Using Community-Based Implementation Frameworks and Strategies to Address Food Insecurity During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review

This scoping review aims to describe the main barriers to food security imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic in low-income U.S. households, identify effective community-based implementation frameworks and strategies, and discuss the lessons learned from implementing community-based approaches during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most cited barriers were categorized into the Community/Society-Policy category of "Social determinants of health in communities." Out of the twelve included studies, only five (42%) adopted an implementation framework in their food-insecurity interventions. This study can guide the development and sustainability of food programming during emergencies with possible transfer of lessons learned to food programs in low-income populations.Copyright © 2022 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

The integration of principles of co-creation for promoting quality improvement within a learning healthcare system providing coordinated specialty care for people with FEP

Co-creation places key stakeholders at the centre of development processes for quality improvement projects to reduce gaps between research and practice. We describe an Amplify OnTrackNY project that used principles of community-based participatory research to meaningfully partner with individuals with lived experience and describe lessons learned. Method(s): Two individuals with lived experience were hired and coled decision-making about project selection and design. The project examined OnTrackNY provider, participant, and family perspectives on the impact of COVID-19 on service delivery. To enhance the lived experience perspective, we hired two OnTrackNY graduates and a family member, and created mechanisms for team building and integration, and co-planning sessions. All team members contributed to the development of research questions, co-facilitated interviews/ focus groups, and participated in data analysis and dissemination. Result(s): Team members conducted focus groups and semi-structured interviews with 13 participants and five family members, presented results to various stakeholder groups, and are contributing to scientific publications. To ensure participation, our flexible working structure focused on promoting equity and building trust. Dedicated time ensured opportunities for meetings focused on mutual support, sharing, capacity building, and training in qualitative methods. Individuals with lived experience were in decision-making roles, created content, and led project activities embodying principles of power-sharing, reciprocity, and mutual learning. Orienting new team members to the office culture required extra effort. Conclusion(s): Provided sufficient time and infrastructure, it is feasible to meaningfully involve individuals with lived experience in quality improvement projects. Co-creation ensures that important perspectives are incorporated from the outset and procedures improve the relevance and uptake of research findings in the real world.

Developing relevant assessments of community-engaged research partnerships: A community-based participatory approach to evaluating clinical and health research study teams.

Background/Objective: In 2017, the Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research (MICHR) and community partners in Flint, Michigan collaborated to launch a research funding program and evaluate the dynamics of those research partnerships receiving funding. While validated assessments for community-engaged research (CEnR) partnerships were available, the study team found none sufficiently relevant to conducting CEnR in the context of the work. MICHR faculty and staff along with community partners living and working in Flint used a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to develop and administer a locally relevant assessment of CEnR partnerships that were active in Flint in 2019 and 2021. Methods: Surveys were administered each year to over a dozen partnerships funded by MICHR to evaluate how community and academic partners assessed the dynamics and impact of their study teams over time. Results: The results suggest that partners believed that their partnerships were engaging and highly impactful. Although many substantive differences between community and academic partners' perceptions over time were identified, the most notable regarded the financial management of the partnerships. Conclusion: This work contributes to the field of translational science by evaluating how the financial management of community-engaged health research partnerships in a locally relevant context of Flint can be associated with these teams' scientific productivity and impact with national implications for CEnR. This work presents evaluation methods which can be used by clinical and translational research centers that strive to implement and measure their use of CBPR approaches.

The Use of Qualitative Methods to Guide the Development of the Border Resilience Scale in a Participatory Research Study.

U.S.-Mexico border residents experience pervasive social and ecological stressors that contribute to a high burden of chronic disease. However, the border region is primarily composed of high-density Mexican-origin neighborhoods, a characteristic that is most commonly health-promoting. Understanding factors that contribute to border stress and resilience is essential to informing the effective design of community-level health promotion strategies. La Vida en La Frontera is a mixed-methods, participatory study designed to understand factors that may contribute to border resilience in San Luis, Arizona. The study's initial qualitative phase included interviews with 30 Mexican-origin adults exploring community perceptions of the border environment, cross-border ties, and health-related concepts. Border residents described the border as a Mexican enclave characterized by individuals with a common language and shared cultural values and perspectives. Positive characteristics related to living in proximity to Mexico included close extended family relationships, access to Mexican food and products, and access to more affordable health care and other services. Based on these findings, we co-designed the 9-item Border Resilience Scale that measures agreement with the psychosocial benefits of these border attributes. Pilot data with 60 residents suggest there are positive sociocultural attributes associated with living in border communities. Further research should test if they mitigate environmental stressors and contribute to a health-promoting environment for residents.

