The Development of a Collaborative Self-Evaluation Process for Community-Based Participatory Research Partnerships Using the Community-Based Participatory Research Conceptual Model...
Program Community Health Partnership: Research, Education and Action 2019
RHCP undertook a participatory self-evaluation to assess its health, sustainability, and alignment with community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles. Working with the University of New Mexico Center for Participatory Research, RHCP adapted existing tools and the CBPR conceptual model to guide a four-step process: creating a partnership timeline, refining the conceptual framework, conducting mixed-methods data collection, and engaging in collaborative analysis. This approach combined qualitative interviews, surveys, and facilitated discussions to identify strengths, challenges, and priorities for future action. Findings emphasized the adaptability of CBPR tools for collective reflection and highlighted the importance of participatory evaluation in sustaining effective partnerships.
Results revealed that RHCP’s greatest strengths lie in inclusive decision-making, trust-based relationships, and deep community engagement throughout research design and implementation. Partners valued the process as transformative, noting that robust collaboration was central to achieving health equity and improving outcomes. While the evaluation affirmed RHCP’s success in fostering mutual learning and community capacity, it also underscored challenges related to sustainability and the need for a more formal organizational structure. Lessons learned include the necessity of streamlining evaluation for long-term feasibility, ensuring findings are actionable, and maintaining flexibility to adapt tools to partnership contexts. Overall, the experience demonstrates that participatory self-evaluation strengthens partnerships and informs strategic planning for health equity initiatives.