Making Collaboration Work: Key Components of Practice/Research Partnerships

• Author: Allan J. Cohen,Thomas E. Freese,Cathy J. Reback,Steven Shoptaw
• Published date: 01 July 2002
• Date: 01 July 2002
• DOI: 10.1177/002204260203200307
• Subject Matter: Article

© 2002 BY THE JOURNAL OF DRUG ISSUES

JOURNAL OF DRUG ISSUES 0022-0426/02/03 837-848

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Cathy J. Reback, Ph.D., is a researcher and community provider. She is the Director of Prevention at

the Van Ness Recovery House, which provides HIV and substance abuse prevention services to active

users and Principal Investigator at Friends Research Institute, where she conducts behavioral therapies

research for gay/bisexual male stimulant users. Allan J. Cohen, M.A., M.F.T., is the Director of Research

and Development at Aegis Medical Services, where he develops new and innovative treatment strategies

and programs to enhance services to their patient population. Thomas E. Freese, Ph.D., is the Director

of Training for the UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs (ISAP). He has served as the Project

Director on a number of studies, including research on methamphetamine use, HIV risk among gay and

bisexual men, and smoking cessation interventions. Steven Shoptaw, Ph.D., is Senior Behavioral

Scientist studying biobehavioral aspects of substance abuse and conducts medication and behavior

trials to treat stimulant dependence and reduce HIV transmission risks. His specific interests involve

substance users with comorbidities: tobacco smoking among drug users; substance abuse in populations

at risk for HIV infection. Address correspondence to: Cathy J. Reback, Ph.D., Friends Research

Institute, 11075 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90025. Direct phone: (323) 463-

2295. Direct fax: (323) 463-0126. E-mail: Rebackcj@aol.com.

MAKING COLLABORATION WORK: KEY COMPONENTS

OF PRACTICE/RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS

CATHY J. REBACK, ALLAN J. COHEN, THOMAS E. FREESE, STEVEN SHOPTAW

Drawing on our experiences as researchers and community-based providers, this

paper outlines several key components of successful practice/research

collaboration: forming equal partnerships, bilateral communication, ensuring

nonhierarchical collaborations, and appropriate dissemination of outcomes. Many

concrete benefits can result from collaborative research projects, including additional

services, program development, and training for service agency staff. Building

partnerships takes time and a good amount of planning and negotiation prior to

writing proposals. However, these collaborations can result in more effective efforts

to solve common problems and reach common goals.

INTRODUCTION

The calls for collaborative relationships between researchers and community

providers are not new. Across multiple disciplines, such as substance abuse

treatment, HIV prevention, and public health, it has been recognized that if there

are questions that are best answered in community settings, it makes sense that all