Partnerships for Health Promotion PDF

PARTNERSHIPS FOR HEALTH PROMOTION Ajau Danis, PhD On completion of these topic you will be able to: Describe the process of developing partnerships. Identify key stakeholders in heath promotion. LEARNING Describe OBJECTIVES characteristics of an ideal team. ...

PARTNERSHIPS FOR HEALTH PROMOTION Ajau Danis, PhD On completion of these topic you will be able to: Describe the process of developing partnerships. Identify key stakeholders in heath promotion. LEARNING Describe OBJECTIVES characteristics of an ideal team.  Health promotion is directed towards action on the determinants or causes of health. This requires close cooperation between sectors beyond health care reflecting the diversity of conditions that influence health. PRINCIPLES OF HEALTH PROMOTION  Joint action between partners. Sharing of power. Intersectoral. Multi-agency. Service Inter – or agreements and contracts between partners. multidisciplinary working. PARTNERSHIP FOR HEALTH Joint planning. Teams.  Common purpose.  Sharing of expertise and experiences.  Support.  Commitment to accomplish tasks.  Goal oriented. CHARACTERISTICS OF AN IDEAL TEAM  Health Health Governments promotion unit authorities and departments and national health trusts lead agencies Professions Primary health Local allied to care team authorities medicine Community groups and Mass media major employees KEY STAKEHOLDERS IN PROMOTING HEALTH The following steps are important to partnership-building efforts. 1. Do your homework.  Have an idea of what you are looking for from your partners.  Form your community plan.  Assess readiness. PROCESS OF PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT 2. Look for the right organization.  Typically, this is an organization that values partnership behaviors, such as sharing of information.  This organization also places high value on the success of the community.  Successful partnerships are based on trust and shared interest. PROCESS OF PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT 3. Find the right person.  The most effective person is someone who is community-based and enthusiastic about the research project.  This person should be an advocate for your project. PROCESS OF PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT 4. Be open to other ideas.  Having formed the plan, be prepared for potential partners to bring other ideas to the process. PROCESS OF PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT 5. Make clear agreements, preferably in writing.  If all partners have formally agreed on their expectations for partnerships, there will be less possibility for disagreements later on. PROCESS OF PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT  Partnerships pool resources, share risks, and increase efficiency.  In partnerships the expertise of different individuals, professions and groups can be pooled allowing a more complete understanding of issues, needs, and resources, improving the capacity to plan and evaluate, and allowing for the development of more comprehensive strategies.  Partnerships eliminate duplication.  Allow maximum use of resources. ADVANTAGES OF COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS  They provide access to and permit the development of more talents, resources, and approaches.  Partnerships bring together larger and more diverse constituencies than single organizations.  By including diverse perspectives partnerships can develop a more comprehensive vision, increase accountability and achieve a wider base of support for efforts.  Partnerships integrate and coordinate services. ADVANTAGES OF COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS  By coordinating service providers, partnerships can develop comprehensive plans, eliminate duplication, allow members to specialize in their functions, link and integrate partners’ activities.  These benefits improve efficiency, making better use of more limited resources.  Partnerships build communities. ADVANTAGES OF COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS  Difficulties Associated With Community Partnerships In the early stages of partnership Energy is also Partnerships take considerable needed to a long time to energy is needed maintain establish. to build the partnership. partnership itself. It is quite challenging and Skilled staffing and takes time to establish true support are needed to community consensus on manage a successful community partnership. issues/problems.  Meetings should be orderly and clearly directed, with agendas minutes, etc.  Decisions should be made in a participatory manner.  Member-led decision-making reduces obstacles and facilitates agreement in some partnerships. SUSTAINING SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP: GOVERNANCE PROCESSES  Since partnerships involve members from different disciplines, races, genders, and cultures, the greatest challenge is to create equality and satisfactory working relationships.  Partners need to develop mutual respect, understanding, and trust in order for the association to develop.  Allowing time at the start of partnerships for members to learn about each other is crucial. SUSTAINING SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP: GOVERNANCE PROCESSES  Cultivating patience and a willingness to learn and compromise are also important.  Creating relationships of equality between community members and professionals is a major challenge.  For partnerships to succeed professionals should identify with the ordinary community member. SUSTAINING SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP: GOVERNANCE PROCESSES  Conclusion “TWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE.”