Innovations in collaboration for the public's health through the Turning Point Initiative: the W.K. Kellogg Foundation perspective

Abstract

The need for a more integrated public health system led the W. K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) to establish Turning Point (TP): Collaborating for a New Century in Public Health, with a goal of transforming and strengthening the current public health infrastructure. WKKF partners with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), the National Association of County and City Health Officials, the University of Washington, the Lewin Group, and the New York Academy of Medicine to support activities of 41 community and tribal jurisdiction grantee partnerships in 14 states. Preliminary evaluation of partnerships participation indicate: (1) most have accomplished breadth; (2) many did not achieve depth prior to the end of initial recruitment and (3) when the mission was internalized, penetration occurred. Strengthening public health systems requires redevelopment of human, organizational, financial, educational and information resources, and as in the past, WKKF will work to this end.