COMBINING RESEARCH, ADVOCACY, AND EDUCATION - THE METHODS OF THE GRANDPARENT CAREGIVER STUDY

This article presents a case study of the effective synergy of health education inquiry, community collaboration, and policy advocacy. Using the Grandparent Caregiver Study as the example, the authors focus on key methodological decisions that enabled them to incorporate research , education, and advocacy activities into an ever-growing project on a modest budget. The study itself centered on two in-depth interviews w ith each of 71 African American grandmothers raising young grandchildr en due to the crack cocaine epidemic in Oakland, California. The case study demonstrates ways in which health education research can increas e the efficacy of individuals and disenfranchised groups to define pro blems, voice their concerns, and advocate for more just and healthy pu blic policies. Through discussion of the authors' methods and activiti es, they suggest strategies through which research participants, servi ce providers, and policymakers can work together to bring a new issue to the policy arena through a collaborative and empowering research pr ocess.