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Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Center for Community Health

Resources Directory

Resources to build, strengthen and sustain relationships.

The Resources Directory was developed and is maintained by the Alliance for Research in Chicagoland Communities (ARCC). The directory provides materials and resources to help interested community and faith-based organizations and academic partners to learn about how they can build capacity to conduct community-engaged research and support building, strengthening, and sustaining their partnership.

For detailed instructions on how to navigate this directory please click here.

View ARCC's monthly Resources & Opportunities bulletins for information on events, grant opportunities, calls for papers, proposals and other resources in public health and community engagement.


Filter tabbed audience(s) by resource categories:

For Community Partners

Building Research Capacity

Building Research Capacity

Accessing & Using Data

Ways communities can use community-based data to drive the research mission of their organization, including types of data and mechanisms for data collection.

View This Resource
Building Research Capacity

Building New Partnerships (Video)

This short 13-minute video presented by ARCC community & academic seed grantees provides their insights on what works and challenges in beginning a new community-academic research partnership. View This Resource
Building Research Capacity

Collaborative Data Analysis

Strategies for involving partners in the interpretation of research findings and how to use a community-based participatory research approach for moving from data to action.

View This Resource
Building Research Capacity

Evaluation Trainings

ARCC has partnered with Sarah Welch, ARCC Steering Committee Member and Evaluation Director for Northwestern’s Buehler Center for Health Policy & Economics to offer a series of evaluation trainings. These may be helpful for anyone but were designed for community partners.

View This Resource
Building Research Capacity

How to Connect Research to Policymaking

Brief overview of policymaking processes followed by communication strategizing, legislator relationship building, and engagement with various audiences. Also covers a variety of communications channels, including both academic and non-academic media, from research briefs and fact sheets to social media and both online and print publications.

View This Resource
Building Research Capacity

Introduction to Research Design

Common research designs, issues to consider when choosing the appropriate design for a project and case study of how a community-academic research partnership made decisions about their research project design.

View This Resource
Building Research Capacity

Next Steps after Seed Grants (Video)

This short 13-minute video presented by an ARCC academic seed grantee provides his insights on his community-academic research partnership was able to build on their seed grant for further community and academic impacts. He also discusses how to sustain relationships in between grants. View This Resource
Building Research Capacity

Research Job/Intern Position Descriptions

Two examples of job/intern descriptions used by a community-based organization to hire a research coordinator; may be useful to other organizations interested in creating or revising job or intern descriptions related to research.

View This Resource
Building Research Capacity

Research Partnerships with Community Health Centers

Background information and questions to consider when forming and building research partnerships involving community health centers and research teams; includes considerations related to community health center research motivation, infrastructure, partner identification and capacity building.

View This Resource
Building Research Capacity

Staying True to Principles of Engagement & Equity in Community-Engaged Research Partnerships during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This resource shares suggestions and considerations for Supporting Engaged Partnerships & Relationships, Adjusting Expectations and Work of Research Partnership, Adjusting Research Protocols, Considering Equity Issues, Practical Tools for Virtual Digital Equity/Communication, Leveraging Resources to Support Partners, and Addressing Structural Racism in Research & Engaged Partnerships.

View This Resource

Research Education

Research Education

Introduction to Research Design

Common research designs, issues to consider when choosing the appropriate design for a project and case study of how a community-academic research partnership made decisions about their research project design.

View This Resource

Relationship Development

Relationship Development

Memorandum of Understanding Samples

Having a MOU or written document that records the agreements made by a partnership is an invaluable way to minimize disagreements and can be helpful when bringing new individuals into an established partnership; view several examples of MOUs.

View This Resource
Relationship Development

Next Steps after Seed Grants (Video)

This short 13-minute video presented by an ARCC academic seed grantee provides his insights on his community-academic research partnership was able to build on their seed grant for further community and academic impacts. He also discusses how to sustain relationships in between grants. View This Resource
Relationship Development

Research Partnerships with Community Health Centers

Background information and questions to consider when forming and building research partnerships involving community health centers and research teams; includes considerations related to community health center research motivation, infrastructure, partner identification and capacity building.

