title: Local health department factors associated with performance in the successful implementation of community-based strategies: a mixed-methods approach.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined which local health department (LHD)-level factors contributed to successful implementation of policy, systems, and environmental change strategies in Minnesota.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a retrospective mixed-methods design to evaluate the relationship between the Statewide Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) grant initiative and key predictor variables (2009-2011). We obtained quantitative capacity data for 91 cities and counties in Minnesota; in addition, we conducted 15 key informant interviews to examine factors that facilitated and acted as barriers to LHD performance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Grantee performance was distributed as follows: exceeds expectations (29.7%), meets expectations (55.0%), and is approaching expectations (15.3%). Organizational quality improvement (QI) maturity was strongly positively associated with grantee performance on SHIP. Organizations with high QI maturity, effective leadership, efficient decision-making, and successful regional or cross-jurisdictional partnerships were more likely to be rated as exceeding expectations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study successfully translated practice-based research findings into tangible outcomes, including new system-level performance measures for local public health and recommendations for shaping the statewide initiative examined in this study. The approach taken in this study to systematically monitor communications, dissemination, and translation may be a model for others.
authors.affiliation: Elizabeth Gyllstrom and Kimberly Gearin are with the Office of Performance Improvement, Minnesota Department of Health, St. Paul. Renee Frauendienst is with Stearns County Human Services, St. Cloud, MN. Julie Myhre is with the Carlton-Cook-Lake-St. Louis Community Health Board, Duluth, MN. Michelle Larson is with the Office of State Health Improvement Initiatives, Minnesota Department of Health. William Riley is with the School for the Science of Health Care Delivery, College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Tempe.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gyllstrom
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gearin
authors.forename: Renee
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Frauendienst
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Myhre
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Riley
mesh_terms: D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D007857:Leadership; D009111:Local Government; D008910:Minnesota; D015279:Organizational Culture; D057766:Policy; D011361:Professional Competence; D011635:Public Health Administration / Q000592:standards*; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D012189:Retrospective Studies