Leslie A Wright1, Diane K King1,2, Jessica H Retrum3,4,5, Kenneth Helander6,7, Shari Wilkins7, Jennifer M Boggs1, Jennifer Dickman Portz1,4, Kathryn Nearing8, Wendolyn S Gozansky1. 1. Institute for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Colorado, Denver, CO, USA. 2. Center for Behavioral Health Research and Services, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK, USA. 3. Metropolitan State University, Denver, CO, USA. 4. Graduate School of Social Work, Denver University, Denver, CO, USA. 5. School of Public Affairs, University of Colorado, Denver, CO, USA. 6. American Association of Retired Persons of Alaska, Anchorage, AK, USA. 7. The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Colorado, Denver, CO, USA and. 8. The Evaluation Center, University of Colorado, Denver, CO, USA.
Abstract
Background: Due to a history of oppression and lack of culturally competent services, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) seniors experience barriers to accessing social services. Tailoring an evidence-based ageing in place intervention to address the unique needs of LGBT seniors may decrease the isolation often faced by this population. Objective: To describe practices used in the formation of a community-based participatory research (CBPR), partnership involving social workers, health services providers, researchers and community members who engaged to establish a LGBT ageing in place model called Seniors Using Supports To Age In Neighborhoods (SUSTAIN). Methods: A case study approach was employed to describe the partnership development process by reflecting on past meeting minutes, progress reports and interviews with SUSTAIN's partners. Results: Key partnering practices utilized by SUSTAIN included (i) development of a shared commitment and vision; (ii) identifying partners with intersecting spheres of influence in multiple communities of identity (ageing services, LGBT, health research); (iii) attending to power dynamics (e.g. equitable sharing of funds); and (iv) building community capacity through reciprocal learning. Although the partnership dissolved after 4 years, it served as a successful catalyst to establish community programming to support ageing in place for LGBT seniors. Conclusion: Multi-sector stakeholder involvement with capacity to connect communities and use frameworks that formalize equity was key to establishing a high-trust CBPR partnership. However, lack of focus on external forces impacting each partner (e.g. individual organizational strategic planning, community funding agency perspectives) ultimately led to dissolution of the SUSTAIN partnership even though implementation of community programming was realized.
Background: Due to a history of oppression and lack of culturally competent services, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) seniors experience barriers to accessing social services. Tailoring an evidence-based ageing in place intervention to address the unique needs of LGBT seniors may decrease the isolation often faced by this population. Objective: To describe practices used in the formation of a community-based participatory research (CBPR), partnership involving social workers, health services providers, researchers and community members who engaged to establish a LGBT ageing in place model called Seniors Using Supports To Age In Neighborhoods (SUSTAIN). Methods: A case study approach was employed to describe the partnership development process by reflecting on past meeting minutes, progress reports and interviews with SUSTAIN's partners. Results: Key partnering practices utilized by SUSTAIN included (i) development of a shared commitment and vision; (ii) identifying partners with intersecting spheres of influence in multiple communities of identity (ageing services, LGBT, health research); (iii) attending to power dynamics (e.g. equitable sharing of funds); and (iv) building community capacity through reciprocal learning. Although the partnership dissolved after 4 years, it served as a successful catalyst to establish community programming to support ageing in place for LGBT seniors. Conclusion: Multi-sector stakeholder involvement with capacity to connect communities and use frameworks that formalize equity was key to establishing a high-trust CBPR partnership. However, lack of focus on external forces impacting each partner (e.g. individual organizational strategic planning, community funding agency perspectives) ultimately led to dissolution of the SUSTAIN partnership even though implementation of community programming was realized.
Authors: Lorenda Belone; Julie E Lucero; Bonnie Duran; Greg Tafoya; Elizabeth A Baker; Domin Chan; Charlotte Chang; Ella Greene-Moton; Michele A Kelley; Nina Wallerstein Journal: Qual Health Res Date: 2014-10-31
Authors: Jennifer M Boggs; Jennifer Dickman Portz; Diane K King; Leslie A Wright; Kenneth Helander; Jessica H Retrum; Wendolyn S Gozansky Journal: J Homosex Date: 2016-10-12
Authors: Karen I Fredriksen-Goldsen; Hyun-Jun Kim; Susan E Barkan; Anna Muraco; Charles P Hoy-Ellis Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2013-06-13 Impact factor: 9.308