models.ResultsAmong 173 respondents, median age was 34 [IQR 27–42], 39.3% were transgender women (TW), 78.1% declared sex work as their only income and 71.7% mentioned their financial situation has deteriorated with the health crisis. Nearly half of FSW (44.5%) reported experiencing police violence within the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, and among them, 76.6% declared more frequent violence episodes since the beginning of the health crisis. After adjustment for age, being a TW (aOR [95% CI] = 2.71 [1.21;6.05]), reporting non-injection drug use (2.92 [1.02;8.36]), having a considerably deteriorated financial situation (3.67 [1.47;9.21]), having had a consultation with a CBO worker for medical care/treatments (5.56 [2.15;14.37]) and declaring fear or experiences of discrimination by physicians/other health workers (2.97 [1.21;7.29]), since the beginning of the Covid-19 health crisis, were independently associated with police violence.ConclusionsFSW in Argentina have experienced an increase in police violence since the beginning of the health crisis. Belonging to multiple KP (FSW, TW, people who use drugs) increases the likelihood of experiencing police violence, highlighting the need of an intersectional approach to develop interventions to reduce stigma and violence against FSW. CBOs have provided essential support and services during the crisis to FSWs, and other KPs, who may have avoided traditional healthcare structures due to fear or experiences of discrimination.

Lay Health Promoters Empower Neighbourhoods-Results From a Community-Based Research Programme in Southern Sweden.

This article focuses on the role of lay health promoters in the Lindängen initiative, a community-based participatory research (CBPR) programme for health promotion that started 2016 in a low-income neighbourhood in the outskirts of Malmö, southern Sweden. The programme aimed to support equitable health and develop an innovative model for community health promotion. The purpose of this article is to describe the role of the lay health promoters in the initiative and discuss the challenges of their position mediating between residents of the neighbourhood and the established institutions, using interviews, meeting notes and focus groups sessions with the health promoters and local stakeholders. Lay health promoters' role and function developed in a collaborative process of networking with local stakeholders and citizens in local meeting places. Their work was based on their credibility in their role, in combination with the use of a CBPR model that was open to innovation, with a strong focus on actively engaging members of the community. This allowed the lay health promoters to take political and social stances towards various issues, and to start to concretely address the social determinants of health in the community, as well as express recommendations to policymakers. Based on these experiences, the lay health promoters gained clearer insights into the institutional and structural conditions that impact their community. The position they had in the process of the programme resulted in empowerment and a new local association for health promotion; LindängenKraft (LindängenPower) driven by the health promotors and community members.

Family and Coach Responses to a Program for Fostering Infant Language

This study investigated family and coach responses to a two-year community-based research program, Strong Beginnings for Babies (SBB), designed to support families in fostering infant language development. The study focused on families of infants from low-income backgrounds, as these children may be at risk for delayed language development. The majority of participants self-identified as Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish origin. Three coaches were hired to work closely with participating families during a series of group sessions where they modeled language promotion practices, provided feedback on families' implementation of practices, and reviewed measures of infants' home language environments with families. Analyses of surveys, interviews, and documents indicated that SBB proffered a number of benefits for both families and coaches. Benefits for families included increased knowledge about the importance of and practices for engaging in language interactions with their infants, as well as a sense of community with other families. Benefits for coaches included personal and professional opportunities for growth and positive relationships with participating families. Challenges and areas for improvement were also noted. Although families expressed a desire for more frequent and longer coaching sessions, coaches reported concerns about inconsistent program attendance and acknowledged the complexities of families' lives.

Engaging Sexual and Gender Minority Youth in HIV Interventions Through Gay Dating Apps: Recruitment Protocol.

