Happenings - Evidence That Informs Practice and Policy: The Role of Strategic Alliances at the Municipal, Provincial, and Federal Levels

Authors

  • Gina Bohn Browne

Abstract

The McMaster System-Linked Research Unit on Health and Social Service Utilization was launched in 1991 to compare the effects and financial costs of innovative intersectoral, comprehensive services with the usual sectoral, fragmented approaches to serving vulnerable populations. The Unit's investigators were mandated to conduct research relevant to 16 health- and social-service entities, both "partner" and provider, in two regions of Ontario. The partners helped to plan the relevant research agenda. These included visiting nurses, family practices, and regional departments of social service and public health, as well as the District Health and Social Planning councils of the two regions, Hamilton-Wentworth and Halton (Browne, Watt, Roberts, Gafni, & Byrne, 1994,1997). Rationale for Strategic Alliances In the area of community health information, there is an important distinction between the policy/planning environment and the research environment. In the former, the community requires access to information so that it can assess the need for and impact of health programs,

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Published

1999-04-13

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Articles