A Brief Report on aFacilitated Approach to Connect Cooperative Extension Southern Region State-Level Health Specialists

摘要

Improving the nation’s health will require collaboration among many stakeholders and systems, including representatives from Cooperative Extension Services (CES). Thispaperdescribesthe process of establishing a multistate collaboration and discussesinitial outcomes of a third-party facilitated participatory planning meeting. State-level specialists withexpertise and responsibilities in“health”promotion participated. Satisfaction with meeting format;feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of the proposed approach to public health impact;and general meeting feedback were collectedthrough a survey and cultural artifacts (e.g., notes, worksheets). Preparation and attendance costs were captured. Seventeen of the 20 attendees (85%) responded to the survey and reported the process was satisfactory and the proposed plan for moving forward was feasible, acceptable, and appropriate. The meeting cost was $1,011 per attendee. Theprocessmobilized a multistate Extension collaborative to promote health but revealed potential cost-benefit challenges.Leveraging resources is necessary to plan, implement, and measure collaborative public health efforts. Future data on outcomes will showif the process leads to intended objectives. If successful, this approach can be replicatedacross CES for stronger impacts.