Hospital-community partnership to implement community-based health improvement

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Community Medicine

Background:

• Not-for-profit healthcare systems are mandated to address community health needs via Community Health Improvement Planning.
• Collaborative partnerships between hospitals, public health departments, and community organizations are crucial for identifying health priorities.
• Addressing disparities in maternal and child health outcomes, including mental health, is a significant community concern.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a mini-grant process designed to fund community-based organizations.
• To assess the effectiveness of evidence-informed interventions in addressing identified community health needs.
• To strengthen partnerships between healthcare systems and community organizations to improve health outcomes for high-risk populations.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a mini-grant process to fund community-based organizations proposing evidence-informed projects.
• Focus on high-risk areas to address disparities in maternal and child health outcomes and mental health.
• Data collection on project outcomes, including contraception education, mental health first aid training, and behavioral health screenings.

Main Results:

• Increased access to contraception education for adolescents.
• Training of 45 new Mental Health First Aid providers for children and families.
• Screening of 176 refugee children for behavioral health concerns, identifying needs and facilitating access to care.

Conclusions:

• Supporting community-based agencies through mini-grants is an effective strategy for implementing evidence-informed interventions.
• This approach builds trust and strengthens partnerships between hospitals and their patient communities.
• Targeted interventions can lead to improved health outcomes, particularly for vulnerable and high-risk populations.