A Community-Engaged Approach to Community Health Needs and Assets Assessment for Public Health Research

Rosanna H. Barrett, Emma Joyce Bicego (), Thomas C. Cotton, Supriya Kegley, Kent Key, Charity Starr Mitchell, Kourtnii Farley, Zahra Shahin, LaShawn Hoffman, Dubem Okoye, Kayla Washington, Shawn Walton, Ruben Burney, America Gruner, Terry Ross, Howard W. Grant, Mark V. Mooney, Lawrence A. Sanford and Tabia Henry Akintobi
Additional contact information
Rosanna H. Barrett: Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Prevention Research Center, Morehouse School of Medicine, 720 Westview Drive, Atlanta, GA 30310, USA
Emma Joyce Bicego: Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Prevention Research Center, Morehouse School of Medicine, 720 Westview Drive, Atlanta, GA 30310, USA
Thomas C. Cotton: DME Committee, Community Coalition Board, Morehouse School of Medicine Prevention Research Center, 1513 East Cleveland Ave., East Point, GA 30344, USA
Supriya Kegley: DME Committee, Community Coalition Board, Morehouse School of Medicine Prevention Research Center, 1513 East Cleveland Ave., East Point, GA 30344, USA
Kent Key: Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Flint, MI 48502, USA
Charity Starr Mitchell: Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Prevention Research Center, Morehouse School of Medicine, 720 Westview Drive, Atlanta, GA 30310, USA
Kourtnii Farley: Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Prevention Research Center, Morehouse School of Medicine, 720 Westview Drive, Atlanta, GA 30310, USA
Zahra Shahin: Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Prevention Research Center, Morehouse School of Medicine, 720 Westview Drive, Atlanta, GA 30310, USA
LaShawn Hoffman: DME Committee, Community Coalition Board, Morehouse School of Medicine Prevention Research Center, 1513 East Cleveland Ave., East Point, GA 30344, USA
Dubem Okoye: Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Prevention Research Center, Morehouse School of Medicine, 720 Westview Drive, Atlanta, GA 30310, USA
Kayla Washington: Center for Program Evaluation and Quality Improvement (PEQI), Emory Centers for Public Health Training and Technical Assistance Operations, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 201 Dowman Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
Shawn Walton: DME Committee, Community Coalition Board, Morehouse School of Medicine Prevention Research Center, 1513 East Cleveland Ave., East Point, GA 30344, USA
Ruben Burney: DME Committee, Community Coalition Board, Morehouse School of Medicine Prevention Research Center, 1513 East Cleveland Ave., East Point, GA 30344, USA
America Gruner: DME Committee, Community Coalition Board, Morehouse School of Medicine Prevention Research Center, 1513 East Cleveland Ave., East Point, GA 30344, USA
Terry Ross: DME Committee, Community Coalition Board, Morehouse School of Medicine Prevention Research Center, 1513 East Cleveland Ave., East Point, GA 30344, USA
Howard W. Grant: DME Committee, Community Coalition Board, Morehouse School of Medicine Prevention Research Center, 1513 East Cleveland Ave., East Point, GA 30344, USA
Mark V. Mooney: DME Committee, Community Coalition Board, Morehouse School of Medicine Prevention Research Center, 1513 East Cleveland Ave., East Point, GA 30344, USA
Lawrence A. Sanford: Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Prevention Research Center, Morehouse School of Medicine, 720 Westview Drive, Atlanta, GA 30310, USA
Tabia Henry Akintobi: Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Prevention Research Center, Morehouse School of Medicine, 720 Westview Drive, Atlanta, GA 30310, USA

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 7, 1-17

Abstract: The Morehouse School of Medicine Prevention Research Center (MSM-PRC) conducted a Community Health Needs and Assets Assessment (CHNAA) survey using a Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) approach. In this article, we will demonstrate the application of CBPR in informing research agenda and implementation strategies. We will discuss the practical considerations and potential benefits of engaging the community in data collection, interpretation, and utilization to address community health challenges. Emphasizing collaboration, co-learning, and respect, and guided by the CBPR principles, CHNAA ensured that community voices led to the identification and integration of the research priorities. Overseen by the Community Coalition Board (CCB) and its Data Monitoring and Evaluation (DME) Committee, the survey featured closed- and open-ended questions addressing social determinants of health. Out of 1000 targeted participants, 754 provided valid responses, with a 75% response rate. Most respondents were female and represented a racially diverse group. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis revealed that key health concerns were diabetes, COVID-19, mental health, and high blood pressure. Barriers to care included lack of food access, affordable housing, and limited mental health services. The findings led to five public health initiatives launched between 2023 and 2024 demonstrating the CBPR model’s effectiveness in aligning community needs with actionable solutions.

Keywords: needs assessment; community-based participatory research; capacity building; co-learning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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