BackgroundHIV continues to disproportionately impact sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) in the United States. Public health efforts have increasingly focused on developing efficacious interventions to curb the spread of HIV among SGMY and help those living with HIV achieve and sustain viral suppression. However, recruiting and engaging SGMY in prevention and care interventions is challenging.ObjectiveDuring the past decade, gay dating apps have quickly emerged as popular web-based spaces in which SGMY congregate. Although the recruitment of SGMY through these apps has been commonly reported, advertisement is the typical modality used, and direct recruitment approaches are not adequately described. This study aims to describe the process for developing a direct recruitment protocol for use in gay dating apps.MethodsThe Adolescent Medicine Trials Network Comprehensive Adolescent Research and Engagement Studies is a community-based research program consisting of 3 interrelated studies testing scalable behavioral interventions to improve HIV prevention and care engagement among youth aged 12-24 years in Los Angeles and New Orleans. To supplement our in-person recruitment approaches for Comprehensive Adolescent Research and Engagement Studies, the New Orleans site formed a gay dating app recruitment team. In April 2018, the team developed a loosely structured protocol that included study-specific profiles and sample language to guide initial recruitment efforts. Two self-identified Black, gay cisgender male field recruiters field-tested the protocol on the popular gay dating app Jack’d. During the field test, the recruitment team met weekly to discuss the recruiters’ experiences and user reactions. For example, we learned the importance of addressing concerns about study legitimacy and identifying appropriate ways to describe the study. We iteratively incorporated these lessons learned into the final protocol and developed a training program and tracking procedures before moving to full-scale implementation at both sites.ResultsAdhering to this protocol yielded 162 enrollments in New Orleans (332 total enrollments across the two sites) throughout the recruitment period (April 2018 to August 2019). Most of these participants were sexual minority cisgender males (91%), and the remainder were identified as members of gender minority groups. We outlined step-by-step instructions on training staff, engaging users, and scheduling and tracking recruitment activities.ConclusionsThis paper provides a practical guide for researchers and community-based providers to implement a gay dating app recruitment protocol. Our experience indicates that gay dating app recruitment is feasible and fruitful when the staff members are knowledgeable, flexible, honest, and respectful to the user. Perhaps the most salient lesson we learned in approaching gay dating app users is the importance of setting clear and transparent intentions without judgment. As gay dating apps continue to increase in popularity, researchers need to stay vigilant to changing formats and develop systematic approaches to harness their potential as invaluable recruitment strategies for SGMY.International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)RR1-10.2196/28864

Using Critical Research Approaches to Teach Students About Nonprofit Organizations: A Case Examination

This paper presents a case example highlighting a community-based undergraduate research program designed and implemented through the lens of critical research approaches. While the primary purpose of the research program was to provide students with an intensive opportunity to design and conduct in research in collaboration with a community-based nonprofit organizational, the case demonstrates that when the high-impact educational practice of undergraduate research is implemented with attention towards teaching critical research approaches, students acquire knowledge and skills beyond that of the anticipated learning outcomes. Specifically emphasized are the unintended student learning outcomes of knowledge and skill development related to nonprofit organizational structure and function. Further, the case provides support for the utilization of undergraduate research programs to effectively augment traditional classroom education within undergraduate nonprofit and philanthropic studies.

Migratory diversity in an Arctic fish supporting subsistence harvest

Arctic regions are warming more than twice as quickly as other parts of the globe, threatening Arctic fish and wildlife and the human communities that rely on them. Assessing species' vulnerability to this change requires understanding their life histories and ecology, including movement patterns and habitat use. However, this information has not been documented for many Arctic species, which may not follow predicable movements in these vast and changing landscapes. In the Gwich'in Settlement Area of western Canadian Arctic, one such species is łuk dagaii (in Gwich'in) or broad whitefish (Coregonus nasus). This species is the most important food fish for the Gwich'in Peoples of the region. We present results from a collaborative community-based research program established to build research capacity and address pressing research questions. Using otoliths extracted from fish caught by community monitors along the Peel River, we investigated migratory patterns using the isotopic ratio, 87Sr/86Sr. Applying a hidden Markov model to the otolith laser ablation transects, we explored emergent model states and linked them to regions of the watershed. Across and within individuals, fish occupied the ocean and three different identified freshwater locations; however, while all fish were captured in the Peel River, none expressed an otolith signature that would suggest they grew there. Across individuals, we found large variability in migratory patterns, suggesting that migrations are not obligate and that individual fish utilize the watershed very differently. This diversity may buffer whitefish and reliant human communities against change, but indicates dependence on a large, intact watershed.

