The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #63647

Selena E. Smith, BA,(MPA), Adedeji Sikiru Adefuye, MBBS, MPH, and Shaffdeen Amuwo, PhD,, MPH. OCGA, University of Illinois at Chicago, School of Public Health, 1603 W. Taylor, Suite 152, Chicago, IL 60612, 312/413-4288, seas@uic.edu

True Partnership is defined as "a relationship involving close cooperation between parties having specified and joint rights and responsibilities."

In the past two decades, there has been a large increase in University-Community partnerships aimed at providing service, education and also opening doors for research.

The University has attempted on several occasions to establish and develop community partnerships, however true partnerships were slow in evolving. To this extent, the Urban Health Program at the UIC School of Public Health has established a broad-based partnership consisting of major municipal and not-for profit health care agencies, community-based organizations, public school system and other colleges in efforts aimed at increasing the number of Underrepresented Minorities (URMs) in the health professions.

Our experience over the past several years has shown partnerships to be a great asset in linking communities to both internal and external resources. Through linkages, our partners have been able to use university programs as leverage to secure funding from other sources. As a result of such funding, partners support for our programs has grown from $0 to over $250,000. Our partnership has been instrumental in the university receiving major sources of grant funding.

Our success thus far is hinged on effective community/partnership representation and the defined role and expectations of partnership members.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the presentation participants will be able to:
• Define True Partnership.
• Articulate the components of True Partnership.
• Identify agencies/organizations in which partnerships can be developed.
• Recognize the importances of both defining and identifying partner roles and expectations.

Keywords: Partnerships, Community Collaboration

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.