FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, August 18, 2003

For more information, contact Jen Kauper-Brown at 206-543-7954 or click here.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Community-Campus Partnerships for Health (CCPH) has received funding from the Annie E. Casey Foundation for a project to encourage health institutions to develop a strategic approach to their roles as anchors in their communities. The project will explore how health institutions, defined as hospitals, health systems, health professional schools and academic health centers, serve as instruments of community and economic development and the variety of anchor roles these institutions play.

To some extent, every health institution serves as an economic "anchor" for the community in which they are located. In addition to their mission to address the health needs of communities, these institutions generate a large number of jobs and a significant amount of revenue and can make significant economic contributions to local communities as well. Paula Dressel, Senior Fellow with the Annie E. Casey Foundation explains that, "the Foundation is interested in how the resources of health institutions are utilized on behalf of their surrounding communities. Our focus is understanding the economic decisions that are made by these institutions in terms of hiring, purchasing, contracting, and real estate development that are framed specifically to support the vitality of the immediate area of neighborhoods and the families residing there. Secondly, we are interested in learning about thriving partnerships with local communities that build upon their talents and provide mutual benefit to both the health institutions and their neighbors."

Drawing on the current research in the field, as well as telephone interviews with engaged institutional leaders and site visits of exemplary models, CCPH will produce and disseminate a report to contribute to the knowledge development in this area. The report will explore the range of anchor roles served by health institutions including purchaser, employer, workforce developer, real estate developer, business, incubator, advisor, advocate, and community service provider.

The report will also include profiles of "engaged institutions", meaning health institutions that have been serving in one or more of these roles and ideally, institutions who are serving in many of these roles and making economic decisions in a deliberative and coordinated manner which considers the needs and wishes of and involves the local community. "To create healthier communities and overcome today's complex health problems, requires collaborative solutions which bring communities and institutions together as equal partners and build upon the assets, strengths and capacities of each," noted CCPH Executive Director, Sarena D. Seifer in discussing the project. "This project will help us learn more about how some model institutions are embracing their role as an economic anchor to develop and strengthen local communities."

CCPH welcomes suggestions of key articles, reports, people and programs that should be consider for this report. Questions, comments, citations or full-text materials may be directed to program coordinator, Jen Kauper-Brown by email, by phone: 206-543-7954, or by mail: UW Box 354809, Seattle, WA 98195-4809.

Updates and final reports will be posted on the CCPH website as they become available at http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/ccph/anchors.html

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Community-Campus Partnerships for Health is a nonprofit organization that promotes health through partnerships between communities and educational institutions. Founded in 1996, CCPH is a growing network of over 1000 communities and campuses that are collaborating to promote health through service-learning, community-based research, community service and other partnership strategies. These partnerships are powerful tools for improving health professional education, civic responsibility and the overall health of communities.

Since 1948, the Annie E. Casey Foundation has worked to build better futures for disadvantaged children and their families in the United States. The primary mission of the Foundation is to foster public policies, human service reforms, and community supports that more effectively meet the needs of today's vulnerable children and families.