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Mini Grants for Academic- Community Research

Meharry Vanderbilt Community Engaged Research Core Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research Recognition that traditional research:

Has often failed to solve complex health problems

Is not well suited for translating knowledge into practice

Does not adequately address community health needs

Why community?Why research? Articulate community health priorities

Answer questions about your community

Identify better ways to promote health

Evaluate programs/interventions

Adapt or test new programs/interventions

Improve effectiveness or cultural appropriateness of programs/interventions

Why partnerships?Educate researchers about real life community health challenges

Provide access to clinical trials for your clients/patients

Translate promising clinical breakthroughs into health improvements

Have input on projects that affect your community

Access wider range of funding sources for both community organizations and researchers

Community Engaged ResearchBrings community and academic partners together to design and conduct health-related research that will enhance the collective capacity and address community health priorities.

Defining health.Health: a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

Social determinants of health: the economic and social conditions that influence the health of individuals and communities.

Purpose of Mini GrantsStimulate new academic-community research partnerships

Preliminary work and generation of pilot data on community-identified health concerns

Build capacity of community organizations and coalitions to participate in research partnerships

Build capacity of academic researchers to work collaboratively with community

Types of ActivitiesPartnership building activities

Identifying community health prioritiesAnalyzing existing data

Collecting pilot data for larger study

Testing or adapting community based interventions or educational materials

Implementing change in practice or protocol to improve services

Sharing of information 8

Past ProjectsDevelopment of community food asset map

Community conference to identify health challenges among African American men in Nashville

Creation of regional advisory council to plan community and faith-based HIV prevention strategies

Pilot testing of an after-school obesity prevention program

Introduce new training program for women with dual mental health diagnoses and assessed outcomes for agency.

Introduce new activity into senior citizen program to assess improvements in mental health.

Past projectsForum for neighborhood groups to create action plans to address neighborhood health challenges

Live Spanish-language radio show that features health and research topics

Assess feasibility of urban walking trails to boost physical activity levels in North Nashville

Intensive interviews with recent refugee population to understand how to improve services for newcomers

Focus groups with African-American men to understand barriers to health care use and persistent health disparities

Sample Budget ItemsIncentives for focus group participants

GIS mapping

Food for community meetings

Printing

Equipment such as heart rate monitors and pedometers

Training material development

Focus group facilitator expenses

Data collection and analysis expenses

Radio air time

Materials translation

Grant will not cover:Operating support for existing programs

Direct services

Health fairs

Regular staff salary

Total requests more than $5,000

Time periods longer than 12 months

Desired OutcomesPilot data or other findings to direct future research

Grant proposal for larger project

Publications

Evidence to advocate practice or policy change

Groundwork for stable, on-going partnerships

Actual OutcomesProposals to NIDA, CDC and EPA for larger research projects

Outcomes shared with policymakers and service providers to strengthen community-based services

Expansion of coalition activities around food advocacy

Based on data collected in pilot, local funding secured to support program

Increased community understanding of and participation in cancer clinical trials

New intervention adopted for improved mental health service

Innovation in neighborhood pharmacy service delivery RequirementsCommunity organization is applicantMeharry or Vanderbilt research partner*Community partner is federally tax-exemptIRB requirements metMaximum request: $5,000Average request: $2,600-$3,600

*Other universities may be involved as well (in fact this is encouraged), and the Meharry or Vanderbilt partner does not have to be the lead researcher.RequirementsNo more than 4 pages with minimal, explanatory appendices only.No smaller than 12 pt. type.Submit by email.Organizations not previously funded are priorityGraduate students need involvement of faculty mentor to assure sustainability of partnership.

Timeline and ReportingComplete within 1 year of receiving fundingReport upon completionInterim report if longer than 6 monthsSubmit any productsPeriodic follow-up to track impact on research partnershipsEvaluation CriteriaThe role of each partner in the development and implementation of the project is clearly described.Purpose of project/research question is well defined and addresses an important health concern.The plan for/design of the project is described and is suitable to the purpose/research question being proposed.

Evaluation CriteriaThe project is likely to produce mutual benefits for both the community and academic partner and lead to a stronger, more sustainable, relationship.The anticipated products of this proposal are clearly described and attainable within the time frame proposed.Overall impact is significant..The budget is appropriate and documented.

Format suggestions Give enough background to help reviewers understand the importance of the research question/project in general and to the community in particular.

Highlight the strengths that each of the partners brings to the project, and the contribution each partner made to development of the proposal. May cite some relevant articles or past work, but this is not intended to be a literature review.

May submit limited attachments if relevant to the proposalSurveys that will be administeredJob descriptions or organizational chartsBackground data on problem being addressedLogic models for program [Attachments will not necessarily be reviewed but will be available if questions].Evaluation processReview committee of six3 CERC academic advisory board members and 3 CERC community advisory board members.

Each reviewer rates each proposal independently using criteria and identifies questions.

Reviewer ratings and questions returned to CERC staff for tallying, answering.

Review committee meets to develop final impact score and decide whether to award, award pending recommended revisions, encourage resubmission, refer for VICTR funding, reject.

Announcements one month from submission date.

Award processPreparation of mini-grant agreement based on template that is signed by CERC and community partners (Grants and Contracts).

Check issued for total amount to community partner or intermediary (Finance folks).

Site visit during grant period and Report due at end of grant work to describe progress and document expenses. Follow up one year afterward to assess if partnership sustained.

Recipient obligated to repay grant if funds misused or work deviates from approved proposal.Award ProcessFunds being distributed are not federal dollars, but institutional funds.

Lump sum given to community partner.

Taking 6-8 weeks minimum to get funds to recipient following return of contract.

Need help finding a partner? Community Research Partners monthly meetings and weekly listserv.

Community Research Partners Website: www.communityresearchpartners.net

Contact: tiffany.israel@vanderbilt.edu.Questions? This presentation is posted for reference:http://mc.vanderbilt.edu/victr/pub/community

Contact:clare.sullivan@vanderbilt.edu or 322-0593