About Past SCRA Conferences
The Society for Community Research & Action (SCRA; Division 27 of the American Psychological Association) is the official organization of community psychology within the United States. SCRA sponsors excellent regional and national conferences on Community Research and Action. Its next national biennial conference is hosted by the University of La Verne and will occur again June 7-10, 2007.
The scientific priorities of SCRA adopt a preventive orientation. Consistent with its scientific commitment to expand and disseminate the knowledge of prevention and healthcare practices, SCRA is interested in supporting scientific meetings, conferences, and workshops designed to focus attention on cutting edge, relevant research and to stimulate further research in the following general emphasis areas:
- Promoting Scientific Integrity in the Public Policy Process
- Showcasing Prevention and Other Interventions Aimed at Reducing Health Disparities
- Risk Assessment and Management
- Knowledge Transfer
- Health and Environment
- Fostering Research and Community Partnerships
- Prevention Sciences
Purpose
The biennial conference is typically a four-day event and averages 600 participants. It showcases high quality science and promotes the transfer of knowledge through translating research findings into practice. SCRA is dedicated to exploring healing and prevention practices in the context of rigorous science, training researchers, and disseminating authoritative information as widely as possible to the public and professionals. It acts as a catalyst for the development of science by bringing together leading scientists and community practitioners and stakeholders to debate, plan, implement, and evaluate health and social justice initiatives.
The objectives of its biennial conference include: 1) the promotion of interdisciplinary exchange of scientific information among researchers and community practitioners and stakeholders working in both managed and natural ecosystems; 2) the enhancement of dialogue between scientists and resource managers for the purpose of identifying research gaps and of accelerating implementation of new science for the management of health; and 3) the fostering of broad cooperation on the science and management of health promotion, remediation of illness, and promoting social justice.
Within the Society for Community Research and Action (SCRA), several means are used to promote scientific and technological excellence. These means include:
- Bringing together representatives of community organizations and stakeholders and the health sciences communities to foster an understanding of the current capabilities and research objectives of each other's communities related to health promotion, the remediation of illness, and the promotion of social justice;
- Contributing to the advancement of science through exchange and creating conditions for experienced researchers and practitioners, working at the cutting edge of scientific and technological development, to impart their knowledge and experience to policy makers, to mentor young researchers, and to foster knowledge transfer between researchers, practitioners, and community organizations and stakeholders;
- Creating a framework for the networking of researchers, practitioners, and activists who are active both inside and/or outside the organization, to build up or preserve their contacts and scientific relations with colleagues around the world.
2005 SCRA Conference Themes
Preliminary content analysis of four hundred forty-one of the abstracts from the 2005 biennial conference provided data on dominant themes or domains being addressed in current healthcare and prevention initiatives. Although not captured in this analysis, there tends to be much overlap within and across these domains, which may be indicative of co-morbid mental health and social problems requiring intervention. Following are the dominant themes that emerged in the analysis and foreshadow those that may be addressed at the 2007 biennial conference.
| Mental Health | 186/441 = 42% |
| Advocacy/Policy Implications | 96/441 = 22% |
| Addressing Ethnic Diversity | 61/441 = 14% |
| University and Community Collaborations | 54/441 = 12% |