Joining Forces to Enhance the Depth and Scope of Engagement through Community Engaged Research: A Tale of Two Public Universities

Nancy Franz-Iowa State University

Edith Parker-University of Iowa

Overview• researchers and community educators

authentically connecting

• U of Iowa Institute for Clinical and Translational Sciences partners with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

• connect researchers across units with community educators through a continuum of partnership options

ISU Extension and Outreach Director, Professional Development

Professor, School of Education

Dr. Nancy Franz

Nancy’s Background• 32+ years with Extension in five states

4-H agent, volunteer, department head, district liaison, state specialist, project administrator, graduate student, administrator

• Youth and adult education in all program areas

• Research in TL and E&R community engagement

Dr. Edith Parker

Professor and Department HeadProfessor and Department HeadDirector, Prevention Research Center for Rural HealthDirector, Prevention Research Center for Rural Health

Community and Behavioral HealthCommunity and Behavioral HealthCollege of Public HealthCollege of Public Health

Director, Community Based Research CoreDirector, Community Based Research CoreInstitute of Clinical and Translational ScienceInstitute of Clinical and Translational Science

The University of IowaThe University of Iowa

A bit About Edith’s Experience

• Born in Siler City, NC –residence of Aunt Bee….

First

Job Teaching

In Kenya

Second Job- Working with Save the Children in Burkina Faso,

West Africa

On to Academia

Working with the Detroit Community on Childhood Asthma Research in a Participatory Fashion

Nancy and Edith’s Partnership Goal

Improve Iowan's quality of life through a seamless research-community education engaged partnership

Partnership Strategy

• Engage Iowans where they live and work with the latest public health research and education to improve their lives

• Inform the public health research and education agenda in Iowa

• LGU+HSU=CER= community change and improved health

Community Engaged Research

Commitment to conducting research that to some degree shares power with and engages community partners in the research process and that benefits the communities involved either through direct intervention or by translating research findings into interventions and policy change. (page 6)

Methods for Community-Based Participatory Research for Health (2nd edition)

Editors- B. Israel, E. Eng, A. Schulz & E. Parker

Partnership Structure• Community-based research leadership and

education champions from both institutions connect leadership teams and project teams

• Champions - Edith and Nancy• Leadership teams - CTSA and PRC at

U of I and ISUEO PD • Project teams - dementia, caregiving, health

disparities

Partnership Contiuum

• information sharing

• training and technical assistance

• cooperation

• mutually reciprocal project collaboration

Partnership Phases

• Getting to know each others - meet and greet, connect faculty and staff

• Finding common ground through projects - join research with educational infrastructure

• Determining best practices and impact

Partnership Portfolio- Dementia research and education- Clinical translational science award- Research prevention center for rural health- ISUEO and DCBH networking- Grant proposals- Rural health information sharing- Health education professional development- Community-based research professional

development

Intended Partnership Peer Products• journal articles

• conference presentations

• abstracts and proceedings

• literature reviews

• conference posters

• competitive grants/contracts

Intended Partnership Applied Products• fact sheets• training• logic models• PowerPoint's• curricula and tool kits• guides• technical assistance• policy development

Intended Partnership Community Products

• forums

• workshops

• websites

• newsletters

• presentations

• reports

• designs

• presentations

• displays

Partnership Best Practices

• it is about the community

• who serves as champions and project team leaders and members is critical

• open doors for each other

• provide therapy for each other

• stay focus on common goals

Partnership Best Practices • be patient - bureaucracy is slow and so is human

and community development• one solid successful partnership leads to many

others• solid peer, applied, and community scholarship is

great partnership glue• find and connect researchers, educators, and

community members with a high CERQ (community engaged research intelligence)

Resources

• Edith’s book

• Nancy’s JOE, JHEOE and JCES articles

• Partnership table

Your experiences with university/university partnerships• Lessons learned

• Success factors

• Joys

• Challenges

Thank you

nfranz@iastate.edu

Edith-parker@uiowa.edu