Academic-practice-policy partnership for health promotion research in NGO setting

1. Academic-practice-policy
partnership for health
promotion research in NGO
setting
Charli Eriksson, Camilla Pettersson, Susanna Geidne, Ingela Fredriksson

2. Development of knowledge for health
promotion needs a well-developed
mechanism for collaboration between
academics, practitioners and
policymakers.

3. Objectives of the Workshop
This workshop will highlight necessary
components for fostering a trustful
partnership as well as the need for
critical reflections and sustainable
structures in NGO settings.

4. The workshop procedures
Introduction: Alcohol and drug prevention run
by NGOs – research challenges CE
Meetings with project leaders IF
In-depth studies CP
Examples: Big Sisters against Drugs CP
Stakeholders perspective SG
Participatory research process CE
Clarifying Questions: Converging and
divergent perspectives
A trustful partnership for knowledge
development: Promoting factor and barrier:

5. Power and Commitment: Alcohol
and Drug Prevention by Non-
Governmental Organizations in
Sweden
2003–
supported by National Institute of Public Health
and previously National Board of Health and
Welfare
Collaboration with NGOs (~ 40/year)
Integrated research and development for NGO
on alcohol and drug prevention

6. Implemented measures to promote
partnerships between NGOs and
researchers
Measures Focus Particpants Extent
Meetings with project
leaders
Documentation and thematic
discussions
All 2/year
Project Dialogues Strenthening project
implementation and evaluation
Optional 3-5 per
year
Competence
Strengthening
Formal Academic Training
Supervison in Groups
Optional
optional
2004-5
Support to documentation Webb-based reporting system All 2/year
In-depth Studies Process and Effect Studies
Including Feedback to NGOs
Selected
projects
20
National Conferences Reflection on Prevention –
Evidence and Collaboration
All 2006.
2008.
2010.
2012

7. Meetings with Project Leaders
All projects are invited
Twice each year
Presentation of projects
Thematic lectures and discussions
Presentation of on-going research
Networking and exchange of experiences
important

8. In-depth Studies
Strong and Clear – an effect study of a
parental support program
Parents Together – a cluster randomized
intervention study
School as a Setting for AD Prevention –
SMART, Triaden
ANDT-prevention in Leisure Time
Genus related ANDT Prevention
The Art of Project Leadership – a study of
NGO Projects

9. Examples: Big Sisters against Drugs
The Girl Zone (Tjejzonen)
• Targeting female youths between the ages 12-25
• The objective is to prevent mental health problems among
girls and young women
Big Sisters against Drugs:
• Dyads of a young girl 12-25 years old, the Little Sister, and
a ten year older girl, the Big Sister (mentor)
• The Sisters meet twice a month for 1,5-2 hours to talk
about issues important to the Little Sister.
• The role of the Big Sister is to be someone the girls can talk
to, be inspired from, and be supported by.

10. Aim
The overall aim of the study is to improve the knowledge
base for the alcohol and drug prevention among young girls
Methods
• Interviews with Little Sisters and Big Sisters
• Longitudinal questionnaire survey with the Little Sisters
(2011-2014)
• Cross-sectional study with the Big Sisters
• Interviews with the project leaders at the Girl Zone
- The evaluation

11. A written agreement between the research team and the Girl Zone
The Girl Zone agree to:
- Implement the project Big Sister against Drugs until 2013.
- Assist the research team to reach Big Sisters and Little Sisters with
information about the study and requests for participation in the
questionnaire and interview surveys.
- Report back on the results of the study to the Big Sisters and the Little
Sisters.
The research team agree to:
- Conduct data collection in accordance with the research plan
- Provide data for the feedback to the Girl Zone.
- Publish results from the study on the research team's website and in
scientific journals and conferences .
- The partnership

12. about the research:
camilla.pettersson@oru.se
about The Girl Zone:
www.tjejzonen.org
about the interviews with the Little Sisters:
”Women’s health” on Wednesday 10.15
Room: Auditorium A1-36 Horten
- For further information

13. PERSPECTIVES OF STAKEHOLDERS

14. Lotta Zetterqvist. Tjejzonen

15. Ann-Britt Hagel, IOGT

16. Åke Setréus, NBHW

17. PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH
2012-06-08

18. Pillars of Participatory Research
Genuine partnerships require a willingness of
all stakeholders to learn from one another
In addition to conducting research, there is
commitment to train community members in
research
The knowledge and other products gained
form research activities should benefit all
partners
Participatory research requires a long-term
commitment of partners
(after Minkler & Wallerstein 2003)

19. Clarifying Questions:
Converging and Diverging Perspectives?

20. A TRUSTFULL PARTNERSHIP FOR
KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT
Promoting factors and barrier

22. Bridging the Research-Practice-
Policy Gaps
We need:
Knowledge about effective methods and tools
Time and skilled personnel
Leadership and administrative support
Shared language concerning concepts and tools

23. Guidelines for APP Research
Develop a trustful academic-practice-policy
partnership for research – it takes time
Fundamental are elements of communication,
collaboration, and compromise
Genuine partnership require a willingness of all
stakeholders to learn from one another
The knowledge and other products gained
form research activities should benefit all
partners
APP partnership requires a long-term
commitment of partners

24. From the Art of Project Leadership