Community-based participatory research: a capacity-building approach for policy advocacy aimed at eliminating health disparities

Am J Public Health. 2010 Nov;100(11):2094-102. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2009.170506. Epub 2010 Sep 23.

Abstract

There have been increasing calls for community-academic partnerships to enhance the capacity of partners to engage in policy advocacy aimed at eliminating health disparities. Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is a partnership approach that can facilitate capacity building and policy change through equitable engagement of diverse partners. Toward this end, the Detroit Community-Academic Urban Research Center, a long-standing CBPR partnership, has conducted a policy training project. We describe CBPR and its relevance to health disparities; the interface between CBPR, policy advocacy, and health disparities; the rationale for capacity building to foster policy advocacy; and the process and outcomes of our policy advocacy training. We discuss lessons learned and implications for CBPR and policy advocacy to eliminate health disparities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Capacity Building*
  • Community-Based Participatory Research* / methods
  • Community-Based Participatory Research* / organization & administration
  • Community-Institutional Relations
  • Female
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Health Policy
  • Health Status Disparities*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Michigan
  • Models, Organizational
  • Patient Advocacy* / education
  • Policy Making
  • Self Efficacy
  • Social Change
  • Young Adult