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

Abstract #70186

Julie Williamson, MPH, Partnership for the Public's Health, Public Health Institute, 505 14th St. #810, Oakland, CA 94612, 510-302-3330, jwilliamson@partnershipph.org

Central to the success or failure of any partnership between community groups and local health departments are the dynamics of power. Both community groups and health departments have inherent power that they bring to the table when planning for health or implementing community-based health programs. However their power is not equal. This presentation will explore some of the models of health department-community partnerships that highlight how power is shared, or not, in planning and implementing community health programs and developing local policy. Adapting Himmelman’s levels of collaborative relationships, this paper presents a “spectrum of power sharing.” Drawing on the experiences of partnerships participating in the Partnership for the Public’s Health (PPH), common barriers to sharing power will be explored, including trust, history, cultural differences and skills. Finally, strategies and recommendations for addressing these barriers as demonstrated by PPH partnerships will be discussed.

The Partnership for the Public’s Health is a six-year, California-based initiative designed to address the broad determinants of health by fostering partnerships between local health departments and community groups. There are currently 37 local partnerships in their third year of collaborative program planning, implementation, and policy development. PPH offers a unique opportunity to explore power dynamics and how they can be changed to support community health improvement goals.

Learning Objectives:

• By the end of this session, participants will
• 1)have a framework for understanding power dynamics common to partnership between local health departments and community groups;
• 2)be able to describe at least three barriers and opportunities for changing power dynamics available to local health departments; and
• 3)be able to describe at least three barriers and opportunities for changing power dynamics available to community groups.

Keywords: Community Collaboration, Partnerships

Related Web page: www.PartnershipPH.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Public Health Institute, The California Endowment
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employee of Public Health Institute, working under grant from The California Endowment