Implementation evaluation of a community-based youth participatory action research program

Youth participatory action research (YPAR), a method in which young people are engaged as research partners and change agents, offers a powerful paradigm to promote empowerment and liberation. YPAR interventions have been applied in diverse settings to address various issues. Identifying barriers and facilitators to implementing YPAR programs may increase the scope and impact of this study. Implementation and dissemination science (IDS) utilizes structured evaluation frameworks to assess determinants of intervention uptake, utilization, and sustainability. IDS has long been utilized in community psychology; yet applications to YPAR are limited. In the present study, we use the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to evaluate a community-based YPAR intervention. Drawing on qualitative and quantitative data collected from multiple informants (e.g., participants, facilitators, and research team members) throughout the implementation period, we describe key barriers and facilitators related to programming. In addition, we present preliminary implementation outcomes (e.g., feasibility, acceptability) from our intervention. In describing these analyses, we center IDS as a key approach for rigorous evaluation of YPAR and similar community-based programs.