A mixed-method exploration of functioning in Safe Schools/Healthy Students partnerships.
This paper presents a mixed-method approach to measuring the functioning of Safe Schools/Healthy Students (SS/HS) Initiative partnerships. The SS/HS national evaluation team developed a survey to collect partners' perceptions of functioning within SS/HS partnerships. Average partnership functioning scores were used to rank each site from lowest to highest. Sites with the most favorable perceptions of partnership functioning were defined as having average scores in the top 10% (n=10) and sites with the least favorable perceptions of partnership functioning were defined as having average scores in the bottom 10% (n=10). Qualitative data for these 20 sites were inductively open coded for emergent themes and analyzed for patterns using grounded theory approach. Six themes emerged that distinguished sites reporting the most favorable and least favorable perceptions of partnership functioning: partner engagement, facilitators, barriers, shared decision making, partnership structure, and sustainability. Sites reporting the most favorable perceptions of partnership functioning effectively utilized collaboration processes that facilitate coalition building, such as shared decision making, effective communication, and developing a clearly defined structure. Qualitative themes from this analysis provide evidence of validity for the partnership functioning scale used and illustrate distinguishing features between sites with the most favorable and least favorable perceptions of partnership functioning.
RMC Research Corporation, 111 SW Columbia Street, Suite 1200, Portland, OR 97201, USA. MerrillM@rmccorp.com
Marina L
ML
Merrill
Nicole L
NL
Taylor
Alison J
AJ
Martin
Lauren A
LA
Maxim
Ryan
R
D'Ambrosio
Roy M
RM
Gabriel
Staci J
SJ
Wendt
Danyelle
D
Mannix
Michael E
ME
Wells
D003159:Community-Institutional Relations / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D003657:Decision Making; D005380:Financing, Government; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000517:prevention & control; D035846:Law Enforcement; D008605:Mental Health Services; D055818:Public-Private Sector Partnerships / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D036301:Qualitative Research; D017751:Safety Management / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D012572:School Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D012574:Schools / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D014481:United States