Building and enhancing academic-community partnerships through assessment, planning, and evaluation

Background: Inclusive and collaborative academic-community partnerships are essential to improving and enhancing the capacity of the public health workforce. Academic public health programs are charged with preparing and supporting the public health workforce through a comprehensive, ecological approach to education, research, and service. Purpose: A graduate program in public health, located in a private academic institution in the Midwest, engaged in a two-phase sequential, qualitative strategic planning process in order to build and enhance academic-community partnerships. Methods: Over the course of six months, key informant interviews and focus groups of like constituencies were conducted to assess current goals, future actions, prioritization of identified themes and related action steps. Subsequently, a committee of representatives from all constituent groups focused on strategic planning and evaluation of identified goals and objectives related to education, research, and service, utilizing a modified nominal group technique. Results: Clearly identified themes included increased resources, classroom and community-based service learning opportunities, improved collaborations and partnerships amongst all stakeholders, as well as an increased focus on dissemination of research and practice. Less clarity surrounded distance learning, certificate programs, and use of communication technology. Identified themes were the basis for action leading to the development of a five year strategic action plan based on the goals, objectives, and competencies related to education, research, and service. Conclusion: Through a strategic approach to assessment, planning and evaluation, academic-community partnerships can be enhanced, inclusive of diverse constituencies engaged in a comprehensive and collaborative approach to capacity building of the local public health workforce.