Modeling COVID-19 with big mobility data: Surveillance and reaffirming the people in the data

To better understand the COVID-19 pandemic, public health researchers turned to "big mobility data”—location data collected from mobile devices by companies engaged in surveillance capitalism. Publishing formerly private big mobility datasets, firms trumpeted their efforts to "fight” COVID-19 and researchers highlighted the potential of big mobility data to improve infectious disease models tracking the pandemic. However, these collaborations are defined by asymmetries in information, access, and power. The release of data is characterized by a lack of obligation on the part of the data provider towards public health goals, particularly those committed to a community-based, participatory model. There is a lack of appropriate reciprocities between data company, data subject, researcher, and community. People are de-centered, surveillance is de-linked from action while the agendas of public health and surveillance capitalism grow closer. This article argues that the current use of big mobility data in the COVID-19 pandemic represents a poor approach with respect to community and person-centered frameworks. © The Author(s) 2023.

Developing a peer-led intervention to promote COVID-19 testing in low-income housing settings.

Background: The Housing Collaborative project at Eastern Virginia Medical School has developed a method of adapting public health guidance from public housing communities, which face tremendous health challenges in cardiometabolic health, cancer, and other major health conditions. In this paper, we describe how academic and community partners in the Housing Collaborative came together to do this work with a focus on COVID-19 testing in the context of the emerging pandemic. Methods: The academic team used virtual community engagement methods to interact with the Housing Collaborative Community Advisory Board (HCCAB) and a separate cohort of research participants (N = 102) recruited into a study of distrust in COVID-19 guidance. We conducted a series of 44 focus group interviews with participants on related topics. Results from these interviews were discussed with the HCCAB. We used the collaborative intervention planning framework to inform adaptation of public health guidance on COVID-19 testing delivered in low-income housing settings by including all relevant perspectives. Results: Participants reported several important barriers to COVID-19 testing related to distrust in the tests and those administering them. Distrust in housing authorities and how they might misuse positive test results seemed to further undermine decision making about COVID-19 testing. Pain associated with testing was also a concern. To address these concerns, a peer-led testing intervention was proposed by the Housing Collaborative. A second round of focus group interviews was then conducted, in which participants reported their approval of the proposed intervention. Conclusion: Although the COVID-19 pandemic was not our initial focus, we were able to identify a number of barriers to COVID-19 testing in low-income housing settings that can be addressed with adapted public health guidance. We struck a balance between community input and scientific rigor and obtained high quality, honest feedback to inform evidence-based recommendations to guide decisions about health.

A System-Oriented Dialogue Model to Design Community Partnerships for More Effective Sars-Cov-2 Prevention in Schools: The Case of Spain.

Objectives: The European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) COVID-19 guidelines for non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) identify safety, hygiene and physical distancing measures to control SARS-Cov-2 transmission in schools. Because their implementation requires complicated changes, the guidelines also include "accompanying measures" of risk communication, health literacy and community engagement. Although these are considered crucial, their implementation is complex. This study aimed to co-define a community partnership that a) identifies systemic barriers and b) designs recommendations on how to implement the NPI to improve SARS-Cov-2 prevention in schools. Methods: We designed and piloted a System-Oriented Dialogue Model with the participation of 44 teachers and 868 students and their parents from six Spanish schools during 2021. The results were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Participants identified 406 items addressing issues related to system characteristics, which is indicative of the complexity of the challenge. Using a thematic analysis, we defined 14 recommendations covering five categories. Conclusion: These findings could help in developing guidelines for initiating community engagement partnerships in schools to provide more integrated prevention interventions.

