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THE RESEARCH PARTNER- SHIP: Year I of the Hu- man Services Research Partnership: US Virgin Islands (HSRP-VI) was an eventful one! The Research Partnership was formally established and potential partners invited. The first Research Part- nership meeting, held in November 2014, includ- ed Partners from the Department of Human Services; other local gov- ernment agencies; semi- autonomous agencies; the Federally Qualified Health Centers; community-based organiza- tions, current/or former HS and TANF clients; and researchers from UVI. Two training ses- sions on the CBPR approach were provided for Partners. RESEARCH ACTIVITY: The HSRP-VI commenced its research work in spring 2015, after receiving IRB approval for the completion of an environmental scan study. COMMUNICATION, ENGAGEMENT, & DISSEMINATION: The HSRP-VI’s microsite was also established in Year I. This made information about the project available to anyone, whether here in the USVI communi- ty or across the globe. The St. Thom- as Source published an online article on the HSRP-VI project. Project staff participated in a radio show on WUVI to provide the community information about the HSRP-VI and UVI’s Public Relations Office provided a press release to the media describing the HSRP-VI. HSRP-VI Year I Highlights—Part I Noreen Michael, PhD A Message from Partnership Co-Chair, Dr. Gloria Callwood It is a special privilege to co-chair the USVI Human Services Research Part- nership (HSRP-VI) whose mission is to work collaboratively and systemati- cally to improve the Head Start/Early Head Start (HS/EHS), and Tempo- rary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) programs in the USVI. The Research Partnership comprises key personnel from the VI Department of Human Services (VI-DHS), policy makers from central and semi- autonomous government agencies, leaders from community-based organi- zations, current and/or former HS/ EHS and TANF clients, and research- ers from UVI. Since its organization in fall 2014, the Partnership has worked to define and address research questions regarding the social and economic well-being of human services clients. Partners have been fully en- gaged in activities that have led to the gathering of relevant data to enhance our understanding of human services programs in the Territory. Co-chairing the partnership has provided a first- hand appreciation of how partners with shared values, expectations, equal voice, and commitment have been instrumental in framing the research agenda to address family self- sufficiency, stability, and well-being. It is gratifying to be associated with all Partners who are dedicated to making a significant, positive differ- ence in the lives of some of the most vulnerable in our community. CERC-SON-UVI March 2017 Volume 1, Issue 1 A RICH VI NEWSLETTER Notable Tidbits:  The Human Services Re- search Partnership: Virgin Islands (HSRP-VI) was established in 2014.  The work of the Partner- ship has been featured in the St. Thomas Source (2014 and 2017).  The Partnership is Co- Chaired by the Director of CERC-UVI and the Com- missioner of the V.I. De- partment of Human Ser- vices.  Information on the activities and achievements of the HSRP-VI can be accessed at the project’s microsite: http://uvi.edu/academics/ nursing/cerc/default.aspx. Inside this issue: Highlights of Year I: HSRP-VI 1 Message from Co- Chair Dr. G. Callwood 1 Notable Tidbits 1 CBPR in Action: Part I 2 Joining the HSRP-VI and CERC 2 The HSRP-VI Project is funded by Grant No. 90YR0083 from the Office of Planning Research and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services. The views expressed in this Newsletter do not necessarily represent the views of the funding agency. HSRP-VI CERC-SON-UVI QB 201 St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands 00802-9990 Phone: 340-693-1170 Fax: 340-693-1148 Email: hsrp-vi@uvi.edu FITTING IN WITH THE HSRP-VI/ONBOARD AT A RICH VI Deborah E. Brown, PhD With an open mind and a pep in my step, I joined the HSRP-VI Team in July 2016, as Post-Doctoral Research Fellow and I am still basking in the wisdom of this decision. I was immediately made to feel welcomed; and this salute allowed me to settle in quite quickly with the help of my very supportive colleagues. Information about the HSRP’s mission, vision, goals and past activities were readily available so I delved into my new role with gusto. It was not long before I was fully engaged in the day-to-day activities of the project and all my skills were being fully utilized. I find working with the HSRP to be a positive experience as it not only provides an engaging atmosphere but also promotes the values about which I am passionate. The work we do to influence policy and to improve the quality of service delivery to vul- nerable populations in the USVI is central to my personal creed. It is smooth sailing for me on board the A RICH-VI project at CERC. The team and I gelled remarkably and with this fusion, we are fully armed with a sense of purpose and the capacity to weather all challenges. There is a great deal of camaraderie among the team members and this extends to the members of the Partnership and to all whom I have encountered in the USVI. CERC-SON-UVI ALLIANCE FOR RESPONSIVE INVESTMENT IN CHILDREN’S HEALTH: US VIRGIN ISLANDS “… a partnership approach to research that equitably involves, for example, com- munity members, organizational repre- sentatives and researchers in all as- pects of the research process.” (p.48, Minkler & Wallerstein, 2008) CBPR is guided by nine key principles: 1. Recognizes community as a unit of iden- tity 2. Builds on strengths and resources within the community 3. Facilitates collaborative, equitable part- nership in all research phases and in- volves an empowering and power- sharing process that attends to social inequalities 4. Promotes co-learning and capacity build- ing among all partners 5. Integrates and achieves a balance be- tween research and action for the mutual Background The Human Services Research Partner- ship (HSRP) VI elected to conduct an environ- mental scan as a first step of a three-year initiative to conduct research and build re- search capacity within the Head Start/Early Head Start (HS/EHS) and Temporary Assis- tance to Needy Families (TANF) programs in the USVI. The community based participatory research approach seemed a logical choice for this project. What is CBPR? CBPR is: “… a collaborative approach to research that equitably involves all partners in the research process and recognizes the unique strengths that each brings.” (p.2, W.K. Kellogg Founda- tion’s Community Health Scholars Program, 2001) benefit of partners 6. Emphasizes public health problems of local relevance and also ecological per- spectives that recognize and attend to the multiple determinants of health and disease 7. Involves systems development through a cyclical and iterative process 8. Disseminates findings and knowledge gained to all partners and involves all partners in the dissemination process 9. Requires a long-term process and com- mitment to sustainability. This is the first of a two-part series on CBPR. Look for Part II in Volume 1, Issue 2. STAFF OF THE HSRP-VI: Lead PI: Noreen Michael, PhD Co-PI: Gloria B. Callwood, PhD, RN, FAAN Co-Investigator: Janis M. Valmond, MS, DrPH Post Doctoral Research Fellow: Deborah E. Brown, PhD Research Associate: E. Aracelis Francis, PhD Student Assistant/Researcher: Tatiana Green, AA Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) as a Framework for the HSRP-VI: Part I Janis M. Valmond, MS, DrPH Some of our Partners: Department of Human Services Department of Labor Department of Education Lutheran Social Services Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands Women’s Coalition ARCH Institute We’re on the Web! http://uvi.edu/ academics/nursing/ cerc/default.aspx