Interorganizational Relationships (IORs) and Collaboration to Improve Health Status Indicators for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Maternal and Child (MCH) Populations

Project Description:

The purpose of this research is to identify and address organizational and system factors affecting interagency collaboration for the MCH population within the existing state and local Title V agencies and the Indian Health Care System (IHCS). The goal is to improve systems of care, and ultimately health status indicators, for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) mothers and their children. Through this work, existing agencies and partnerships will be explored, interorganizational relationships identified and collaborative practices will be revealed. Thus new resources, that is, effective models of care and best practices, will be available to federal, state, and tribal governments to benefit women of childbearing age, infants and children throughout the nation.

The research will be conducted in two phases corresponding to the two program years of the study. During Year 1 the intensity and density of collaboration or IOR between and among the primary AI/AN and Title V agencies in the 34 states with federally recognized tribes will be measured. During Year 2 the association between state Title V agencies and IHCS collaborations and health status indicators for the AI/AN MCH population will be explored. Further an intensive case study will reveal specific strategies that lead to successful collaboration relationships. Policy and practice recommendations will result from this examination.

Project Updates:

Phase I Completed: May 1, 2010 – April 30, 2011
Phase II Currently Underway: May 1, 2011 – April 30, 2012

Project Findings:

This project conducted over the last two years through funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, has completed both phases of research and produced a few resources to ensure that Tribal communities understand the research findings and best practices identified during the project.

Below you will find a Project Research Brochure, a Power Point discussing the Project and Findings, as well as a link to a webinar that walks you through the Power Point.

Please feel free to contact Blake Harper, with any questions you might have about the project, his information is found below.

Webinar Link: http://media.soph.uab.edu/mchwebinar-
20120827/collaborationamongtribalandstatematernal.swf

RWJF Brochure (PDF)

CATSO Webinar Slides (PPT)