New+insights+about+partnerships

Sherril Gelmon, Professor of Public Health, Portland State University [ gelmons@pdx.edu ] Linda Norman, Senior Associate Dean , Vanderbilt University School of Nursing [ linda.norman@vanderbilt.edu ] Katharine Ryan, PIN Graduate Research Assistant , Portland State University [ kath.u.ryan@gmail.com ] Judith Woodruff, Director, PIN National Program Office , Northwest Health Foundation [ judith@nwhf.org ]
 * New insights about partnerships:**  **Research on community-based collaborations with philanthropy**



** Keywords ** : Multi-sector partnerships, evaluation, philanthropy, nursing

** Track ** : Community partnerships and reciprocity

** Format ** : Research paper


 * Date & time: ** Friday 9:30-10:40
 * Location: **Salon 12

** Summary ** : This session summarizes new insights about studying partnerships based upon a national demonstration program, “Partners Investing in Nursing’s Future.” Fifty local partnerships involving over 200 funders and more than 450 community partners were created to develop local solutions to a common problem: the nursing workforce shortage. This paper focuses on the 21 partnerships that completed their funding support within the grant program during 2009-2010. Each site created a partnership team of philanthropies, nurses, health care providers, workforce leaders, government representatives, and other key stakeholders.

The research reported here draws primarily upon surveys, interviews and final reports, and is enhanced by periodic grant reports and local data collection. Combinations of qualitative and quantitative analysis methods were used, identifying themes as well as unique findings.

This research offers new insights about partnerships. Local partnerships have experienced many of the issues reported in the literature; successful partnerships have emulated the CCPH Principles of Partnerships. Every site demonstrated improvements in areas such as nurse recruitment, retention, and preparation of nurses and nurse faculty. Teams drew upon the partnership network to mobilize the necessary resources for their partnership success. In every community, the partnership clearly served as a catalyst for change and facilitated more successes than could have been achieved alone.

Important lessons for future community engagement research emerged. Creating a powerful guiding coalition for partnerships was essential for effecting organizational and cultural change. Engagement of passionate leaders with a visible commitment was key to the success of local partnership teams. Local/regional foundations tested innovative ideas locally, shared them nationally, and engaged with other philanthropies and stakeholders in collaborative work. Partnerships required considerable support and nurturing in order to be effective. Community-responsive strategies were essential for success, and may be more effective than nationally-imposed activities.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">** References ** : <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Bergstrom, A., et al. (1996). //Collaboration Framework: Addressing Community Capacity//. Fargo, ND: The National Network for Collaboration.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Brinkerhoff, J. (2002). Assessing and improving partnership relationships and outcomes: A proposed framework. //Evaluation and Program Planning, 25,// 215-231.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Chrislip, D.D. and Larson, C.E. (1994). //Collaborative Leadership: How Citizens and Civic Leaders Can Make a Difference//. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Inc., Publishers.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Community-Campus Partnerships for Health. //Principles of Partnerships//. Available at www.ccph.info.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">El Ansari, W. (1999). //A study of the characteristics, participant perceptions and predictors of effectiveness in community partnerships in health personnel education: The case of South Africa//. (Unpublished Doctoral thesis.) University of Wales College Newport, United Kingdom.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Lasker, R.D., Weiss, E.S., and Miller, R. (2001). Partnership synergy: A practical framework for studying and strengthening the collaborative advantage. //The Milbank Quarterly, 79//(2), 179-205.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Mattessich, P.W., Murray-Close, M. and Monsey, B.R. (2007). //Collaboration: What Makes It Work. 2nd ed//. Saint Paul, MN: Amherst H. Wilder Foundation.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Norman, L. and Gelmon, S.B. (2007). //Evaluation Framework for PIN Evaluation//. Portland, OR: Partners Investing in Nursing's Future.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Partners Investing in Nursing's Future, http://www.partnersinnursing.org.

**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Please click here to access a PDF of this page: ** **[|Gelmon_New Insights about Partnerships- Research on Community-based Collaborations with Philanthropy.pdf]**

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