View This Resource
Relationship Development

Sample ARCC Letters of Intent

Examples of LOIs submitted by a community-academic teams to the ARCC Seed Grant Program; please keep in mind to carefully craft an LOI to meet the specific requirements of the funding opportunity being pursued.

View This Resource
Relationship Development

Staying True to Principles of Engagement & Equity in Community-Engaged Research Partnerships during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This resource shares suggestions and considerations for Supporting Engaged Partnerships & Relationships, Adjusting Expectations and Work of Research Partnership, Adjusting Research Protocols, Considering Equity Issues, Practical Tools for Virtual Digital Equity/Communication, Leveraging Resources to Support Partners, and Addressing Structural Racism in Research & Engaged Partnerships.

View This Resource

Dissemination & Communication

Dissemination & Communication

How to Connect Research to Policymaking

Brief overview of policymaking processes followed by communication strategizing, legislator relationship building, and engagement with various audiences. Also covers a variety of communications channels, including both academic and non-academic media, from research briefs and fact sheets to social media and both online and print publications.

View This Resource
Dissemination & Communication

Making Media Accessible Through Community Media

The Chicago Community, Media & Research Partnership, led by Public Narrative and the Alliance for Research in Chicagoland Communities at Northwestern University, developed this framework to guide research partnerships through the process of sharing relevant, actionable health information in impactful ways by more directly engaging diverse communities through media they trust and use. More resources are available at https://publicnarrative.org/partnerships/.

View This Resource

Sample Proposals & Case Studies

Sample Proposals & Case Studies

Funding & Grantwriting Tips

Resources on developing a fundraising plan, how to strengthen proposals, understand reviewer perspectives/concerns and items for budget when preparing community-engaged research grant applications.

View This Resource
Sample Proposals & Case Studies

Sample ARCC Letters of Intent

Examples of LOIs submitted by a community-academic teams to the ARCC Seed Grant Program; please keep in mind to carefully craft an LOI to meet the specific requirements of the funding opportunity being pursued.

View This Resource

Partnership Evaluation

Partnership Evaluation

Evaluation Trainings

ARCC has partnered with Sarah Welch, ARCC Steering Committee Member and Evaluation Director for Northwestern’s Buehler Center for Health Policy & Economics to offer a series of evaluation trainings. These may be helpful for anyone but were designed for community partners.

View This Resource

For Healthcare Providers

Building Research Capacity

Building Research Capacity

Building New Partnerships (Video)

This short 13-minute video presented by ARCC community & academic seed grantees provides their insights on what works and challenges in beginning a new community-academic research partnership. View This Resource
Building Research Capacity

Evaluation Trainings

ARCC has partnered with Sarah Welch, ARCC Steering Committee Member and Evaluation Director for Northwestern’s Buehler Center for Health Policy & Economics to offer a series of evaluation trainings. These may be helpful for anyone but were designed for community partners.

View This Resource
Building Research Capacity

How to Connect Research to Policymaking

Brief overview of policymaking processes followed by communication strategizing, legislator relationship building, and engagement with various audiences. Also covers a variety of communications channels, including both academic and non-academic media, from research briefs and fact sheets to social media and both online and print publications.

View This Resource
Building Research Capacity

Next Steps after Seed Grants (Video)

This short 13-minute video presented by an ARCC academic seed grantee provides his insights on his community-academic research partnership was able to build on their seed grant for further community and academic impacts. He also discusses how to sustain relationships in between grants. View This Resource
Building Research Capacity

Research Partnerships with Community Health Centers

Background information and questions to consider when forming and building research partnerships involving community health centers and research teams; includes considerations related to community health center research motivation, infrastructure, partner identification and capacity building.

View This Resource
Building Research Capacity

Staying True to Principles of Engagement & Equity in Community-Engaged Research Partnerships during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This resource shares suggestions and considerations for Supporting Engaged Partnerships & Relationships, Adjusting Expectations and Work of Research Partnership, Adjusting Research Protocols, Considering Equity Issues, Practical Tools for Virtual Digital Equity/Communication, Leveraging Resources to Support Partners, and Addressing Structural Racism in Research & Engaged Partnerships.

