. "4 Benefits and Challenges of Research Collaboration for Community-Based Treatment Providers." Bridging the Gap Between Practice and Research: Forging Partnerships with Community-Based Drug and Alcohol Treatment. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 1998.
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BOX 4.2Chilo Madrid's Ten Questions
The challenges for researchers seeking to work with programs that treat alcohol and drug dependence are evident in these questions used by one program to screen researcher requests. Aliviane is an established drug abuse treatment and prevention program serving Mexican-Americans in the El Paso, Texas area. Executive Director Chilo Madrid shared with the IOM committee these questions he has for researchers when they seek access to Aliviane clients and staff.
1.
What funds are available for clinical services? Do all of the grant or contract funds go to research?
2.
Are the researchers sensitive to cultural issues?
3.
Does the study address questions that are applicable to Aliviane or are the research questions unrelated to our work ?
4.
Are the research questions practical? Are hypotheses explained to the program or is the program deceived or unaware of the purpose of the investigation?
5.
How does the treatment or prevention program benefit? What technical assistance or treatment benefits are provided?
6.
Will the research help clients or put them at risk?
7.
What are the long-term benefits for the program and for research theory?
8.
Does the investigator express genuine concern for the program and its clients?
9.
How much choice does the program have in the selection of a specific investigator with whom to work?
10.
If there is to be evaluation, does Aliviane have a say in who is chosen to be evaluator?
These questions frame many Of the issues investigators should be prepared to confront :and willing to discuss when seeking a treatment partner.
benefits might include data analysis skills enhanced by research participation, skills which can also support management information needs and program evaluation.
In addition to covering direct research costs, another financial benefit to the treatment agency could be a contribution to indirect and overhead expenses, similar to that received by universities. The programs should be reimbursed for a portion of overhead, to the extent that the overhead expenses support the research. For example, telephone reception and messaging, intake, parking, and common area spaces, accounting, payroll, security, and advertising all represent some of the indirect costs that support all the functions in the treatment program including research activities. And finally, a program with limited access to capital may benefit from new equipment purchased initially with research funds to support the research.
