Table 1.

Community-Based Participatory Research for Improved Mental Health Outline

Module Key Questions Addressed	Module Content Focus
Module 1: Background Preparation for the Participatory Research Process
• What is important about community participation?	• Goals and importance of community    participation
• What are the goals of the research relationship with the community?
• How are communities chosen, scientifically, ethically, and collaboratively when    the research originates outside of the community?	• Defining the specific target community    (demographics, history, etc.)
• What is the relevant history, and where are the sources of trust and mistrust?	• Understanding the historic relationship    between research institution and    community
• How does the research staff prepare for the relationships and responsibilities of    community participatory research?
• What are the practical resource issues	• Planning for the time and personnel    needed; establishing inclusion values    within the project and staff
Module 2: Beginning Partnerships with Communities
• Who are the key leaders and natural wise persons with whom trustworthiness    and integrity must be demonstrated?	• Identifying key stakeholders and key    community informants (formal and    “natural” leaders)
• When and how do researchers approach a community?
• What information is appropriate to share about the scientific questions, the    methodology, and the anticipated risks and benefits to the community and to    individual participants?	• Deciding how and when to engage the    community; developing community    advisory boards (authority, structure,    function, duration)
• How do researchers figure out ways to minimize research risks to the    community?
• How are community advisory boards developed, and how will healthy, effective    functioning be facilitated?	• Timing the steps of community    involvement
• How should values conflicts and disagreements be addressed?
Module 3: Finding Common Ground Within the Partnership
• How do researchers determine the values and needs of the community?	• Understanding cultural appropriateness    and acceptability for the specific    community
• How are implicit concerns expressed?
• How do partners find common ground on differing goals and preferences?
• What are the processes for dealing with conflicts and disagreements on an    ongoing basis?	• Conducting community needs    assessments; developing mutual or    compatible goals – ethical issues (i.e.,    how does the community define them?)
• What if the partnership fails?
• What ethical safeguards does the community need or want?
• What are the jurisdiction issues?	• Data and safety monitoring
	• Issues from the community
Module 4: Sustaining the Partnership
• How are day-to-day issues addressed?	• Maintaining an active community    advisory board
• How is the equality of all partners maintained throughout the process?
• How are all partners kept informed of process and progress?	• Common problems/issues and how they    might be addressed
• How are community advisory boards maintained?
• How are major changes in the ‘ground rules’ addressed and communicated	• Dealing with significant changes in the    community or the research
	• Importance of ongoing communication    between community and research
Module 5: Evaluating the Partnership and Enhancing Future Successes
• How are study results used in ways that are acceptable to all?	• Determining “success” as defined by    various sectors of the community and by    research standards
• How is the relationship sustained when the work of the research study is    finished?
• How and why have reflection and debriefing become essential activities?	• Assessing strengths and weaknesses to    improve future collaboration
• How is the success of the process involved in project implementation evaluated    from the perspectives of all stakeholders?	• Building knowledge about community –    research collaboration
	• Sharing experiences