Inclusive Community Aquatics Programming for Children with Developmental Challenges: A Community Participatory Action Research

Background: Children who are neurodiverse have traditionally been segregated from their peers in community-based programs, despite evidence of health benefits of inclusive education. Objectives: This community-initiated project aims to explore barriers and facilitators to inclusive aquatics programming for children with developmental and/or mental health challenges. Methods: Using a participatory-action research methodology, semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with 14 participants from various stakeholder groups, including parents of children who are neurodiverse, helping professionals, and community programmers. Results: Participants described unique definitions of inclusion, from integration with neurotypical peers, to individualized goal-setting and achievement. Major facilitators include adequate resources, flexibility around accommodations, and motivated staff. Major barriers include social stigma, financial limitations, and lack of communication between caregivers and service providers. Conclusions: Participants felt strongly about the need to improve inclusion practices within aquatics—and other community-based—programs. Increased collaboration between families, community programmers, and helping professionals can foster better inclusion and outcomes for children who are neurodiverse. By incorporating various perspectives into the design of future programs, program administrators can ensure more equitable access such that all children are able to participate.

Taking Part while being apart: conducting participatory research with children during the COVID-19 pandemic

The paper is a reflective narrative of engaging two school students aged 13–16 as advisors in participatory research in Bangladesh during the COVID-19 crisis. It outlines different ways to facilitate the active engagement of children and young people and include their voices in research. The authors also discuss the benefits and methodological and ethical complexities of engaging children and young people as advisors of adult researchers during the pandemic in a country from the Global South, such as Bangladesh. The findings underscore the need to rethink the traditional view of considering children and young people as vulnerable and passive members of society in times of emergency and explore the scope of involving them as active stakeholders in producing quality research data. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of International Journal of Research & Method in Education is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

On crowns, caravans and windmills: Commentary on an essay by Turcotte P., et al.

Patient-oriented research (POR) is a trend that has emerged over several decades and is particularly prominent in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. It involves patient and other stakeholder participation in the planning, conduct and dissemination of biomedical and health services research and it can be seen as a form of public participation and engagement in activities that affect the lives and well-being of communities. Criticisms of POR revolve around its susceptibility to tokenistic treatment of patient participants and paternalistic dominance of the research agenda by professional researchers, academics and clinicians. This commentary addresses one such critique by situating the POR agenda within the challenges and dilemmas faced by the health-related research enterprise over the past 30 years. It will explore the interface between POR, community activism and community-based participatory research. The contextual importance of the COVID-19 pandemic experience is stressed. The commentary will particularly focus on the US-based Patient Centred Outcomes Research Institute, its origins within a movement to enhance emphasis on publicly funded comparative effectiveness research, and its more recent evolution in the direction of community empowerment in POR.

Factors Associated With Marshallese and Hispanic Adults' Willingness to Receive a COVID-19 Booster Dose.

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES: New variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 will continue to develop and spread globally. The Omicron variant identified in November 2021 has many lineages. Variants spread quickly and can infect previously vaccinated individuals, prompting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to update vaccination recommendations. While ~230 million Americans received the initially-recommended vaccine sequence, booster uptake has been much lower; less than half of fully vaccinated individuals report receiving a booster. Racial disparities also mark patterns of COVID-19 vaccination booster uptake. This study explored willingness and motivations to get a COVID-19 booster among a diverse sample of participants. METHODS: We used convenience sampling to recruit participants 18 years of age or older who attended a community vaccine event. We conducted informal interviews during the recommended 15-min post-vaccination wait time with 55 participants who attended vaccine events at Marshallese and Hispanic community locations and comprised the recruitment pool for individual interviews. Using a qualitative descriptive design, we conducted in-depth follow-up interviews with 9 participants (Marshallese n = 5, Hispanic n = 4) to explore willingness and motivations to get boosted. We used rapid thematic template analysis to review informal interview summaries and formal interviews. The research team resolved data discrepancies by consensus. RESULTS: Participants reported high willingness to get boosted, especially if boosters were recommended in the future to protect against serious illness and mitigate the spread of COVID-19. This finding underscores how essential including recommendations to get a COVID-19 booster from trusted sources in health messaging and educational campaigns may be for increasing booster uptake. Participants described their preference for receiving future COVID-19 boosters, reporting that they would attend similar vaccine events, especially those held at faith-based organizations and facilitated by the same community partners, community health workers, and research staff. This finding shows how community engagement can overcome barriers to vaccination (ie, transportation, language, and fear of discrimination) by providing services in preferred community locations with trusted community partners. CONCLUSIONS: Findings document high willingness to get a COVID-19 booster, emphasize the role of recommendations from trusted sources in motivating booster uptake, and highlight the importance of community engagement to address disparities in vaccination coverage and reach.

