Negotiating Agendas and Expectations in a Diverse University-Community Research Teamû Learning from a Sexual Health Study
with LGBTQ Youth Labeled with Intellectual Disabilities
û November 4, 2010
û Critical Junctures Conference, Guelph, Ontario
Presenters
û Denise Nepveux
ó York and Syracuse Universities
û Zack Marshall
ó Griffin Centre Mental Health Services
û Tess Vo
ó Griffin Centre Mental Health Services
Presentation overview
û Project overview
û Study context
û Team assets
û Unanticipated difficulties
û Suggestions for practical change
û Strategies that have worked
Project overview
û Focus
ó HIV Prevention Project for Youth with Disabilities
û Project history and context
Study context
û Ideal:
ó Interdisciplinary
ó Research initiated from grass roots
ó Partners engaged in all steps incl. funding app.
ó Shared goals
ó Long-term commitment
û Reality:
ó Interdisciplinary
ó Research initiated by university researchers; no particular push from community
ó Partners came in toward end of grant
ó Complementary goals, needs and resources
ó Short-term, one-off project
Team assets
û Multiple kinds of diversity
û University partners experienced in community-based research
û Community partners experienced in collaborative projects and research
û Shared values
ó Queer- and trans-positive
ó Sex-positive approach to HIV prevention
ó Youth engagement
ó Arts-based approaches
Unanticipated difficulties
û Time pressures
û Communication
û Learning and unlearning
û Differing theoretical and disciplinary perspectives
Suggestions for practical change
û Take time to establish a clear Memorandum of Understanding
ó Acknowledge Theoretical Frameworks
ó Establish Principles of Collaboration
ó Define Roles with Detailed Descriptions
û Set aside time to attend to group process
û Anticipate tensions and set up a plan for addressing them
û Clarify publication process, including authorship and decision making
Strategies that have worked
û Strengthening interpersonal relationships
ó Increasing dialogue
ó Demystifying the research process
û Adding specificity as project progresses
ó Committing through verbal written agreements which were honoured
û Explicitly value the contributions of team members and offer constructive feedback
Authors
û Nepveux, D.1, Marshall, Z. 2, Vo, T. 2, Proudfoot, D. 3, Nixon, S. 4, & Flicker, S5.
ó 1-York and Syracuse Universities
ó 2-Griffin Centre Mental Health Services
ó 3-York University, Institute for Health Research
ó 4-University of Toronto, Dalla Lana School of Public Health
ó 5-York University, Faculty of Environmental Studies
Acknowledgements
û This study was funded by:
ó Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR)
ó Centre for Urban Health Initiatives
û Additional support from:
ó Ontario Trillium Foundation
ó City of Toronto, AIDS Prevention Community Investment Program
ó Ontario HIV Treatment Network