title: Challenges of capacity building in multisector community health alliances.
abstract: Capacity building is often described as fundamental to the success of health alliances, yet there are few evaluations that provide alliances with clear guidance on the challenges related to capacity building. This article attempts to identify potential challenges of capacity building in multistakeholder health alliances. The study uses a multiple case study design to identify potential challenges and trade-offs associated with capacity building in four community health alliances in the United States. Multiple challenges were found to be common across the four alliances, including specifying appropriate governance structures and decision-making frameworks, aligning stakeholder interests with the vision of the alliance, balancing short-term objectives with long-term goals, and securing resources to sustain the effort without compromising it. These challenges often involved trade-offs and choices that alliances need to prepare for if they are to approach capacity building in a planful rather than a reactive manner.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, USA. jalexand@umich.edu
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: Jon B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Christianson
authors.forename: Larry R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Hearld
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hurley
authors.forename: Dennis P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Scanlon
mesh_terms: D057191:Capacity Building / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007857:Leadership; D024382:Professional Role; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States