View This Resource

Research Education

Relationship Development

Relationship Development

Next Steps after Seed Grants (Video)

This short 13-minute video presented by an ARCC academic seed grantee provides his insights on his community-academic research partnership was able to build on their seed grant for further community and academic impacts. He also discusses how to sustain relationships in between grants. View This Resource
Relationship Development

Research Partnerships with Community Health Centers

Background information and questions to consider when forming and building research partnerships involving community health centers and research teams; includes considerations related to community health center research motivation, infrastructure, partner identification and capacity building.

View This Resource
Relationship Development

Staying True to Principles of Engagement & Equity in Community-Engaged Research Partnerships during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This resource shares suggestions and considerations for Supporting Engaged Partnerships & Relationships, Adjusting Expectations and Work of Research Partnership, Adjusting Research Protocols, Considering Equity Issues, Practical Tools for Virtual Digital Equity/Communication, Leveraging Resources to Support Partners, and Addressing Structural Racism in Research & Engaged Partnerships.

View This Resource

Dissemination & Communication

Dissemination & Communication

How to Connect Research to Policymaking

Brief overview of policymaking processes followed by communication strategizing, legislator relationship building, and engagement with various audiences. Also covers a variety of communications channels, including both academic and non-academic media, from research briefs and fact sheets to social media and both online and print publications.

View This Resource
Dissemination & Communication

Making Media Accessible Through Community Media

The Chicago Community, Media & Research Partnership, led by Public Narrative and the Alliance for Research in Chicagoland Communities at Northwestern University, developed this framework to guide research partnerships through the process of sharing relevant, actionable health information in impactful ways by more directly engaging diverse communities through media they trust and use. More resources are available at https://publicnarrative.org/partnerships/.

View This Resource

Sample Proposals & Case Studies

Sample Proposals & Case Studies

Funding & Grantwriting Tips

Resources on developing a fundraising plan, how to strengthen proposals, understand reviewer perspectives/concerns and items for budget when preparing community-engaged research grant applications.

View This Resource

Partnership Evaluation

Partnership Evaluation

Evaluation Trainings

ARCC has partnered with Sarah Welch, ARCC Steering Committee Member and Evaluation Director for Northwestern’s Buehler Center for Health Policy & Economics to offer a series of evaluation trainings. These may be helpful for anyone but were designed for community partners.

View This Resource

For Academic Partners

Building Research Capacity

Building Research Capacity

Building New Partnerships (Video)

This short 13-minute video presented by ARCC community & academic seed grantees provides their insights on what works and challenges in beginning a new community-academic research partnership. View This Resource
Building Research Capacity

Collaborative Data Analysis

Strategies for involving partners in the interpretation of research findings and how to use a community-based participatory research approach for moving from data to action.

View This Resource
Building Research Capacity

Evaluation Trainings

ARCC has partnered with Sarah Welch, ARCC Steering Committee Member and Evaluation Director for Northwestern’s Buehler Center for Health Policy & Economics to offer a series of evaluation trainings. These may be helpful for anyone but were designed for community partners.

View This Resource
Building Research Capacity

How to Connect Research to Policymaking

Brief overview of policymaking processes followed by communication strategizing, legislator relationship building, and engagement with various audiences. Also covers a variety of communications channels, including both academic and non-academic media, from research briefs and fact sheets to social media and both online and print publications.

View This Resource
Building Research Capacity

Next Steps after Seed Grants (Video)

This short 13-minute video presented by an ARCC academic seed grantee provides his insights on his community-academic research partnership was able to build on their seed grant for further community and academic impacts. He also discusses how to sustain relationships in between grants. View This Resource
Building Research Capacity

Research Job/Intern Position Descriptions

Two examples of job/intern descriptions used by a community-based organization to hire a research coordinator; may be useful to other organizations interested in creating or revising job or intern descriptions related to research.

View This Resource
Building Research Capacity

Research Partnerships with Community Health Centers

Background information and questions to consider when forming and building research partnerships involving community health centers and research teams; includes considerations related to community health center research motivation, infrastructure, partner identification and capacity building.

View This Resource
Building Research Capacity

Staying True to Principles of Engagement & Equity in Community-Engaged Research Partnerships during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This resource shares suggestions and considerations for Supporting Engaged Partnerships & Relationships, Adjusting Expectations and Work of Research Partnership, Adjusting Research Protocols, Considering Equity Issues, Practical Tools for Virtual Digital Equity/Communication, Leveraging Resources to Support Partners, and Addressing Structural Racism in Research & Engaged Partnerships.

