**Forthcoming in Progress in Community Health Partnerships (PCHP) 18.4. All rights reserved.**
ABSTRACT:
Background: Including community partners in Interprofessional Education (IPE) activites for healthcare trainees can engage students in learning experiences that engender an authentic appreciation for serving community health needs. While such endeavors aim for mutual benefit for all participating partners, tools to assess the value of engagement with community partners could enhance transparency and follow-through for assessing the benefits of participation for the community partners.
Objectives: Based on a Give-Get-Grid used to describe participants' expectations relative to IPE experiences, we developed a Gave-Got-Grid. It was used to evaluate community partners' experiences and outcomes after engaging in community-academic partnerships.
Methods: Initial Give-Get-Grids completed by community partners were used to develop a Gave-Got-Grid, which served as a template for interviewing key community partner leaders after receipt of the project deliverable. Qualitative interviews were conducted and evaluated for common themes.
Results: Four community partners completed Gave-Got interviews and noted that their contributions to the IPE program were substantial and acceptable in relation to their gains. They identified valuable participation outcomes, including fresh perspectives on their organizations' work, inspiration from diverse health professions trainees, trainees' expertise in bettering their community's health, and receiving essential deliverables for their community populations.
Conclusions: Developing transparent aims that clearly outline what each community partner will give and what they hope to receive prior to engaging students in a learning experience can be mutually beneficial in developing community partnerships for Interprofessional Education. Such practices can enhance mutual understanding, respect, and responsiveness among healthcare trainees, community organizations, and their constituents.