Breast Cancer Champions: a peer-to-peer education and mobile mammography program improving breast cancer screening rates for women of African heritage.

INTRODUCTION: Nationally, women of African heritage die at higher rates from breast cancer than women of other races or ethnicities. We developed Breast Cancer Champions (BCC) a peer-to-peer education program, which recruited 12 women and deployed them into the community in August 2020 during the height of the COVID pandemic. BCC aims to improve breast cancer screening rates for women of African heritage through peer-to-peer education, which has proven successful for addressing cancer-related health disparities. METHODS: BCC community experts, or "Champions," are peer-to-peer educators that conduct awareness and screening events in their communities. Champion's education activities were tracked by bi-weekly check-in calls, which recorded the activity type, location, and the number of participants for each event. We used spatial and statistical analyses to determine the efficacy of the program at increasing screening rates for women within the area of Champion activity versus women outside of their activity area. RESULTS: Over 15 months, Champions conducted 245 in-person or online events to engage women in their community for screening. More women of African heritage were screened in areas Champions were active during the intervention compared to historical data comparing areas outside of the Champion activity in the prior 15 months (X 2 = 3.0845, p = 0.079). CONCLUSION: BCC successes could be attributed to pivoting to online community building when in-person events were restricted and enabling Champions to design and conduct their own events, which increased outreach possibilities. We demonstrate improved screening outcomes associated with an updated peer-to-peer education program.

Community engaged research to measure the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable community member's well-being and health : A mixed methods approach.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing income inequality and health disparities in the United States (US). The objective of this study was to conduct timely, community-engaged research to understand the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on historically under-resourced communities with the goal of improving health equity. The initiative focused on priorities identified by Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNA) conducted every 3 years per Federal funding requirements. These were access to healthcare, maternal/child health, obesity/food insecurity/physical activity, and mental health/addiction. METHODS: In the first three quarters of 2021, we developed and employed mixed methods in three simultaneous phases of data collection. In phase 1, we used purposive sampling to identify key informants from multiple stakeholder groups and conducted semi-structured interviews. In phase 2, we held focus groups with community members from historically marginalized demographics. In phase 3, we developed a survey using validated scales and distributed it to diverse communities residing in the geographic areas of our healthcare system across four states. CONCLUSION: Healthcare systems may use the methodology outlined in this paper to conduct responsive community engagement during periods of instability and/or crisis and to address health equity issues. The results can inform sustainable approaches to collaborate with communities to build resilience and prepare for future crises.

The role of sovereignty in Indigenous community-based health interventions: A qualitative metasynthesis.

Indigenous peoples around the world suffer from health disparities attributed to a plethora of risk factors and social determinants of health stemming from colonialism and systemic oppression. Community-based health interventions have been identified as a means for addressing and reducing Indigenous health disparities by allowing for Indigenous sovereignty to be respected and centered. However, sovereignty relating to Indigenous health and well-being is underresearched. The present article explores the role of sovereignty in Indigenous community-based health interventions. A qualitative metasynthesis was conducted among 14 primary research studies co-authored by Indigenous people describing and evaluating Indigenous community-based health interventions. Five conceptual themes emerged as aspects of sovereignty which benefit Indigenous health and well-being outcomes: integration of culture; relocation of knowledge; connectedness; self-actualization; and stewardship. Implications are discussed, with the goal of creating a decolonial framework rooted in Indigenous epistemologies and perspectives for how sovereignty impacts Indigenous health, as well as strengthening a clear need for further research on and praxis of sovereignty in Indigenous healthcare.

Participatory development and implementation of inclusive digital health communication on COVID-19 with homeless people.

