Chapter 8
Partnerships to Improve the Public's Health
Learning Objectives
- Describe the ecological model of health
- List partners based on the ecological model of health
- Discuss strategies for sustaining partnerships
- Define the key elements for assessing partnerships
Public Health Partners
Health is created at the intersection of multiple factors that contribute to or hinder the healthiness of populations. Health depends not just on access to medical care but also on such factors as individual makeup, social settings, and environmental conditions (Institute of Medicine [IOM], 1997). The Institute of Medicine defines health as the “state of well-being and the capability to function in the face of changing circumstances” (IOM, 1997, p. 41). The ...
