Engage Diverse Partners for Collaboration

minority descent, and parent associations add significant value and key community perspectives.

These relationships provide opportunities to center community members’ experiences and build the community’s capacity; interventions would be more relevant and responsive to community needs, and the community will be able to effectively integrate structural changes that lead to sustained efforts over time. Partnering with local community organizations and leaders creates the space for community members to make decisions and participate in IVP interventions that directly affect where they live, work, and play. This empowers the community while challenging power structure imbalances by building trust between practitioners and community members. The partnership can widen training and technical assistance opportunities and enhance overall community economic health through employment opportunities such as internships, fellowships, and permanent job placements, and allow community members to be established as focus group participants.

It is important to note that cultivating partnerships and relationships is a long-term strategy, requiring years of patient investment, despite scarce time and resources. Much of the work of cultivating partnerships is a matter of being at the table often and long enough to make IVP issues and programs more visible. It is also important to collaborate with organizations and leaders that have a good reputation in the community and are seen as leaders.

Ongoing partnership activities include sharing data, involving partners in program planning, resource sharing, collaborating on policy, and exchanging training and technical assistance. Often, partnerships yield general support for shared initiatives, but they become increasingly meaningful when resources — data, funding, training, and staff — are shared or exchanged.

Health Equity Strategies to Build and Sustain Community Partnerships

Establish mutually beneficial relationships with community gatekeepers (e.g. faith-based leaders, parents, local business owners, etc.).

Seek community participation and opinions in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of interventions.

Be transparent with community partners about intentions and needs.

Consider creating a community advisory board or community coalition board. Allocate resources to build community capacity through training, leadership development, and resource identification.

Identify and collaborate with grassroot organizations.

Communicate regularly with partners. Consider newsletters, quarterly meetings or calls to share updates and explore opportunities for collaboration.

Follow up when receiving suggestions and feedback.

Share power and decision-making. Allow partners to lead or co-lead meetings, calls, etc.