Broadening participation in community problem solving: a multidisciplinary model to support collaborative practice...

Area of Science:

• Community Health
• Public Health Policy
• Social Sciences

Background:

• Extensive community collaboration efforts over 40 years have faced challenges in achieving objectives.
• Fragmentation exists between practitioners and researchers from various disciplines in community problem-solving.
• Funders seek improved returns on investments in community partnership initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a multidisciplinary model for effective community problem-solving and health improvement.
• To overcome fragmentation by integrating diverse practical and academic experiences.
• To guide research, practice, and policy in community collaboration.

Main Methods:

• Development of a multidisciplinary model based on practical experience and scholarly work.
• The model is an outgrowth of a joint-learning work group supporting nine communities in the Turning Point initiative.
• Detailed explication of the model and its implications.

Main Results:

• The model outlines pathways from broadly participatory processes to effective community problem-solving.
• It demonstrates how these processes lead to improvements in community health.
• Identifies how the model can address fundamental effectiveness and 'how-to' questions in community collaboration.

Conclusions:

• The proposed model offers a framework for enhancing community collaboration and public health outcomes.
• It provides strategies for strengthening community efforts for both participants and funders.
• Encourages integration of research, practice, and policy for more effective community-based initiatives.