Abstract IA39: A family-focused lay health worker approach to promote smoking cessation, healthy eating, and physical activity among Asian Americans

Abstract Cigarette use, unhealthy diets, and physical inactivity are the leading modifiable risk factors for cancer. These preventable risk factors remain prevalent among some Asian American groups. For example, smoking prevalence remains disproportionately high among Chinese, Korean, or Vietnamese immigrant men with limited English proficiency. More than half of Asian American adults do not meet physical activity recommendations (at least 150 minutes of moderate or vigorous exercise weekly) or have a body-mass index (BMI) above the WHO recommended cut-off point for Asian populations (at BMI &amp;gt;23). The Healthy Family Project, a community-based research program to promote healthy living among Asian Americans, was started in 2012 with research support from the California Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program and the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The program developed a family-focused lay health worker intervention to promote smoking cessation by engaging both current smokers and their families together with their peers. Since 2012, the Healthy Family Project has expanded to address multiple risks factors beyond cigarette smoking to include reduction of secondhand smoke exposure and promotion of healthy eating and physical activity among at-risk Asian Americans. The intervention curriculum is available in Chinese, English, Korean, and Vietnamese languages. A new program targeting Korean Americans is being launched in the San Francisco Bay Area of California in the fall of 2018. Since 2012, the Healthy Family Project has delivered the intervention to more than 520 smoker-family dyads (or &amp;gt;1,000 individuals). The program has been able to successfully engage participants who are not ready to quit smoking and have little knowledge of the recommended nutrition or physical activity levels. The program completion rates across different trials have been consistently above 95%, and follow-up rates at 3 to 12 months are above 90%. The presentation will highlight the health risk behavior profile of 680 Asian Americans enrolled in one of the ongoing trials, present the Healthy Family Project intervention model, and discuss current health behavior outcomes and implications. A family-focused lay health worker approach is a promising intervention platform to promote health behavior change and facilitate cancer prevention education in Asian American communities. Citation Format: Janice Y. Tsoh. A family-focused lay health worker approach to promote smoking cessation, healthy eating, and physical activity among Asian Americans [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2018 Nov 2-5; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl):Abstract nr IA39.

Strong beginnings for babies: families’ language stimulation of infants from low-income backgrounds

This mixed-methods study investigated a two-year community-based research program, Strong Beginnings for Babies (SBB), designed to support families in using 10 strategies for fostering infant langu...

OLDER ADULTS AND THE WORLD CAFé APPROACH: CROSS-GENERATIONAL INITIATIVES IN RESEARCH AND EDUCATION

In Canada, numbers of older adults are considered to be increasing, and by 2036, it is expected that seniors will reach 25% of the total population. Since 2009, the Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit (SPHERU) has developed an interdisciplinary approach to a community-based research program focused on rural older adults. The world café approach is recognized as collaborative and ideal for encouraging dialogue, sharing knowledge, and developing action plans. Set up like a café, four to six participants at each table engage in a series of three conversational rounds lasting approximately 20 minutes each. At the end of each round, participants move to different tables while the facilitator(s) remain at their original tables. We incorporated a world café approach in three distinct research projects, facilitating a total of five world café events. For each of these events, we also engaged with graduate and undergraduate students who were trained to serve as table facilitators. Participating students represented a variety of disciplines including social work, nursing, and gerontology. Older adults participating in the world café events reported positive experiences and appreciation for the opportunity to discuss new information. Student facilitators identified their participation as a “real life” learning and networking opportunity that enhanced their classroom experiences. Challenges identified included issues related to individual mobility, and issues related to noise and sound quality for those with hearing deficiencies. A community-based approach to research is effective when engaging with this population, and a word café event brings seniors directly into the discussion.

