Achieving collective impact through multi-sector leadership development for the public's health

Background Today's context for public health leadership is complex, rapidly evolving, and calls for new approaches to the development of leaders for today and the future. “We need to train our leaders to be more collaborative, to be more inclusive, and to have greater integrity. It's a whole different set of practices .” The Center for Health Leadership and Practice (CHLP) has an innovative approach to leadership development that brings together teams of leaders from multiple sectors that want to advance their leadership skills and achieve health equity in their community.

Model CHLP trains interdisciplinary, multi-sectoral teams in an applied, team-based, and collaborative leadership development model. Using experiential learning, an applied health leadership project is the primary vehicle for leadership learning. The core curriculum is based on five competencies: Leadership Mastery; Ability to work effectively across sectors; Application of continuous quality improvement principles; Appropriate use of data for planning, assessment, monitoring and evaluation; and Commitment to a population health perspective. The work throughout the year is divided into four phases that each includes leadership themes: 1) inspiration; 2) ideation; 3) implementation and growing; and 4) sustaining and transition . A team coach focuses on deepening core concepts.

Lessons Learned • Rigorous CQI processes inform cutting edge program development • Developing capacities of interdisciplinary, multi-sector teams of leaders to work and lead across sectors improves their ability to successfully navigate today's complex environment for achieving collective impact.