The Case for Community‐Owned and ‐Managed Research and Community Health Assessments: Promotora‐Researchers’ Partnerships Generate Adaptive Health Evaluation Tools

Abstract Federal and state health data sets often lack the granularity needed for medically underserved small towns. To address this, we conducted two community health assessment surveys in Knights Landing (KL), a rural agricultural town in California, to identify local healthcare strengths, barriers, and needs. Utilizing a Community‐Based Participatory Action Research (CBPAR) framework, our project centered on a collaboration between academic‐researchers and promotora‐researchers: community leaders who evolved from activists to empowered research partners over a decade. Data from an initial randomized survey in 2013 ( N = 88) informed the design of a follow‐up survey in 2018 ( N = 100). For the 2018 survey, promotora‐researchers made the executive decision to shift to snowball sampling, which provided a deeper understanding of the health experiences of the clinic's most vulnerable and historically underrepresented populations. Both surveys produced actionable community‐owned data that stimulated significant community organizing, led to expanded services at the student‐led clinic (KLOHC), and cultivated public health investments for Knights Landing. This study demonstrates how a decade‐long partnership, grounded in shared power and evolving into a Community‐Owned and ‐Managed Research (COMR) model, can generate a robust and adaptive health assessment tool. Ultimately, this work highlights the transformative power of community involvement in health research for creating impactful and enduring change.