Applying the practical, robust, implementation and sustainability model (PRISM) to a community-based youth...

Area of Science:

• Implementation Science
• Community-Based Participatory Research
• Youth Empowerment

Background:

• Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) is an empowerment-based process for youth to identify and address community issues.
• Evaluations of YPAR using implementation and dissemination science (IDS) frameworks are limited.
• This study utilized the Practical, Robust, Implementation & Sustainability Model (PRISM) to assess a community-based YPAR program.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a multisite community-based YPAR program using the PRISM framework.
• To identify determinants and outcomes of YPAR implementation across diverse community sites.

Main Methods:

• Three community sites implemented the eight-session Youth Leadership in Action (YLIA+) YPAR intervention for youth aged 13 and older.
• Data collection involved observations, surveys (baseline, post-session, end-of-program), and semi-structured interviews with youth, facilitators, and research personnel.
• Qualitative data underwent directed content analysis, and quantitative data were summarized using descriptive statistics, aggregated by PRISM domains for cross-site comparison.

Main Results:

• A total of 46 youth participated, with most identifying as Black or African American (70%).
• Youth reported high feasibility and acceptability; implementation fidelity varied with facilitator comfort.
• Key implementation factors included strong facilitator-youth relationships, adequate facilitator training, and youth compensation. Site-specific differences emerged in recruitment, facilitator experience, and external environmental factors. Youth reported enhanced community awareness, social support, and psychological empowerment.

Conclusions:

• The PRISM framework effectively described factors influencing the implementation of the YLIA+ YPAR program.
• Historical, cultural, and environmental factors played a significant role in supporting program implementation.
• Future research with larger samples is recommended to assess effectiveness and implementation outcomes, identifying factors impacting youth experiences.