Facilitators of well-functioning consortia: national Healthy Start program lessons.
Social workers often are central to the work of community-based consortia to improve service delivery and enhance community participation in health initiatives. This article presents qualitative findings from a multisite case study of consortia in the federal Healthy Start Initiative to reduce infant mortality in high-risk communities. The authors examine the facilitators of well-functioning consortia in a framework of empowerment theory and community organizing with women of color. These facilitators include flexibility in the design of locally appropriate consortia structures; broad institutional support; diverse incentives for participation; adequate resources on multiple levels; and identification with the program and its mission. Implications for social work practice and for policy are provided.
Thompson
Mildred
M
PolicyLink, 101 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94607, USA. Mildred@policylink.org
Minkler
Meredith
M
Bell
Judith
J
Rose
Kalima
K
Butler
Lisa
L
D018672:Community Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003256:Community Participation; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D040361:Healthy People Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000208:ethnology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011247:Pregnancy; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012423:Rural Health; D012947:Social Work / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States; D014504:Urban Health