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

Abstract #111781

Keith G. Provan, PhD and Jennel Harvey, MHSA. School of Public Administration and Policy, University of Arizona, McClelland Hall 405, 1130 E Helen Street, Tucson, AZ 85721, 520-626-3290, harvey@eller.arizona.edu

This study provides an empirical examination of collaborative efforts among 15 diverse nonprofit and public entities directed to reducing chronic disease in one community along the US-Mexican border. The study demonstrates how network analysis methods may be used to help communities build capacity. Network analysis methods were used to analyze data on network structure and to help explain how involvement of agencies in the network (embeddedness) related to the attitudes of network members regarding trust, reputation and the perceived benefit of belonging to and participating in the network. Findings revealed that network members' perceptions of network activity were not commensurate with actual activity. Large discrepancies were found when comparing unconfirmed and confirmed reports of relationships among organizations. In addition, organizations with a large number of direct, indirect and multiple ties to other organizations within the network (embeddedness) were seen by other network members as being trustworthy, had strong reputations (as seen by other network members) and had high expectations of the perceived benefit of participation in the network. Network involvement was most strongly related to organizational reputation. Agencies with strong reputations had a large number of direct connections to other network members and were able to act as “intermediaries,” bridging connections for unconnected network members. Broad based coalitions of organizations are better able to address community-level problems such as public health. Understanding how to structure, measure and assess the outcomes of collaborative efforts is essential for community leaders wishing to build community capacity through collaboration.

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