OAHHS Fall/Winter 2018

13 Fall/Winter 2018 continues  with their community partners to develop community service initiatives and how the partnerships are being governed. Nine common principles of successful collaborative partnerships were identified in the study report Learnings on Governance from Partnerships that Improve Community Health: • 1. Partnerships Must be Community-Driven. Collaborative partnerships for community health are comprised of diverse organizations and individuals passionately striving to address problems common to all. Partnerships require flexibility and will vary to meet the needs, resources and characteristics of each community. • 2. All Stakeholders Must be Meaningfully Engaged. Plans cannot be made based on what some “think” the community needs. All community stakeholders must be identified and represented in determining, planning, and executing on governing priorities. This engagement ensures well- informed, data-driven decisions regarding the purpose, vision, strategies and implementation of the partnership’s work, and also ensures interest, investment, and trust in the partnership and its work. • 3. More Can be Achieved Together Than Alone. Stakeholders must be committed to working together in partnership, leveraging each partner’s resources and complementary talents to create a synergy among partners that enables greater accomplishment than can be achieved by working alone. • 4. Partner Equity Ensures Sustainability. Regardless of size, financial or in-kind contribution to the partnership, stakeholders are considered equal. The success of a partnership may be dependent on backbone or anchor institutions assuming the role of conveners, facilitators, or integrators, and relinquishing leadership or control of the agenda. • 5. Community Health and Well- Being Improvement is a Shared Core Purpose. Health care leaders are stewards of the community’s resources, its health and well- being, and of the trust placed in them by the community. As such, leaders must be committed to working together in partnership for the benefit of the community. The shared purpose, vision, and common priorities for the health and well-being of the community are adhered to as the crucial focal point of community partnerships, meeting agendas, discussions, deliberations, and decisions.