Improving cross-sector collaborations in place-based population health projects

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Rural Health

Background:

• Effective population health collaborations are crucial for rural areas.
• The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) plays a key role in administering these projects.
• Existing frameworks may not adequately address the complexities of rural, place-based initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a practice-oriented partnership framework for rural population health collaborations.
• To gather stakeholder insights on the DFFH's role and policies in population health project administration.
• To enhance the effectiveness of place-based population health initiatives.

Main Methods:

• A rapid evidence review identified best practices for stakeholder collaboration.
• Semi-structured interviews with stakeholders were conducted to refine and validate the framework.
• DFFH policy documents were incorporated to inform framework development.

Main Results:

• A practical framework with actionable steps for population health projects was developed.
• Stakeholder interviews provided ground-level insights into DFFH's role and policies.
• The framework was refined based on practitioner feedback, enhancing its local relevance.

Conclusions:

• The developed framework offers a guide for navigating complex rural population health projects.
• Insights gained can inform DFFH's policies and approach to cross-sector collaborations.
• Stakeholder engagement fostered understanding and support for future project implementations.