View This Resource

Research Education

Relationship Development

Relationship Development

Memorandum of Understanding Samples

Having a MOU or written document that records the agreements made by a partnership is an invaluable way to minimize disagreements and can be helpful when bringing new individuals into an established partnership; view several examples of MOUs.

View This Resource
Relationship Development

Next Steps after Seed Grants (Video)

This short 13-minute video presented by an ARCC academic seed grantee provides his insights on his community-academic research partnership was able to build on their seed grant for further community and academic impacts. He also discusses how to sustain relationships in between grants. View This Resource
Relationship Development

Research Partnerships with Community Health Centers

Background information and questions to consider when forming and building research partnerships involving community health centers and research teams; includes considerations related to community health center research motivation, infrastructure, partner identification and capacity building.

View This Resource
Relationship Development

Sample ARCC Letters of Intent

Examples of LOIs submitted by a community-academic teams to the ARCC Seed Grant Program; please keep in mind to carefully craft an LOI to meet the specific requirements of the funding opportunity being pursued.

View This Resource
Relationship Development

Staying True to Principles of Engagement & Equity in Community-Engaged Research Partnerships during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This resource shares suggestions and considerations for Supporting Engaged Partnerships & Relationships, Adjusting Expectations and Work of Research Partnership, Adjusting Research Protocols, Considering Equity Issues, Practical Tools for Virtual Digital Equity/Communication, Leveraging Resources to Support Partners, and Addressing Structural Racism in Research & Engaged Partnerships.

View This Resource

Dissemination & Communication

Dissemination & Communication

How to Connect Research to Policymaking

Brief overview of policymaking processes followed by communication strategizing, legislator relationship building, and engagement with various audiences. Also covers a variety of communications channels, including both academic and non-academic media, from research briefs and fact sheets to social media and both online and print publications.

View This Resource
Dissemination & Communication

Making Media Accessible Through Community Media

The Chicago Community, Media & Research Partnership, led by Public Narrative and the Alliance for Research in Chicagoland Communities at Northwestern University, developed this framework to guide research partnerships through the process of sharing relevant, actionable health information in impactful ways by more directly engaging diverse communities through media they trust and use. More resources are available at https://publicnarrative.org/partnerships/.

View This Resource

Sample Proposals & Case Studies

Sample Proposals & Case Studies

Funding & Grantwriting Tips

Resources on developing a fundraising plan, how to strengthen proposals, understand reviewer perspectives/concerns and items for budget when preparing community-engaged research grant applications.

View This Resource
Sample Proposals & Case Studies

Sample ARCC Letters of Intent

Examples of LOIs submitted by a community-academic teams to the ARCC Seed Grant Program; please keep in mind to carefully craft an LOI to meet the specific requirements of the funding opportunity being pursued.

View This Resource

Partnership Evaluation

Partnership Evaluation

Evaluation Trainings

ARCC has partnered with Sarah Welch, ARCC Steering Committee Member and Evaluation Director for Northwestern’s Buehler Center for Health Policy & Economics to offer a series of evaluation trainings. These may be helpful for anyone but were designed for community partners.

View This Resource

For Partnerships

Building Research Capacity

Building Research Capacity

Building New Partnerships (Video)

This short 13-minute video presented by ARCC community & academic seed grantees provides their insights on what works and challenges in beginning a new community-academic research partnership. View This Resource
Building Research Capacity

Collaborative Data Analysis

Strategies for involving partners in the interpretation of research findings and how to use a community-based participatory research approach for moving from data to action.

View This Resource
Building Research Capacity

Evaluation Trainings

ARCC has partnered with Sarah Welch, ARCC Steering Committee Member and Evaluation Director for Northwestern’s Buehler Center for Health Policy & Economics to offer a series of evaluation trainings. These may be helpful for anyone but were designed for community partners.

View This Resource
Building Research Capacity

How to Connect Research to Policymaking

Brief overview of policymaking processes followed by communication strategizing, legislator relationship building, and engagement with various audiences. Also covers a variety of communications channels, including both academic and non-academic media, from research briefs and fact sheets to social media and both online and print publications.

