Using SenseMaker in a Participatory Process to Adapt a Community Violence Intervention: Protocol and Lessons Learned | Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action

Author(s):

Preprint Publication Date:

April 9, 2026

Publication Status:

Awaiting Publication

Keywords:

Community health partnerships

Community-based Participatory Research (CBPR)

Community health research

health disparities

Power sharing

Process issues

Community violence intervention

Manuscript PDF File:

WP_Solomon.pdf

ABSTRACT
Background: The Cure Violence model, a widely implemented community violence intervention (CVI), has shown mixed effectiveness, highlighting the need for locally tailored adaptations.
Objectives: This study presents a novel mixed-methods, participatory approach for capturing and interpreting participant experiences to adapt CV for Southwest Philadelphia.
Methods: PCVP staff, a community advisory board, and other stakeholders participated in iterative workshops, interviews, and SenseMaker® sessions. Guided by implementation science frameworks, we used a five-step process to identify multilevel barriers and facilitators, generate and refine implementation strategies, and prioritize strategies using SenseMaker® dyads, triads, and visual dashboards.
Lessons Learned: The participatory process using SenseMaker® enhanced stakeholder engagement, structured implementation strategies, and provided interactive data visualizations to support decision-making. Addressing power dynamics and maintaining engagement post-adaptation were critical to success.
Conclusions: This study introduces a structured, participatory framework for CVI adaptation, demonstrating the value of integrating novel data collection and visualization methods.