Year 1 Lessons Learned in Building and Sustaining Community-Academic Interdisciplinary Partnerships to Improve Maternal Health

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ABSTRACT

To understand current maternal health outcomes and growing health disparities, this interdisciplinary project investigates the development of a community advisory board (CAB), guided by the principles of community-based participatory research (CBPR), which explores the perspectives of providers, community stakeholders, and students. This step-by-step process analysis allows for greater clarity and recognition of areas to consider in future CAB initiatives and use of interprofessional education. Both quantitative and qualitative principles were used to assess and evaluate the process, including survey, observation, and content analysis. While this project remains in the early stages, promising results have emerged supporting strong group dynamics and commitment toward change in the local community while identifying improvements to the overall delivery of the CAB and CBPR process.

Acknowledgments

The research team would like to acknowledge the work and collaboration by Ms. WaTasha Barnes-Griffin, Chief Executive Office of the YWCA-Muncie; Ms. Jacqueline Hanoman, Executive Director of the Ross Community Center; and the entire CAB team. Without their insight, commitment, and advocacy, this initiative would not be possible.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Indiana Minority Health Health Coalition [A22-0018-001].

Notes on contributors

Kristin Trainor

Kristin Trainor, PhD, LCSW, MSW, is an Assistant Professor of Health Sciences with the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Butler University.

Natalie Kruzliakova

Natalie Kruzliakova, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Nutrition and Dietetics with the Department of Nutrition and Health Science at Ball State University.

Jayanthi Kandiah

Jayanthi Kandiah, PhD, RDN, LD, is a Professor of Nutrition and Dietetics with the Department of Nutrition and Health Science and the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs with the College of Health at Ball State University.

Glenn Stone

Glenn Stone, PhD, MSW, is a Professor of Social Work and the Associate Dean for Scholarship and Faculty Development with the College of Health at Ball State University.