Introduction: People experiencing homelessness (PEH) are disproportionally affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The realities of their daily lives have been given little consideration in the pandemic response. They are not represented in existing health information campaigns, and many are structurally excluded from digital information. The project aimed to develop inclusive COVID-19-information material to strengthen infection prevention and control of PEH. Material and methods: In a participatory process, PEH were involved in the planning, production, and evaluation of poster and video information material on COVID-19. Various stakeholders were consulted for external supervision. Service providers all over Germany were informed about the material that could be ordered free of charge. For the evaluation, semi-structured interviews with homeless service providers and PEH were conducted, and the online views of the videos were measured. Results: Sixteen PEH participated actively in the project. Two COVID-19-information videos were launched in 5 languages in February 2021. Posters promoting vaccination against COVID-19 were produced in 9 languages. As of May 2022, the videos have been viewed more than 2,000 times. A total of 163 service providers for PEH and public institutions received the posters, thereof 72 upon request. Twelve service providers and 8 PEH participated in the evaluation. They pointed out the lack of targeted information material for PEH. The consideration of the concerns and the diverse representation of PEH was perceived as particularly important. Most of the service providers were unable to show the videos due to technical and spatial limitations. Digital challenges for PEH, like the lack of and maintenance of a smart phone, became apparent. Conclusion: The cooperation of research, practice and the community were key factors for the realization of this project. Strong links to the community and the involvement of relevant stakeholders are indispensable when working with PEH. Exclusion from digital information is an increasingly important component of the structural marginalization of PEH. Digital inclusion for PEH and service providers can help to counteract social and health inequalities. The lessons learned through this project can contribute to strengthen participation of PEH and to consider their perspectives in future health communication strategies.

Understanding the utility of an evaluation instrument and a feedback mechanism in community-based participatory research (CBPR) partnerships

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: To examine i) how longstanding (≥6 years) community-based participatory research (CBPR) partnerships nationwide implemented a validated questionnaire to measure success and its contributing factors and ii) how the CBPR partnerships utilized and applied a feedback mechanism, or reports of findings from the questionnaire and a facilitation guide METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: This mixed methods study builds upon a larger NIH-funded project entitled 'Measurement Approaches to Partnership Success (MAPS). MAPS developed and validated the 109-item MAPS questionnaire to measure success in longstanding (≥6 years) CBPR partnerships. In 2020, 55 CBPR partnerships nationwide completed the MAPS Questionnaire and, a year later, received the MAPS Feedback Mechanism, consisting of questionnaire findings and a facilitation guide on how to present the findings. In this follow-up study, we administered multi-method surveys to each partnership contact person in 2022 to examine their experience with and utility of the MAPS Questionnaire and the MAPS Feedback mechanism. We performed descriptive analysis of quantitative responses using SAS and thematic analysis of qualitative responses. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Survey responses have been presently collected from 14 partnerships. Preliminary findings suggest that the most frequently reported benefits of completing the MAPS Questionnaire included stimulating partnership reflections and ease of completion. Many partnerships shared results of the MAPS Questionnaire by e-mail or during partnership meetings. Nearly half of the partnerships rated components of the MAPS feedback mechanism as useful. Over one-third of the partnerships reported that the COVID pandemic limited their capacity to engage with the MAPS Feedback Mechanism. Key qualitative suggestions included making the MAPS Questionnaire shorter, providing it in a different format, and offering additional facilitation to support the implementation of the MAPS Feedback Mechanism. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: This study examines how CBPR partnerships utilize an evaluation instrument and apply results on success. Current findings suggest potential utility of the MAPS Questionnaire and Feedback Mechanism for ongoing evaluation. Reducing the questionnaire length and providing facilitation resources may enhance implementation across diverse settings.

The impact of COVID-19 on the lives of persons with intellectual disabilities: A participatory research project from Madrid, Spain