Improving the quality of foods available in a rural kibbutz cafeteria in Israel to align with a freshly prepared Mediterranean-style diet through a community culinary coaching programme.

To examine the impact of a community culinary coaching programme (CCCP) on cafeteria food alignment with a freshly prepared Mediterranean-style diet, and diners' consumption habits and satisfaction. A non-randomized, controlled, community-based participatory research programme. CCCP included eight 90 min coaching sessions with a community steering committee, 22 h of kitchen staff training, 12 h of pre-school staff training and 30 h of education for diners; control communities received no intervention. Outcomes, measured before and 12 months after programme initiation, included cafeteria food alignment with a freshly prepared Mediterranean-style diet through a food items list derived from the cafeteria food purchasing software, and adult diners' consumption habits and satisfaction through questionnaires. Communal cafeterias of rural kibbutzim. Intervention: kibbutz with 493 adults and 214 children. Control: Two kibbutzim with a total of 487 adults and 206 children. Intervention cafeteria food improved significantly in all Mediterranean index categories except nuts (legumes, wholegrain products, fish, MUFA/SFA P < 0·0001; fruits, vegetables P < 0·001; processed meats P = 0·004), and in the proportion of ultra-processed and unprocessed or minimally processed foods categories of the NOVA classification (-22 %, P < 0·001 and +7 %, P < 0·001, respectively), compared with the control community. The intervention group's satisfaction was significantly improved in twenty-five (83 %) out of the thirty satisfaction items, compared with twelve (40 %) in the control group. No changes were identified in diners' consumption habits in either intervention or control communities. CCCP might be useful in improving alignment of cafeteria food with a freshly prepared Mediterranean-style diet.

Critical Aspects of a Sustainable Clinical Research Program in the Community-Based Oncology Practice.

Increasing enrollment into clinical trials is a top priority across the field of oncology. Because the vast majority of those afflicted with cancer receive their care in the community, creating strong clinical research programs in the community-based setting is important. This article comprehensively outlines the most important elements of creating and sustaining a successful community-based research program. Establishing a clear mission and defining the scope of the research program in collaboration with key physicians and administrative leadership are critical to success. Standard operating procedures should detail operational processes. Ensuring sound financial planning and protected physician time are crucial for a healthy program. Providing mentorship opportunities to investigators and other team members will provide necessary guidance for junior investigators and long-term program stability. Prioritizing provider and patient volunteer engagement through education and awareness will potentially improve enrollment and research ownership. Incorporating administrative and clinical research staff and health care providers, including physicians, advanced practice providers, and pharmacists, will result in a multidisciplinary and unified approach and may also promote research as a routine part of patient care. Regular safety and scientific meetings will reduce regulatory complications and, most importantly, improve patient care. Other keys to a successful program include establishing a diverse trial portfolio, collaboration between different institutions, and ensuring appropriate technological infrastructure. Serial programmatic review provides opportunities to refine suboptimal practices and recognize successful strategies. Community-based research programs are critical to improve access to optimal cancer care. Implementation of successful programs is possible with a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach.