View This Resource
Building Research Capacity

Next Steps after Seed Grants (Video)

This short 13-minute video presented by an ARCC academic seed grantee provides his insights on his community-academic research partnership was able to build on their seed grant for further community and academic impacts. He also discusses how to sustain relationships in between grants. View This Resource
Building Research Capacity

Research Partnerships with Community Health Centers

Background information and questions to consider when forming and building research partnerships involving community health centers and research teams; includes considerations related to community health center research motivation, infrastructure, partner identification and capacity building.

View This Resource
Building Research Capacity

Staying True to Principles of Engagement & Equity in Community-Engaged Research Partnerships during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This resource shares suggestions and considerations for Supporting Engaged Partnerships & Relationships, Adjusting Expectations and Work of Research Partnership, Adjusting Research Protocols, Considering Equity Issues, Practical Tools for Virtual Digital Equity/Communication, Leveraging Resources to Support Partners, and Addressing Structural Racism in Research & Engaged Partnerships.

View This Resource

Research Education

Relationship Development

Relationship Development

Memorandum of Understanding Samples

Having a MOU or written document that records the agreements made by a partnership is an invaluable way to minimize disagreements and can be helpful when bringing new individuals into an established partnership; view several examples of MOUs.

View This Resource
Relationship Development

Next Steps after Seed Grants (Video)

This short 13-minute video presented by an ARCC academic seed grantee provides his insights on his community-academic research partnership was able to build on their seed grant for further community and academic impacts. He also discusses how to sustain relationships in between grants. View This Resource
Relationship Development

Research Partnerships with Community Health Centers

Background information and questions to consider when forming and building research partnerships involving community health centers and research teams; includes considerations related to community health center research motivation, infrastructure, partner identification and capacity building.

View This Resource
Relationship Development

Sample ARCC Letters of Intent

Examples of LOIs submitted by a community-academic teams to the ARCC Seed Grant Program; please keep in mind to carefully craft an LOI to meet the specific requirements of the funding opportunity being pursued.

View This Resource
Relationship Development

Staying True to Principles of Engagement & Equity in Community-Engaged Research Partnerships during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This resource shares suggestions and considerations for Supporting Engaged Partnerships & Relationships, Adjusting Expectations and Work of Research Partnership, Adjusting Research Protocols, Considering Equity Issues, Practical Tools for Virtual Digital Equity/Communication, Leveraging Resources to Support Partners, and Addressing Structural Racism in Research & Engaged Partnerships.

View This Resource

Dissemination & Communication

Dissemination & Communication

How to Connect Research to Policymaking

Brief overview of policymaking processes followed by communication strategizing, legislator relationship building, and engagement with various audiences. Also covers a variety of communications channels, including both academic and non-academic media, from research briefs and fact sheets to social media and both online and print publications.

View This Resource
Dissemination & Communication

Making Media Accessible Through Community Media

The Chicago Community, Media & Research Partnership, led by Public Narrative and the Alliance for Research in Chicagoland Communities at Northwestern University, developed this framework to guide research partnerships through the process of sharing relevant, actionable health information in impactful ways by more directly engaging diverse communities through media they trust and use. More resources are available at https://publicnarrative.org/partnerships/.

View This Resource

Sample Proposals & Case Studies

Sample Proposals & Case Studies

Funding & Grantwriting Tips

Resources on developing a fundraising plan, how to strengthen proposals, understand reviewer perspectives/concerns and items for budget when preparing community-engaged research grant applications.

View This Resource
Sample Proposals & Case Studies

Sample ARCC Letters of Intent

Examples of LOIs submitted by a community-academic teams to the ARCC Seed Grant Program; please keep in mind to carefully craft an LOI to meet the specific requirements of the funding opportunity being pursued.

View This Resource

Partnership Evaluation

Partnership Evaluation

Evaluation Trainings

ARCC has partnered with Sarah Welch, ARCC Steering Committee Member and Evaluation Director for Northwestern’s Buehler Center for Health Policy & Economics to offer a series of evaluation trainings. These may be helpful for anyone but were designed for community partners.

View This Resource

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