Table 1 Illustrative quotations to demonstrate areas of research-related impacts

▪ Research networks and collaborations formed

▪ Translational researchers recruited and trained

I also formed a lot of relationships through the team that I worked with for my Institute project. So, that influenced a lot of where I ended up going, it impacted the topic of my master’s thesis project. Really, it led to the current job I’m doing now. So, in providing technical assistance, a lot of my area that I contribute to on our larger team has to do with implementation and evidence-based practice. So I pull a lot from that in my current work (Cohort #1 Scholar)

I had never considered going into research when I started my Master’s program but as a result of being involved in the Institute and being involved in that process, that’s the trajectory of my career now. (Cohort #1 Scholar)

I was pleasantly surprised that these [Community Mentors], although they are practice people, they were very much interested in research and they were very much interested in collaboration. I was pleasantly surprised at the level of the knowledge and their willingness to collaborate. (Academic Mentor)

▪ New collaborative, translational research projects completed

▪ Researchers involved in problem solving and creating novel ways of addressing barriers

The opportunity of the Institute was actually to focus and narrow down my research interest to find my true passion towards adolescent health in general and a reason in particular which has been included in my dissertation proposal. I think the Institute was a milestone in order to get there, to narrow down that ideal, learning everything in the big picture. (Cohort #1 Scholar)

We had two service learning projects that actually all our staff—I supervise social workers—identified. So I took the projects to the scholars or to the Institute. My position was to kind of explain what was involved. So I provided the leadership for that and then I would say after that the scholars embraced it, added to it, worked on it, both came out with products that we are able to utilize. (Community Mentor)

It’s, I believe, in a lot of ways expanded my scope of research. …One of the things I did learn in the Institute that helped is doing more interdisciplinary research where a proven fact that’s in another field might be of use to something that I’m doing in my field. So that’s certainly, I’m hoping, adds up to a new way of looking at things and problems. (Cohort #1 Scholar)

▪ Grants and manuscripts submitted or underway

I’m still very close with the community partner that I did the research with and we are still working on the manuscript … They’ve been quite an asset for me, I hope that I’ve been able to help them a little bit as well. (Cohort #1 Scholar)

I wrote my special projects about my experience in the Institute and I have a publication pending for that. I did a poster presentation at the Society for Prevention Research based off our findings from my Institute involvement. (Cohort #1 Scholar)

The enhancement part came in for writing. I’ve actually learned how to put together a manuscript for this particular population. I know how to write, but knowing how to write about a project that I did in a team specifically for community research, that was pretty cool. (Cohort #2 Scholar)

▪ Translational research is disseminated to the local and national researchers and community organizations

[The Institute] gave me a lot of resources in assessing whether or not a program is strong for the community in working with mental health. That is a big tool for me to see if the agency that I’m working with is impacting the community around it in a positive way. (Cohort #1 Scholar)

I feel like I have so many more resources and places to look for things that really matter for our end of implementation in the field. (Cohort #1 Scholar)