Community-Engaged Research (CEnR) and Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) require validated measures and metrics for evaluating research partnerships and outcomes. There is a need to adapt and translate existing measures for practical use with diverse and non-English-speaking communities. This paper describes the Spanish translation and adaptation of Engage for Equity’s Community Engagement Survey (E2 CES), a nationally validated and empirically-supported CEnR evaluation tool, into the full-length “Encuesta Comunitaria,” and a pragmatic shorter version “Fortaleciendo y Uniendo EsfueRzos Transdisciplinarios para Equidad de Salud” (FUERTES).

Community and academic partners from the mainland US, Puerto Rico, and Nicaragua participated in translating and adapting E2 CES, preserving content validity, psychometric properties, and importance to stakeholders of items, scales, and CBPR constructs (contexts, partnership processes, intervention and research actions, and outcomes). Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha and convergent validity was assessed via a correlation matrix among scales.

Encuesta Comunitaria respondents (N = 57) self-identified as primarily Latinos/as/x (97%), female (74%), and academics (61%). Cronbach’s alpha values ranged from 0.72 to 0.88 for items in the context domain to 0.90–0.92 for items in the intervention/research domain. Correlations were found as expected among subscales, with the strongest relationships found for subscales within the same CBPR domain. Results informed the creation of FUERTES.

Encuenta Comunitaria and FUERTES offer CEnR/CBPR practitioners two validated instruments for assessing their research partnering practices, and outcomes. Moreover, FUERTES meets the need for shorter pragmatic tools. These measures can further strengthen CEnR/CBPR involving Latino/a/x communities within the US, Latin America, and globally.

The release of biohazardous agents could affect many people. Preparedness is crucial for adequate responses to accidental or deliberate release of biohazardous agents. It is believed that exercises based on simulated incident scenes are effective methods for the training of firefighters and biohazard response teams. Structured evaluations are important methods used to identify areas of ineffectiveness and to assure the quality of responses to releases of biohazards.

A local fire department conducted a full-scale biohazard exercise in an elementary school. The firefighters practiced prohibiting entry to the area, establishing security zones, evacuating victims, assessing hazards, preventing further dissemination, and sampling and keeping the suspicious material in safe custody.Trained observers systematically evaluated the exercise following a standardized evaluation protocol. A set of data collection templates were created based on standard operating procedures extracted from current guidelines.

There were 60 firefighters, eight members of the incident command, 16 simulated victims, and 18 trained observers that participated in the exercise. Out of 31 standard operating procedures, 20 were in accordance with the guidelines, 10 were performed incorrectly, and one was not applicable. Major problems related to the assessment and handling of the suspicious material, the use of protective equipment, and decontamination of victims. Reasons for incomplete and/or conflicting documentation included insufficient knowledge and training of observers, imprecise instructions about documentation, and the size of observation zones.

Intensive education and training of response activities is necessary. Each fire department should perpetually reassess their technical equipment and specific skills and their communication and command structures. The applied documentation system performed well in disclosing discrepancies between observed response activities and current recommendations. Using external observers provided transparent and independent data. However, intensive observer training is necessary. Observer training should include detailed, written instructions and short guidelines that could be available during the exercise.