Qualitative assessment of interorganisational partnership at a perinatal and family substance abuse centre: stakeholders’ perceptions of quality and development of their collaboration

ABSTRACT

Partnerships are required in health and social care services to meet the increasingly complex needs of vulnerable populations. It is essential to assess these partnerships to ensure partners are supported as they strive to improve their practices. This qualitative study assessed the quality and development of the partnership of an integrated service centre for pregnant women and substance-abusing parents and their young children aged 5 and under. The data were gathered over a period of three years, by means of group and individual interviews. Twenty respondents (practitioners and managers) shared their perceptions of the interagency collaboration at the beginning, the midpoint and the end of the project funding period. Their responses were examined by means of thematic analysis. Conditions facilitating or hindering implementation of the partnership included (a) partners’ participation and engagement; (b) nature of the project and its functioning (aspects of governance); (c) partners’ joint work with families; and (d) social and political issues. The study highlights critical elements to consider for the development and success of a partnership project. Participants reported a number of barriers to effective collaboration; the main ones, the importance of thorough planning of project implementation, as well as the challenges relating to communication and shared leadership, are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Assessment
• partnership
• integrated services
• substance abuse
• qualitative research

Notes

1.. Organizations are referred to in this study by the names they went under at the time of the initial data collection, prior to the reform of the Quebec health and social services system that led to the establishment of the CIUSSS-CISSSs under Bill 10.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by the University of Montreal Health Centre (CHUM) and the Lucie and André Chagnon Foundation. L’Institut universitaire Jeunes en difficulté (Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, Quebec, Canada) provided funding for the english translation of this article. The views expressed are those of the authors and the authors alone.

Notes on contributors

Marc-Olivier Croteau

Marc-Olivier Croteau has completed this article as part of his master’s thesis in psychoeducation. He then completed a master’s degree in Library and Information Studies (University of Montreal). He currently works as a liaison librarian for Psychology and Communication studies at University of Montreal Libraries.

Sarah Dufour

Sarah Dufour, PhD, is a full professor in the School of Psychoeducation at the Université de Montréal and researcher at the Institut universitaire Jeunes en difficulté [troubled youth university research institute] (South-Central Montreal CIUSSS). Her research interests focus on the assessment of interventions intended to promote children’s welfare and prevent or reduce their psychological and social difficulties. She also studies family violence and the degree to which cultural dimensions are taken into account when working with people from cultural communities.