title: Local health department partnerships with faith-based organizations.
abstract: Collaboration between public health and faith communities is encouraged by national and state policies. The study in this article examined the prevalence, characteristics, and effectiveness of partnerships between faith-based organizations and local health departments in Wisconsin. Data were collected from local health departments using a 2-stage, cross-sectional survey. A subset analysis of partnerships that included faith-based organizations was conducted using descriptive, bivariate, and 2-level logit regression methods, with partnerships nested in health departments. Twenty-four percent of local health department partnerships included faith-based organizations (n = 224). Community assessment was the most commonly reported partnership focus. Partnerships that included faith-based organizations were more likely to include many partners and have few partners contributing financially. Partnerships that include faith-based organizations are no more likely to be effective than those that do not. Predictors of local health department/faith-based organizations effectiveness included having a budget and longer time in existence. Local health departments engage faith-based organizations in partnership strategies when addressing issues that require broad community attention. Partnership effectiveness is enhanced by existence of a budget and sufficient time for development.
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Nursing, 53792-2455, USA. sjzahner@wisc.edu
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Zahner
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Corrado
mesh_terms: D018672:Community Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D011635:Public Health Administration; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D014481:United States; D014505:Urban Population; D014922:Wisconsin