1. Negotiating Agendas and
Expectations in a Diverse
University-Community Research
Team
ž Learning from a Sexual Health Study
with LGBTQ Youth
Labeled with Intellectual Disabilities
ž November 4, 2010
ž Critical Junctures Conference, Guelph, Ontario

2. Presenters
ž Denise Nepveux
— York and Syracuse Universities
ž Zack Marshall
— Griffin Centre Mental Health Services
ž Tess Vo
— Griffin Centre Mental Health Services

3. Presentation overview
ž Project overview
ž Study context
ž Team assets
ž Unanticipated difficulties
ž Suggestions for practical change
ž Strategies that have worked

4. Project overview
ž Focus
— HIV Prevention Project for Youth with Disabilities
ž Project history and context

5. Study context
ž Ideal:
— Interdisciplinary
— Research initiated from
grass roots
— Partners engaged in all
steps incl. funding app.
— Shared goals
— Long-term commitment
ž Reality:
— Interdisciplinary
— Research initiated by
university researchers;
no particular push from
community
— Partners came in toward
end of grant
— Complementary goals,
needs and resources
— Short-term, one-off
project

6. Team assets
ž Multiple kinds of diversity
ž University partners experienced in
community-based research
ž Community partners experienced in
collaborative projects and research
ž Shared values
— Queer- and trans-positive
— Sex-positive approach to HIV prevention
— Youth engagement
— Arts-based approaches

7. Unanticipated difficulties
ž Time pressures
ž Communication
ž Learning and unlearning
ž Differing theoretical and disciplinary
perspectives

8. Suggestions for practical change
ž Take time to establish a clear
Memorandum of Understanding
— Acknowledge Theoretical Frameworks
— Establish Principles of Collaboration
— Define Roles with Detailed Descriptions
ž Set aside time to attend to group process
ž Anticipate tensions and set up a plan for
addressing them
ž Clarify publication process, including
authorship and decision making

9. Strategies that have worked
ž Strengthening interpersonal
relationships
— Increasing dialogue
— Demystifying the research process
ž Adding specificity as project progresses
— Committing through verbal written
agreements which were honoured
ž Explicitly value the contributions of team
members and offer constructive
feedback

10. Authors
ž Nepveux, D.1, Marshall, Z. 2, Vo, T. 2,
Proudfoot, D. 3, Nixon, S. 4, & Flicker, S5.
— 1-York and Syracuse Universities
— 2-Griffin Centre Mental Health Services
— 3-York University, Institute for Health
Research
— 4-University of Toronto, Dalla Lana School of
Public Health
— 5-York University, Faculty of Environmental
Studies

11. Acknowledgements
ž This study was funded by:
— Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research
(CANFAR)
— Centre for Urban Health Initiatives
ž Additional support from:
— Ontario Trillium Foundation
— City of Toronto, AIDS Prevention Community
Investment Program
— Ontario HIV Treatment Network