Supporting Indigenous youth activity programmes: a community-based participatory research approach

ABSTRACT The purpose of this three-year, multi-phase community-based participatory research (CBPR) programme was to explore how to support Indigenous youth activity programmes and programme planners in Alberta, Canada. This CBPR programme was comprised of five phases: (1) Identifying mutual interests and learning how to partner, (2) Building culturally-relevant activity programmes with and for youth, (3) Defining CBPR programme goals and understanding our roles, (4) Exploring how to support Indigenous youth activity programmes, and (5) Applying and informing practices for supporting Indigenous youth activity programmes. Phases Four and Five of this CBPR are the focus of this paper. Phase Four was an exploration of programme planners’ experiences of, and recommendations for, building partnerships and programmes to identify how to support Indigenous youth activity programmes and programme planners. Fifteen programme planners from four urban areas in Alberta participated in one-on-one interviews. Findings are represented by three themes: (1) Building capacity for collaboration and programme planning, (2) Connecting partners and existing programmes, and (3) Aligning and integrating goals and resources with existing programmes. Phase Five, the application phase of this CBPR, involved the co-development of a gathering event to apply areas of support (i.e. themes) from Phase Four of this CBPR, as well as to reflect on the strengths and challenges of applying such supports. Partners can use implications from the research programme processes and outcomes to explore their role in and practices for supporting these programmes.

Dissemination Using Infographic Reports Depicting Program Impact of a Community-Based Research Program: eB4CAST in iCook 4-H

To evaluate barriers to dissemination and implementation and perceptions of the Evidence-Based Forecast Capture, Assemble, Sustain, Timelessness (eB4CAST) dissemination infographic tool as part of iCook 4-H dissemination. Online surveys and phone interviews. Experts (n = 35) in community research completed the survey; 13 completed the interview. Experts' perceptions of eB4CAST reports used for iCook 4-H dissemination. Frequency and thematic analysis. Survey respondents agreed (85%) that the eB4CAST infographic provided a clear understanding of iCook 4-H and relevant information (83%). Statistics included in the infographic were reported as easily understood (66%). Respondents (83%) stated that the infographic would be helpful to share outcomes with stakeholders. Thematic analysis showed that the majority of interviewees agreed that eB4CAST infographics might aid in overcoming barriers to dissemination and implementation including communication and community ownership. This study provides perceptions from experts regarding the value of using eB4CAST infographics as a tool to disseminate the impact of a community nutrition program.

A Community Based Research: Building Healthy Living Community through Sports and Nutrition Program

Purpose of this research was to analysis the effect of the community-based research program for building the healthy living community through sports and nutrition programs in Padang Pariaman regency. Targets of this program were to build a sports community and nutrition in Nagari Pauh Kamba, to synergize the role of sport community to be more aware of the importance of nutrition for the health and to encourage the community systems to strengthening the exercises and people nutrition program. Method of this research was a community-based research. It was a project carried out during the three months in building a sports community and nutrition in Rimbo Dulang-Dulang, Bayur and Pinang villages, Nagari Pauh Kamba. Results of this research reported that the program can be done well and enable to increase public awareness for the health and nutrition. The comparison of people awareness before and after doing the program revealed some positive effects on people health and nutrition

An Impact Mapping Method to Generate Robust Qualitative Evaluation of Community-Based Research Programs for Youth and Adults.

Ripple Effect Mapping (REM) is an evaluation approach that has traditionally been used in community settings to visually map the impact of programming and community interventions. This manuscript utilizes the Community Capitals Framework (CCF) to inform REM and to better highlight the changes and impact between various levels of a community, following a childhood obesity prevention intervention. The addition of in-depth qualitative analyses makes this approach particularly useful for the evaluation of interventions with a research–community partnership focus. The objective of this study was to describe a CCF-informed REM approach with detailed protocol, training, and application to the community-based, childhood obesity prevention intervention, iCook 4-H, which targeted youth and adult pairs. This protocol includes the steps required to prepare for REM sessions of, ideally, six youth and adult pairs, one facilitator, and one or two evaluators/note takers. REM sessions typically begin with an icebreaker and appreciative inquiry activities that inform the REM mapping process that follows. In-depth qualitative analysis of the notes and map images captured during REM sessions ensure the rigor required for research-related interventions. Researchers, community members, and participants can use CCF-informed REM collectively as a robust evaluation tool to demonstrate, through visual mapping, the positive effects of community-partnered research programs.