Partnership for a Healthy Durham

Partnership for a Healthy Durham is a collaboration on health initiatives that began in 2004. The Partnership, comprised of 475 coalition members, includes government agency and organizational leaders as well as community members. Every three years the Partnership conducts community health assessments to determine and set health priorities for the city. The 2011 assessment identified the following three social determinants as critical to improving health outcomes for residents of Durham: poverty, homelessness, and education/workforce development. As a result of the assessment, social determinants have been integrated into community policies, projects, and plans. Additionally, a pilot medical respite for the homeless has been established and a task force has been developed to create a pipeline of education and training opportunities for local high school students to gain employment. Support for the Partnership comes from local county government with additional funding from grants that support projects. To read more about this innovative program, see this brief summary [link].