Table 3 Illustrative quotations to demonstrate impacts related to local community and society

▪ Community-based participatory programs are developed and implemented

▪ Findings are shared with local policy-makers and organizations

We presented the results of the project that we worked on to their leadership council. Then, we did some recommendations on how to improve their implementation of evidence-based programs. We also presented back to again the substance abuse coalition in [the] County that we worked with a little bit through this project. We presented our findings to them as well. (Cohort #1 Scholar)

▪ A network of researchers and community members was created

▪ Practice-focused researchers were trained to use evidence-based strategies in their 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 is impacting the community around it in a positive way. (Cohort #1 Scholar)

The community-based participatory research or just the way that you engaged with experts and who they are … I think that has broadened not only my knowledge base, but just my approach to life and to research and to hopefully what I can do in the future. (Cohort #1 Scholar)

▪ Community organizations awareness of the need for evidence-based practices and for improved evaluation increased

I think, more than anything, it’s just given us insight that there is an ongoing need to change, that being stagnant and relying on what we’ve always done is not healthy and certainly doesn’t work for us or the people that we’re trying to serve. So there is an intention to continue to be part of any effort to look at how the research and the application of the knowledge gained through the research gets done, much more than I think we ever have had in the past. (Cohort #1 Scholar/Community Mentor)

After the project we are now reassessing additional training that may need to be included to ensure implementers have the proper guidance and support. (Community Mentor)