Examining Community Engagement Research Strategies Used in Flint, Michigan: The Church Challenge

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Community Engagement
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Traditional community-based participatory research (CBPR) engagement strategies may require adaptation during periods of community trauma.
• The Flint Water Crisis created a context of ongoing trauma, necessitating novel approaches to research engagement.
• This study details CBPR efforts within the Flint, Michigan community following the Flint Water Crisis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe recruitment strategies implemented before the Flint Water Crisis.
• To share engagement lessons learned during the Flint Water Crisis.
• To identify barriers and facilitators encountered when engaging African American churches.

Main Methods:

• Researchers partnered with community stakeholders to engage and recruit participants from the Flint community.
• A multilevel intervention, the Church Challenge, was utilized to address chronic disease burden.
• Community-based participatory research principles guided the engagement and recruitment processes.

Main Results:

• Recruitment and engagement necessitated flexible, innovative, and often non-traditional methods.
• Adaptability proved crucial when working with a community experiencing significant trauma.
• Successful engagement required acknowledging and responding to the community's trauma.

Conclusions:

• Community-based participatory research in traumatized settings demands flexibility and adaptability.
• Effective CBPR in such contexts must directly address and respond to community trauma.
• Innovative engagement strategies are vital for research success in crisis-affected communities.