title: A 4-year sequential assessment of the Families First Edmonton partnership: challenges to synergy in the implementation stage.
abstract: This article assesses the partnership functioning of Families First Edmonton, a multisectored collaborative effort formed to determine the best health and recreation service delivery model for families with low income. Partners' evaluations of the collaborative process are examined across the formation, implementation, and maintenance stages of development. Statistical analyses of questionnaire data reveal a significant decrease in the partnership's capacity to maximize synergy-a main indicator of a successful collaborative process-in the implementation stage of the partnership. Implications for partnership practice are addressed.
authors.affiliation: Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. egray@lakeheadu.ca
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mayan
authors.forename: Sanchia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Gian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jhangri
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D011203:Poverty; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States