The Transformative Power of Governance

Abstract

Whether under the banner of reinventing government, systems reform, community building, or comprehensive community initiatives, these forces of civic renewal are beginning to alter fundamentally the political, economic, and social face of America's cities and counties. Public‐private partnerships are cleaving through old boundaries, redefining who has responsibility for the public good. Collaboration and consensus building are transforming relationships among diverse stakeholders who were rarely found at the same table even a few years ago.

Broadening Participation in Community Problem Solving: a Multidisciplinary Model to Support Collaborative Practice and Research

“…For example, strategies that focus on the services or programs of only one kind of professional or organization have not been adequate to solve problems like low birth weight, substance abuse, depression, teen pregnancy, asthma, and inadequate access to care because these problems are interrelated and depend on a broad array of social, economic, environmental, political, emotional, and biologic determinants. [47][48][49][50] Problems that require comprehensive actions have been difficult to solve when needed participants have not been involved or when programs, organizations, and/ or policies work at cross-purposes with each other. 51 The tremendous diversity in the populations affected by health problems, and in the local contexts in which these problems occur, have limited the effectiveness of top-down, "one-size-fits-all" solutions.…”

“…51 The tremendous diversity in the populations affected by health problems, and in the local contexts in which these problems occur, have limited the effectiveness of top-down, "one-size-fits-all" solutions. 13,29,37,47 The lack of community involvement in, and ownership of, solutions has made it difficult to sustain strategies to improve health. 21,51,52 When effective solutions depend on the actions of people and organizations at regional, state, national, and/or international levels, communities have been at a disadvantage working on their own.…”

“…32,34,38,47,55 This concern is more than academic. Many communities attempting to address a particular health problem have noted that they cannot do so unless they also fix the problem-solving process per se.…”

“…58 The National Civic League has emphasized that strengthening the way communities solve problems requires collaborative relationships that cross many sectors and initiatives. 38,47 Referring to social capital-the networks and norms of reciprocity and trustworthiness that arise from social ties-Putnam states that, to address our biggest collective problems, we need ties of the most broad and bridging kind. 62 Why are bridging social ties needed to solve community-level problems?…”

“…But, when a collaborative process combines the complementary knowledge of different kinds of people-such as professionals in various fields, service providers, people who use services, and residents who are directly affected by health problems-the group as a whole can overcome these individual limitations and improve the information and thinking that undergird community problem solving. 8,10,11,13,36,47,95,96,[100][101][102][103] Working together in this way, a broad array of participants can…”