H.O.P.E. grows: An academic-public health partnership to reimagine public health services and increase mental health access among socially vulnerable populations

Abstract

Objective: To illustrate the process of developing and sustaining an academic-public health partnership for behavioral health integration through an expansion of the Aligning Systems for Health (ASfH) framework.

Study setting: Practice-informed primary data (2017-2023) from the Holistic Opportunity Program for Everyone (HOPE) Initiative based in Charlotte, NC.

Study design: The unit of analysis in this descriptive case study is inter-organizational, specifically focusing on an academic-public health relationship. We illustrate the partnership process across the ASfH four core areas, including key challenges and insights.

Data collection: Utilized a Critical Moments Reflection methodology and review of HOPE program data.

Principal findings: (1) Formal partnership structures and processes are essential to monitoring the four ASfH core components for on-going system alignment. (2) Aligning systems for health principally involves two ecologies: (i) the health program and (ii) the partnership. The vitality and sustainability of both ecologies require continuous attention and resource investment. (3) Relationships rest at the heart of aligning systems. (4) With comparative advantages in research methods, the academic sector is especially poised to collaborate with healthcare systems and human service organizations to study, develop, implement, and scale evidence-based health interventions.

Conclusions: The academic sector shares overlapping purposes with the public health, healthcare, and social services sectors while providing complementary value. It is a critical sectoral partner in advancing population health and health equity.

Keywords: academic-public health partnership; aligning systems for health; case study; cross-sector partnership; health equity; integrated care.

FIGURE 1

HOPE governance structure. While the delineation of the HOPE governance structure presents implementation research and evaluation on one side and the HOPE program on the other, these areas of practice are inextricably linked and are foci of concern shared by all members of the interdisciplinary HOPE Leadership Team. ^aThe circular icon accompanying the HOPE Leadership Team is presented in greater detail in Figure 2.

FIGURE 2

This figure depicts the metaphoric table we use to illustrate our integrative academic‐public health partnership approach. Regardless of formal titles, all members have a seat at the table. Decision‐making and accountabilities are shared. The HOPE Leadership Team is composed of individuals representing the public health department (MCPH) and academia (UNCC). Specifically, the public health team involves executive (TG), clinic leadership, behavioral health and informatics leadership. The core academic team involves two faculty (VS & JLR), a graduate research assistant (AT), and an undergraduate honors student (KW). ^aClients/community members are not yet active participants of the Leadership Team.