Assignment: Course Project - Selecting a Planning Model

Running Head: MOBILIZING PARTNERSHIPS 1

MOBILIZING PARTNERSHIPS

Mobilizing Partnerships in the Implementation of a Program

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Partnerships are an essential part of implementing programs within the community. Partnerships are important because they empower organizations in various ways, including knowledge, tools, and other resources necessary to achieve the ultimate goal. Partnerships also actively strengthen the skills of communities involved in the implementation and running of a program.

Among the success stories that testify about the importance of partnerships in implementing programs include the Richmond University Medical Center. The center partnered with the New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to help increase the availability of more healthy choices and reduce the amount of sodium served in the center’s cafeteria through the adoption of the New York City Food Standards set to govern cafes and cafeterias (CDC, 2020). The center was able to take out all the soups that had high sodium levels from its menu. It was also able to improve its beverage offerings and ad healthier snack choices at its cash register. The partnership with the department was necessary to ensure the center achieved the healthy levels it desired and eliminate high sodium intake, which was the main problem and agenda of the program.

When setting a health program, it is essential that the program gets support from the highest level for which the program is being scheduled. The persons at the top level make policymaking stances that provide the appropriate support for the program (McKenzie, Neiger, & Thackeray, 2009). The medical center in the success story sought support from the New York Department of Health and Mental hygiene to ensure the program succeeded in its objective. The New York Department of Health and Mental hygiene then did its assessment on the cafeteria, including on its foods and beverages on the menu, and then designed an action plan for the cafeteria to meet short, medium, and long-term goals and to be in line with the standards of the department. The center was able to mobilize a good partner; hence its program was a success.

References

CDC. (2020) Staten Island Hospital Puts Cafeteria Customer’s Health First. https://nccd.cdc.gov/nccdsuccessstories/searchstories.aspx#/

McKenzie, J. F., Neiger, B. L., & Thackeray, R. (2009). Planning, implementing and evaluating health promotion programs: A primer (p. 496). San Francisco, CA: Pearson/Benjamin Cummings.