Community Partners
Working with community partners is important when implementing a rural diabetes program. Rural community partnerships can provide different types of support, including networking, coordination, cooperation, and collaboration. Community partners can help rural diabetes programs with:
- Improving access to healthcare providers, including specialists
- Sharing or exchanging limited resources
- Coordinating outreach to potential program participants
- Facilitating community stakeholder and provider buy-in, commitment, and involvement
- Increasing community awareness of program goals and progress
- Recruiting program participants
Examples of community partners that may help with diabetes program implementation include:
- Universities and university extension services
- Local or state public health departments
- Large medical systems and diabetes specialists
- Corporations or businesses
- Schools
- Nonprofit organizations
- Recreation facilities or community centers, such as the YMCA
- Faith-based organizations
Resources to Learn More
Mobilizing
Community Partnerships in Rural Communities: Strategies and Techniques
Document
Provides guidance to local health departments, healthcare organizations, non-profit organizations, and the
private sector in rural communities for developing community partnerships that can effectively address common
concerns and overcome challenges. Includes examples of successful partnerships in rural communities.
Organization(s): National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)
Date: 7/2013