Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #102512

Marion Standish, JD, The California Endowment, 101 2nd Street, San Francisco, CA 94105, 415-343-0222, MSTANDISH@Calendow.org

The California Endowment's mission calls for the achievement of improved access to health care and fundamental improvements in health status for Californians. The economic and political realities of the state and country require funders and public health professionals to focus on thoughtful and effective partnerships. Regional approaches to public health leverage best practices, maximize limited resources, and create more sustainable change. Regional approaches provide tremendous leverage by lifting up best practices that are taking place across the region and bringing together the local public health professionals in the field to learn from each other.

The California Endowment has funded regional programs that use a very creative approach to serious public health problems. Regional groups have brought together public health departments with managed care, schools, environmental groups, community organizations, and health care providers, to collectively address complex public health issues. Progress can be accelerated by working regionally. Regional efforts increase the capacity of local programs to address policy and systems change. Some of the regional programs have created a sophisticated network of advocates and found ways to lift up innovative ideas and best practices, all steps geared to improving the work of local programs across the region and to shaping state level policies.

This presentation will focus on the advantages of such an approach from the perspective of a funder. However, lessons learned could also benefit program planners striving to create an effective public health approach that optimizes the use of resources.

Learning Objectives:

• •Articulate the advantages of a regional approach.
• •Describe some reasons for funders to support regional approaches.
• •Understand how regional approaches both create and disseminate best practices.

Related Web page: www.calendow.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.