Journal of Public Health Management and Practice
Volume 25, Issue 1, 2019, Pages E1-E6

The HEAAL Project: Applying Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) Methodology in a Health and Mental Health Needs Assessment with an African Immigrant and Refugee Faith Community in Lowell, Massachusetts (Article)

Oppenheim C.E.* , Axelrod K. , Menyongai J. , Chukwuezi B. , Tam A. , Henderson D.C. , Borba C.P.C.
  • a Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, 720 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02118, United States, Department of Psychiatry, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
  • b Innovations in Healthcare, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
  • c Christ Jubilee International Ministries, Lowell, MA, United States
  • d Christ Jubilee International Ministries, Lowell, MA, United States
  • e Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, 720 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02118, United States, Department of Psychiatry, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
  • f Department of Psychiatry, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
  • g Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, 720 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02118, United States, Department of Psychiatry, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States

Abstract

Community-based participatory research methodology is driven by community interests and rooted in community involvement throughout the research process. This article describes the use of community-based participatory research methodology in the HEAAL project (Health and Mental Health Education and Awareness for Africans in Lowell), a research collaboration between Christ Jubilee International Ministries - a nondenominational Christian church in Lowell, Massachusetts, that serves an African immigrant and refugee congregation - and the Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Psychiatry. The objective of the HEAAL project was to better understand the nature, characteristics, scope, and magnitude of health and mental health issues in this faith community. The experience of using community-based participatory research in the HEAAL project has implications for research practice and policy as it ensured that research questions were relevant and meaningful to the community; facilitated successful recruitment and navigation through challenges; and can expedite the translation of data to practice and improved care. © 2019 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

Author Keywords

Mental health Community-based participatory research Immigrant and refugee health

Index Keywords

general hospital education Needs Assessment immigrant Christianity participatory research refugee African awareness psychiatry Massachusetts Article mental health human human experiment
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85057162028&doi=10.1097%2fPHH.0000000000000707&partnerID=40&md5=add574f99c937a7e1fa9f07613eb9d07
DOI: 10.1097/PHH.0000000000000707
ISSN: 10784659
Original Language: English