Shifting from “Community-Placed” to “Community-Based” Research to Advance Health Equity: A Case Study of the Heatwaves, Housing, and Health: Increasing Climate Resiliency in Detroit (HHH) Partnership

Todd B. Ziegler, Chris M. Coombe, Zachary E. Rowe, Sarah J. Clark, Carina J. Gronlund, Michelle Lee, Angelina Palacios, Larissa S. Larsen, Tony G. Reames, Justin Schott, Guy O. Williams and Marie S. O’Neill
Additional contact information
Todd B. Ziegler: School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Chris M. Coombe: School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Zachary E. Rowe: Friends of Parkside, Detroit, MI 48213, USA
Sarah J. Clark: Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision, Detroit, MI 48209, USA
Carina J. Gronlund: Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Michelle Lee: Jefferson East Inc., Detroit, MI 48207, USA
Angelina Palacios: Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision, Detroit, MI 48209, USA
Larissa S. Larsen: Taubman College of Architecture and Planning, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Tony G. Reames: School for Environment & Sustainability, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Justin Schott: EcoWorks, Detroit, MI 48219, USA
Guy O. Williams: Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
Marie S. O’Neill: School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 18, 1-19

Abstract: Extreme summertime heat is a significant public health threat that disproportionately impacts vulnerable urban populations. Research on health impacts of climate change (including increasing intensity, duration, and frequency of hot weather) is sometimes designed and implemented without the involvement of the communities being studied, i.e., “community-placed” not “community-based.” We describe how the Heatwaves, Housing, and Health: Increasing Climate Resiliency in Detroit (HHH) partnership engaged relevant communities by integrating a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach into an existing, academic-designed research project through a steering committee of community and academic partners. Using a case study approach, we analyze program documentation, partnership evaluation questionnaires, and HHH steering committee meeting notes. We describe the CBPR process by which we successfully collected research data in Detroit during summer 2016, engaged in collaborative analysis of data, and shared results with Detroit residents. Evaluations of the partnership over 2 years show community involvement in research; enhanced capacities; success in securing new grant funding; and ways that CBPR strengthened the validity, relevance, and translation of research. Engaging communities as equal partners using CBPR, even after a study is underway, can strengthen research to understand and address the impacts of extreme heat on health and equity in urban communities.

Keywords: community-based participatory research; extreme heat; climate change; health equity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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