Supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) partnered with Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research to engage the Great Plains Tribal Leaders’ Health Board and the South Puget Intertribal Planning Agency in a project that used a validated community-based participatory approach, referred to as Listening Sessions.

The project brought together American Indian community members to develop culturally and locally relevant colorectal cancer (CRC) screening messages and materials. The Listening Session Guide takes users through a process that helps community members, community health representatives, and community leaders/champions learn about barriers and gaps in care (listen), share health information in a collaborative way (empower), and develop messages and materials that resonate with and motivate community members to take control of their health (co-create). Based on learnings from the Listening Session project, their new Listening Session Guide provides details and best practices for implementing a community engagement session. 

The Listening Session methods described in the guide were adapted from a validated, community-based participatory approach known as boot camp translation (BCT). The BCT method, originally developed by the Colorado High Plains Research Network, empowers communities to address local health challenges by bringing together community members and organizational partners.

Send comments, questions, or suggestions to [email protected].