228105 Collaborative leadership tools: Developing cross-sector networks to improve community health outcomes

Monday, November 8, 2010

Roderick K. King, MD, MPH , Results Based Leadership Collaboration at the School of Public Policy, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD
Victoria Goddard-Truitt, RN, MSN, PhD , Results Based Leadership Collaboration at the School of Public Policy, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD
This presentation introduces collaborative leadership tools that help leaders make and keep commitments that are highly aligned—a process that results in improved outcomes for populations. Many public health and healthcare professionals are seeking to improve healthcare quality and equality. Recognizing that the solutions are beyond the scope of any sector, they are engaging in cross-sector collaboration. However, collaborative efforts often fail due to lack of alignment within a collaboration. A number of cross-sector networks across the country are currently using these collaborative leadership tools to measurably improve health outcomes. For example, in networks where these tools are used consistently, approximately sixty percent of the leaders who make commitments to take aligned action in service of healthcare improvement results keep them. This approach builds on a theory of change to offer evidence based collaborative leadership tools. The use of these tools in cross-sector networks enable public health and healthcare leaders to: (a) hold efficient collaborations and meetings, (b) make decisions that stick, and (c) take aligned actions to implement low- and no-cost network solutions. This paper shares the background and importance of the approach, outlines the Theory of Aligned Contributions, describes where and how the tools are being used, presents findings on the impact of using the tools, and offers criteria for where and how to use the tools. The presentation will also include brief hands-on/experiential learning to apply the framework and tools to the participants' collaborative opportunity.

Learning Areas:
Administration, management, leadership
Program planning
Public health administration or related administration
Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health

Learning Objectives:
Participants will Describe why collaborative efforts are challenging but essential for building healthy communities; Use the three elements of the Theory of Aligned Contributions to assess a current or potential opportunity for collaborative leadership as part of a cross-sector network; Identify how they might use one of four collaborative leadership tools; and Commit to using one tool in developing a current or potential network.

Keywords: Leadership, Collaboration

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because of my experience in the healthcare and leadership fields. I have held substantive roles in the Massachusetts General Hospital Disparities Solutions Center, the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School, the Next Generation Consulting Group, the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Leadership in Action Program, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Aligning Forces for Quality program.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.