Community-based organizations (CBOs) play a critical role in improving conditions within marginalized communities for health equity. However, stronger organizational capacity within CBOs is needed to develop sustainable public health equity efforts. One strategy that can support sustainable health equity efforts from CBOs in marginalized communities is the use of community-academic partnerships (CAPs)-partnerships extending beyond academic boundaries to translational research in real-world settings. This dissertation project examines the CAP structure of the Flint Center for Health Equity Solutions (FCHES), which is a collaborative, transdisciplinary research center focused on improving public health equity for Flint, Michigan. Using a longitudinal, sequential mixed methods design, the study sought to examine facilitating and hindering factors to CAP collaborations, elicit partner perspectives about and experiences with the collaboration, and compare changes in the overall network structure over time (1 year apart). While unintended, the study had the unique opportunity to also explore how a fluctuating environment related to the COVID-19 pandemic influenced partnerships (e.g., ties) and network outcomes over time. Exploratory social network analysis (SNA) examined the overall network structure, partner connectivity embedded in the network, position of partners, and quality of relationships. Semi-structured interviews were used to expand on the quantitative data and contextualize responses, including obtaining rich details on: (a) perspectives on the collaboration process; (b) barriers and facilitators; (c) motivations for joining and for continuing to participate; (d) goals; and (e) recommendations for improvement from the perspectives of partners and leaders. Understanding community and academic partner's perspectives on collaboration efforts and dynamics of their relationships is important to move health equity forward. The current dissertation project contributes to the literature on CAP perspectives by identifying facilitating and hindering factors to CAPs as well as examining how these change over time; identifying network outcomes, their changes over time, and how they vary by partner type, and motivational factors to participate and continue to participate with the CAP over time. The broader impact of this research builds on systems-level, ecological perspectives grounded in community psychology, emphasizing how networks of CAPs in public health within larger systems of historically marginalized communities can work collaboratively to better understand and resolve health disparities. A closer examination of motivating factors, as well as strengths and challenges that lead to collaboration outcomes can help develop strategies to strengthen partnership dynamics. Further, the study examined changes across two different time-points, allowing for a closer examination on how external influences from fluctuating environments (e.g., community contexts; COVID-19) may change a partnership over time. Results will be useful for stakeholders involved in CAPs interested in developing and improving collaborative approaches to public health that center community-based priorities. Findings ultimately highlight how community-based efforts are dynamic processes, intertwined with contexts related to community, resources, interpersonal connections, power, and equity.
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