What is Community Based Participatory Research?
Community-Based Participatory Research, or CBPR, is “a collaborative research approach that involves all partners in the research process and recognizes the unique strengths that each brings.”
Instead of researchers just studying a community from the outside, CBPR brings everyone together, researchers and community members alike. This helps to ensure that the research really matters to the people living in Arkansas and addresses the issues they face every day.
By involving community members in decision-making, CBPR connects scientific research with real-world solutions that can truly make a difference. This method puts community voices at the forefront and utilizes local insights, which can help improve health outcomes for everyone in the community.
What is CBPR Scholars?
The CBPR Scholars Program brings community members and academic researchers together to learn the basics of community engagement, strengthen reciprocal research partnerships, and develop research projects grounded in community priorities that lead to meaningful community impact. The program has two parts: CBPR Academy and CBPR Coaching.
Program Format
Part 1 – CBPR Academy
The CBPR Scholars Academy includes lectures, engaging discussions, and hands-on activities that help people learn how to connect with communities, build trust and create research projects that meet community needs. It focuses on respectful ways to enter communities, maintain long-lasting partnerships, and ensure that research makes a real difference in people’s lives.
The CBPR Academy offers a shared foundation in community engagement and collaborative research, ensuring that all partners begin with the same understanding. It provides biweekly sessions, which participants can attend either in person or virtually. Sessions will be held at the UAMS main campus in Little Rock, with an option to join via Zoom.
Topics to be covered during CBPR Academy:
- Entering the community
- Building meaningful partnerships
- Working with community partnerships
- Sustaining partnerships
- Dissemination of results
Part 2 – CBPR Coaching
CBPR Coaching offers hands-on support to community and academic teams who want to work together on research or program proposals that reflect community-identified
priorities. Through coaching, teams receive guidance on shaping project ideas and developing proposals that are practical, respectful, and responsive to community needs.
To participate in CBPR Coaching, teams must first complete the CBPR Academy. After completing the Academy, teams can request coaching through The TRI Request Services Portal.
For teams that receive funding, CBPR Coaching continues for up to one year after the award. During this time, coaches provide ongoing support to help teams successfully carry out their projects. This includes assistance with maintaining strong communication, navigating challenges, staying aligned with community priorities, and putting plans into action in ways that work for both community and academic partners.
Program Format
Each team will receive:
Pre-proposal support:
- Access to examples of co-developed research proposals
- Monthly mentorship meetings with academic and community mentor
- Written feedback on the funding proposal
Post-proposal support:
- Monthly mentorship meetings with academic and community mentors (for up to one year)
- Access to examples of successful IRB protocols and subaward agreements for community-partnered projects.
CBPR Coaching Eligibility Criteria
Each team IS REQUIRED to have the following members:
- UAMS faculty with a terminal degree (assistant professor or above)
- Academic Researcher
- Must have sufficient time to dedicate to the project
- Sufficient human subjects research expertise to guide the science (may or may not be UAMS faculty)
- Community Partner:
- Must have an active 501c3
Multi-Disciplinary Team
We encourage multidisciplinary teams to apply, but this is not required. Each team may have additional researchers/clinicians within and outside UAMS (e.g., UAPB, UALR, etc.)