Nature of the Problem: Statement of the issue of concern, disparities in outreach services to be addressed, and the significance of the problem.
Stakeholders and Stakeholder Groups: Concerned organizations and groups. Include the dominant values and interests of stakeholders, as well as the common concerns and visions shared among them.
Alternative Solutions: The primary (2–3) interventions surfacing as candidates for change. Include the strengths and weaknesses of the criteria for judging priorities.
Primary Optimal Solution: Essential programmatic and practice elements that could lead to success. Is there a replication of study in other communities?
Reflection: The advantages and disadvantages facing potential initiatives designed to develop, implement, or assess the proposed solution.
Instructions
Develop a case study analysis that addresses issues and problems related to public health multiagency collaborative initiatives. These initiatives should improve outreach efforts addressing health equity and related issues of system efficacy, quality, and effectiveness.
Your case study analysis will be graded on how well you demonstrate the following:
Describe alternative solutions and interventions as candidates for adoption.
Describe performance indicators for judging priorities.
Discuss how a mission or vision statement was (or could have been) used to empower stakeholders.
Describe practices that foster collaboration and decision making between diverse stakeholders.
Describe how specific systems thinking tools can be used to accomplish a public health program's goals and objectives.
Support main points, assertions, arguments, conclusions, or recommendations with relevant and credible evidence.
Sample Answer
Case Study Analysis: Public Health Multiagency Collaboration for Health Equity
Nature of the Problem
The core issue is the persistent health disparity in a specific urban community, particularly concerning access to and utilization of preventive health services for chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension. The problem stems from a fragmented healthcare system where outreach services are often siloed, redundant, and fail to reach the most vulnerable populations. These populations, often low-income and from minority backgrounds, face significant barriers, including language differences, lack of transportation, and distrust of the healthcare system. The failure to provide effective, equitable outreach leads to poorer health outcomes, increased emergency department visits, and a higher burden on the entire healthcare system.
Stakeholders and Stakeholder Groups
A successful multiagency collaboration requires the active participation of various stakeholders, each with distinct interests but shared concerns.
| Stakeholder Group | Dominant Values & Interests | Common Concerns & Visions |
| Local Health Department | Public health and safety, disease prevention, and community wellness. Interested in population-level health metrics and reducing the spread of chronic disease. | Creating a healthier community and reducing health disparities. |
| Community Health Centers | Patient-centered care, access to services for underserved populations. Interested in patient enrollment, service utilization, and clinical outcomes. | Ensuring equitable access to care for all residents. |
| Non-Profit Organizations | Social justice, advocacy, and community empowerment. Interested in addressing social determinants of health and ensuring a strong voice for community members. | Providing holistic support to vulnerable populations. |
| Local Government | Fiscal responsibility, economic stability, and community well-being. Interested in reducing long-term healthcare costs and improving quality of life for residents. | A thriving community with a strong social safety net. |
| Community Members | Affordable, accessible, and culturally competent care. Interested in personal health and the well-being of their families and neighbors. | Having a voice in decisions that affect their health. |
Export to SheetsA shared vision would be a community where every individual, regardless of their background, has the opportunity and access to achieve optimal health. This vision could be used to empower stakeholders by serving as a guiding star, reminding them that despite their different organizational interests, they are all working towards a common, noble goal. It transforms the initiative from a transactional partnership into a shared mission.
Alternative Solutions
Three primary interventions are candidates for improving outreach services:
Centralized Community Health Hub: This solution would establish a physical or virtual hub where multiple agencies co-locate or coordinate services.
Strengths: Creates a "one-stop shop" for clients, streamlines referrals, and reduces client burden.
Weaknesses: High initial cost for infrastructure and potential for turf wars between agencies.
Mobile Outreach Units: Deploying mobile vans equipped with health professionals to bring services directly to high-need neighborhoods.
Strengths: Directly addresses transportation barriers and builds trust by meeting people where they are.
Weaknesses: Logistical challenges (scheduling, staffing, maintenance) and limited capacity to handle complex cases.
Community Health Worker (CHW) Program: Training and employing trusted community members to act as liaisons between the healthcare system and the community.
Strengths: Enhances cultural competence, improves patient engagement and trust, and addresses a range of social determinants of health.
Weaknesses: Requires significant investment in training and supervision, and sustainability can be a challenge.