This chapter presents the findings of a participatory research project on the impact of COVID-19 and the lockdown on the lives of people with intellectual disabilities in Madrid, Spain. It provides a brief overview of the social policy framework with regards to people with disabilities, and how the government responded to the needs of people with disabilities during the pandemic. The research was conducted by seven co-researchers with intellectual disabilities, who explored how people with intellectual disabilities in Madrid had experienced the lockdown and sanitary restrictions from March 2020 to November 2021. Participants included people living at home with their families, in group homes and in residential care. The findings are contrasted with other studies on the impact of the pandemic in Spain. The pandemic revealed the precariousness of the care system, and the urgent need to shift towards a human rights compliant service provision. Our study shows that people with intellectual disabilities experienced restrictions in different aspects of their lives during a longer period, that people living in residential care were more isolated and that there is a general concern with the future. People living in congregated settings were subject to higher restrictions. Some people had become care providers to their parents, and digital skills had been essential to keep in touch with partners, friends and family. Furthermore, people expressed a desire to regain their freedom, meet new people and a concern with lack of employment. © 2023 Adela Palazuelos Velayos, Adrián Corona de la Iglesia, Ángela Sánchez Castillo, Gema Alises Urda, María Gómez-Carrillo de Castro, Marta Sancho Suils, Paola Cauja Pilataxi and Víctor Sanz Moreno. All rights reserved.

Adaptation of a mobile app for early anxiety and depression intervention in university students in Chile: Participatory study

The high prevalence of mental health problems among university students poses a challenge when developing effective interventions, with digital technologies emerging as a potential resource to address this problem. The inclusion of student input in the design and development of such interventions is critical to improving their impact. This study contributed to the initial phase of a research project that aims to adapt and evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of an early intervention for anxiety and depression based on digital technologies for university students. Three participatory workshops were conducted with 13 university students in Chile to inquire about the features and content that a mental health mobile app should include to meet their needs and preferences. The workshop transcripts were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. The results of this study highlight the value of modifications such as the personalisation of some features of the app. The students recommended incorporating topics related to university life and the possibility of contacting a mental health professional, as well as the inclusion of peer interaction or other forms of support.Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Can everyone hear me? Reflections on the use of global online workshops for promoting inclusive knowledge generation

Online research methods have risen in popularity over recent decades, particularly in the wake of COVID-19. We conducted five online workshops capturing the experiences of participatory health researchers in relation to power, as part of a collaborative project to develop global knowledge systems on power in participatory health research. These workshops included predominantly academic researchers working in 24 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Here, we reflect on the opportunities, limitations, and key considerations of using online workshops for knowledge generation and shared learning. The online workshop approach offers the potential for cross-continental knowledge exchange and for the amplification of global South voices. However, this study highlights the need for deeper exploration of power dynamics exposed by online platform use, particularly the ‘digital divide' between academic partners and community co-researchers. Further research is needed to better understand the role of online platforms in generating more inclusive knowledge systems.

A participatory study of college students' mental health during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted college students' mental health and wellbeing. Even before the pandemic, young adults reported high mental health morbidity. During the pandemic, young adult college students faced unprecedented challenges, including campus closure and a pivot to fully online education. Methods: This study employed a novel participatory approach to a Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) in an introductory epidemiology course to examine factors students considered important regarding their experience during the pandemic. Two groups of undergraduate students enrolled in this course (one in Fall 2020 and another in Spring 2021) and participated in the CURE. A sub-group of these students continued after the class and are authors of this article. Through repeated cross-sectional surveys of college students' peer groups in northern California in October 2020 and March 2021, this student/faculty collaborative research team evaluated depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation and several other topics related to mental health among the students' young adult community. Results: There was a high prevalence of anxiety (38.07% in October 2020 and 40.65% in March 2021), depression (29.85% in October 2020 and 27.57% in March 2021), and suicidal ideation (15.94% in October 2020 and 16.04% in March 2021). In addition, we identified the significant burden of loneliness for college students, with 58.06% of students reporting feeling lonely at least several days in the past two weeks. Strategies that students used to cope with the pandemic included watching shows, listening to music, or playing video games (69.01%), sleeping (56.70%), taking breaks (51.65%), and connecting with friends (52.31%) or family (51.21%). Many reported distressing household experiences: more than a third reporting loss of a job or income (34.27%) in the first year of the pandemic. We explain the participatory research approach and share empirical results of these studies. Discussion: We found this participatory CURE approach led to novel, experience-based research questions; increased student motivation; real-world benefits such as combatting imposter syndrome and supporting graduate school intentions; integration of teaching, research, and service; and development of stronger student-faculty relationships. We close with recommendations to support student wellbeing and promote student engagement in research.