Power-building Partnerships for Health cultivates powerful collaborations between local health departments and community power-building organizations to advance health equity.

Social movements and public health belong together! Power-building Partnerships for Health (PPH) provides support and resources to build community power and take strategic actions. PPH cohorts are made up of partnership pairs of local health departments and community power-building organizations (CPBOs), also known as grassroots organizing groups, movement-building organizations, community organizing or base-building groups.

The goals of PPH are to: 

  • Deepen relationships, trust and support structures for strong collaborations between community power-building organizations and health departments
  • Develop a shared understanding of health equity, community power-building, and inside/outside strategies
  • Support health departments to leverage their power and take action to contribute to community power-building priorities
  • Support community power-building organizations to use their power to advance stronger public health policies and practices
  • Enhance our collective ability to advance inside/outside strategies for health equity and racial justice

2024 PPH Cohort

With funding from the Kresge Foundation, HIP is building from the success of prior cohorts to offer this new opportunity for existing partnerships to deepen relationships, trust and support structures for strong collaborations. We’re so excited to announce the four partnerships that will be part of this year’s cohort:

Chicago, IL: Health Equity: Closing Chicago’s Life Expectancy Gap 

Northwest Center and the Chicago Department of Public Health

The Northwest Center (NWC) is dedicated to identifying and addressing the unique needs of the community, employing strategic resource allocation to enhance economic well-being and elevate the overall quality of life in Chicago’s northwest neighborhoods. The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) is committed to fostering equitable, safe, and resilient communities that contribute to a Healthy Chicago. CDPH and NWC are deepening their partnership through the Health Chicago Equity Zones (HCEZ) initiative. This program employs hyper-local strategies designed to positively impact social and environmental determinants that perpetuate health and racial inequities. With a shared vision of fostering a healthier, more just Chicago, the partnership aims to address systemic issues contributing to the racial life expectancy gap in the city. By leveraging their combined expertise and resources, CDPH and NWC are actively working towards creating lasting positive impacts and fostering a future where every Chicagoan can enjoy a life of well-being and longevity.

Ingham County, MI: Community safety and Climate justice

One Love Global and the Ingham County Health Department

One Love Global and the Ingham County Health Department seek to deepen their partnership and uncover new ways to collaborate and leverage their resources to advance environmental justice, namely community safety and climate justice, in Ingham County. OLG and ICHD hope to craft short- and long-term strategic action plans, informed by and reflective of community, to advance a local BREATHE Act, to partner in analysis and communication of meaningful data (including the Racial Equity Scorecard), and to ultimately center work on community with coalitions such as the Lansing People’s Assembly and the National Health in Equity Coalition. Ingham County has passed resolutions declaring “Racism As A Public Health Crisis” and “A Climate Emergency,” but the resolutions do not detail accountable strategic actions. This partnership will help ICHD operationalize its role in these County declarations in addition to building relationship in community. ICHD would lend staffing support and resources to OLG as needed in addition to leveraging of local government power and policy.

Monterey County, CA: Racial Justice

Action Council (Building Healthy Communities) and County of Monterey Health Department

Building Healthy Communities Monterey County (BHCMC)’s mission is to activate resident voice and power to build an inclusive, anti-racist democracy and safe, thriving communities by developing effective community engagement and power-building strategies. Over the past decade, BHCMC and the County of Monterey Health Department (CMHD) have developed a strong partnership by collaborating on several projects. Most recently, CMHD staff participated in and supported as co-facilitators for the community action teams as part of BHCMC’s Collaboratively Organizing for Inclusion, Liberation and Breaking Racial Inequities (COLIBRI) cohort. The COLIBRI racial equity cohort strives to transform the collaboration between the community and government, paving the way for authentic partnerships with proactive leaders within the system, eager to instigate meaningful changes and create inclusive spaces and opportunities. Through this partnership, BHCMC and CMHD have made significant strides in promoting health equity and fostering a culture of inclusivity within Monterey County. Together, they aim to create lasting positive change and contribute to the development of safe, thriving communities that prioritize the well-being of all residents.

Kane County, IL: Mental Health Care for Youth

Community Organizing and Family Issues and Kane County Health Department

For over a decade, the Kane County Health Department (KCHD) and Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI) have forged a transformative partnership, building power with communities and reshaping healthcare dynamics. COFI, committed to strengthening the power and voice of low-income Black and Brown families, collaborates closely with KCHD to enhance community engagement and drive equitable outcomes. At the heart of their collaboration lies the Kane County System of Care (KCSOC), a pioneering initiative aimed at revolutionizing mental health support for youth. Leveraging COFI’s renowned organizing model, The COFI Way, this partnership champions family-led solutions, centering on cultural competence and data-driven strategies. Central to their efforts is the KCSOC’s Parent Council, comprising of 20 COFI-trained leaders dedicated to advocating for community needs and fostering meaningful dialogue within the healthcare system. Together, KCHD and COFI exemplify a visionary alliance, bridging gaps, and building power to create a healthier, more inclusive future for Kane County.

Contact us to learn more about PPH

Are you a local health department interested in trainings or technical assistance on community power-building or how to collaborate with community organizers? A community power-building organization interested in connecting or collaborating with a local health department?

Contact us at PPH@humanimpact.org