Partnership and participation in a community health improvement initiative

ABSTRACT

This paper examines partnerships and participation in a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) in a Mid-Western Region of the United States. Process and survey results reveal significant conformity with locality development and social planning models of community organizing. Partner synergy, and cultural and structural relationships were strong, but democratic participation was limited to the partnership steering committee and excludes the larger community, particularly marginalized populations. There was also very little evidence of social action. These gaps underscore limitations in the CHIP planning and implementation processes, and point to opportunities for growth in future planning and implementation efforts in the region.

KEYWORDS:

• Community organizing
• horizontal participatory planning and implementation
• participation
• partnerships
• Community Health Improvement Plans