Community-Based Participatory Research
Helping communities and researchers collaborate in order to generate meaningful data and then use that research to advocate for change
Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is a very effective approach to improving health and addressing the social determinants of health equity.
Under the CBPR model, community members work with researchers to study and report local health concerns and then make changes to correct the problems. CBPR helps build capacity for communities to make positive social change by studying locally relevant issues and concerns.
CBPR is a collaborative process that equitably involves all partners in research. The process begins with a research topic of importance to the community with the aim of combining knowledge and action for social change to improve community health and eliminate health disparities.” A hallmark of CBPR—one that sets it apart from more traditional research paradigms—is its commitment to action as part of the research process, not leaving follow-up to others after studies have been completed.
Successful examples of CBPR in Oregon include:
- Evaluating community-identified school-based policies on the impact on childhood obesity: A collaboration of concerned community members and OHSU researchers of the Jefferson County 509J school district.
- Addressing mold and moisture conditions and its effects on respiratory disease among rental housing unit tenants by using community researchers to collect data and advocate for improved rental housing policies in Multnomah County: Led by the Community Alliance of Tenants and the Multnomah County Health Department.
- Assessing the Influence of the Rural School and Community Environments on the Physical Activity Patterns and Food Choices of Rural Children: A Photovoice project in La Grande, Oregon involving high school students, the U.C. Fit Kids Coalition, and OHSU researchers.
- Testing the efficacy of culturally-appropriate programs to reduce the environmental and social risk factors of chronic diseases among Latino Migrant Farm workers in Marion and Polk Counties: The Mi Salud es Mis Manos (My Health is My Hands), led by the Farmworker Housing Development Corporation and Portland State University.
- Reducing health inequities by increasing community involvement and social cohesion: Poder es Salud/Power for Health seeks to demonstrate the use of the community health worker model and popular education to reduce language and cultural barriers to enhancing community social capitalamong the African American and Latino.
See our Grantee Profiles for examples of Northwest Health Foundation-funded CBPR projects.