In 1999 the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funded the Maine Turning Point Project (MTPP) as one of seven grantees in the second cohort of public health planning projects in the United States. Unlike the 14 previous grantees, there was one grant to one statewide entity rather than separate grants for statewide and local organizations. However, there was continued emphasis on community participation. In addition to the value of community input in the planning process, community support would be essential to future implementation of plans developed through the MTPP process. In recognition of the essential role communities would and do play in public policy development, MTPP undertook a broad effort to assure significant and meaningful public participation. These efforts build upon a strong tradition of active, local, service-providing organizations. These institutions are the “local public health system” in the absence of county or local health departments.
This presentation will describe the challenges facing MTPP and strategies used by the project to see them addressed. The presentation will also examine the complex public health constituency-building process underway to generate the support necessary for making improvements in the public health system. A rural state with significant health status discrepancies, this model for building public support for public health promotion and disease prevention activities may be useful in many other organizations and rural locations.
Learning Objectives: At the end of this presentation the participants will 1. Recognize the unique elements of Maine's public health system; 2. Describe key strategies for including community organizations in a statewide planning process; and 3. Discuss how these strategies may be utilized in their home region
Keywords: Community Health Planning, Challenges and Opportunities
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: National Turning Point Program website
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.