A National Examination of Partnerships Among Local Health Departments and Faith Communities in the United States

Abstract

Local health departments (LHDs) can play a major role in partnering with faith-based organizations to enhance the overall health status of the public. This study examines the frequency that LHDs and faith-based partnerships occur, types of activities performed as reported by LHDs, and population and functional characteristics associated with these partnerships. Secondary data analysis of the 2005 National Profile of LHDs study (Profile), developed by the National Association of County & City Health Officials, was conducted on a stratified random sample of 517 LHDs receiving the core questionnaire and a module with questions about partnership and collaboration. Results indicated that 361 LHDs (83.1%) reported partnership activities occurring with faith-based organizations. At least one partnership activity was performed, with the overall most commonly reported activity as exchanging information (66.6%) across small, medium, and large LHDs. Size of jurisdiction, was positively associated with any partnership activity, higher median number of partnership activities, and higher percentage of high-level partnerships (ie providing financial resources or taking the leadership role). Further studies should consider types of programs and services produced by LHDs and faith-based partnerships, additional factors that impact partnership activities, and differences in partnership activities existing by racial and ethnic characteristics of LHD jurisdictions.

Building a National Model of Public Mental Health Preparedness and Community Resilience: Validation of a Dual-Intervention, Systems-Based Approach

“…Our research supports the assertions of others who have emphasized the potential value of LHD-FBO partnerships 47,48 and of local public health system partnerships, in general, to promote community health. 49 Using the program logic model as a strategic roadmap, and applying the portability materials to support operational execution, a robust potential would appear to exist for replication of the model elsewhere.…”

The Influence of Religiosity and Spirituality on Rural Parents' Health Decision Making and Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Choices

“…As was found in prior research conducted with rural communities 29,32,37,38 , pastors and similar church leaders, by virtue of their position, were respected authority figures in the community. Thus, pastors’ involvement and education on the topic would increase congregants’ trust in HPV vaccine uptake information being disseminated by educators and their desire to get more information to make informed decisions.…”

Religious Congregations’ Collaborations

“…This suggests that there may be greater barriers to overcome between congregations and such entities as compared to non-governmental health care providers and prevention and social service organizations. In a national study, 83 percent of local health departments reported partnership activities with FBOs, but the most common interaction was “exchanging information,” (Barnes & Curtis, 2009). While important, this is perhaps less valuable than an exchange of material or human capital-based resources like what our case study congregations reported.…”