Cross-sector Partnerships Research Articles

The Emergence of Concerned Partnerships in the Ethical Marketization of Place: A Narrative Lens

This study adopts a narrative lens to investigate how place shapes the emergence and work of cross-sector partnerships (CSPs). Based on a qualitative inquiry of the marketization of Lapland, Finland, as the home of Santa Claus, four matters of concern around the ethicality of marketizing Lapland are followed: revitalization, commerciality, distortion, and imbalance. The findings show how CSPs emerge in the marketization of place through the mechanisms of narrative contestations and misalignment of marketized place and place-identity, and their (re)alignment at the nexus of marketization. The contestations and misalignment generate matters of concern from place, which in turn mobilize CSPs via two interrelated narrative practices: (i) problematizing and (ii) reimagining the marketized place to realign it with place-identity. The paper contributes the construct of concerned partnerships to the literature of CSPs, a place-based form of CSPs which consist of both market and non-market actors, including the place and its social and material resources. They are formed through matters of concern that emerge through misalignments of marketized place and place-identity, to realign them and sustain a place at a nexus of marketization.

Virtual Balancing: How Digital Environments Influence the Participation and Efficiency of Cross-Sector Partnerships

Cross-sector partnerships (XSP) that address complex societal issues tend to struggle to achieve a substantial impact. To attain successful collaboration, the way in which these XSPs balance participation and efficiency in collaborative practice is vital. While it is commonly examined in a face-to-face environment, this study investigates the practice in a digital context. Based on observations of virtual meetings in an XSP on climate change mitigation, a multimodal discourse analysis presents how affordances of communicative channels influenced the relationship of participation and efficiency, with consequences of increased centralization, virtual methods of governance and difficulties of dealing with complexity.

Place and the Structuring of Cross-Sector Partnerships: The Moral and Material Conflicts Over Healthcare and Homelessness.

Local places, such as communities, cities, and towns, host many cross-cross sector partnerships, many geared primarily toward alleviating local social and environmental issues. Yet, existing literatures focus predominantly on largescale systemic impact and global challenges such as climate change, paying scant attention to the role of local, geographically bounded dynamics in shaping these partnerships. In this article, I conceptualize places as geographic locations imbued with specific meaning systems and material resources to unpack how local embeddedness shape the structure of cross-sector partnerships. Specifically, I investigate how place-based conflict, arising from tensions between the moral and material aspects of a partnership, can shape formalized aspects of organizational structure. These include the scope of operations, partners' roles, and shared resources. I unpack these relationships using a case study of Occupy Medical, a local partnership between the civic society and the local government in Eugene, Oregon, tackling the problem of providing healthcare to the homeless and other marginalized and disenfranchised communities. The analysis covers the nine-year period of 2011-2020 and spans three major restructurings of the organization, the latest prompted by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. I theorize two forms of structural arrangements for cross-sector partnerships, confined and leveraged, and further elaborate on the role of cross-sector partnerships in crises response on the local level.

Putting Space in Place. Multimodal Translation of the Grand Challenge of Regional Smart Specialization from Policy to Cross-sector Partnerships

Putting Space in Place. Multimodal Translation of the Grand Challenge of Regional Smart Specialization from Policy to Cross-sector Partnerships

Achieving voluntary data sharing in cross sector partnerships: Three partnership models

Achieving voluntary data sharing in cross sector partnerships: Three partnership models

Exploring Social Determinants of Health in Healthy Aging Among Older Adults: A Qualitative Study.

The U.S. population is aging and diversifying. Older Black Americans comprise the largest racial minority group and experience greater disability than White Americans. Within a long-standing, community-based research partnership, we explored the determinants of healthy aging in Flint Michigan, a low-income, predominantly Black American community recovering from a water crisis. Focus groups were conducted among older adults residing in Flint, Michigan. A grounded theory approach and constant comparison method was utilized for data analysis. Five focus groups were conducted with 49 total participants. We identified four themes that impacted healthy aging: economic instability, health care access and quality, neighborhood and built environment, and social and community context. Economic instability heavily influenced the other themes. Economic instability is a barrier to healthy aging. As a result, we are testing an innovative cross-sector partnership combining older adult affordable housing and health care.

Conflict: The Missing Ingredient for Sustainability in Complex Partnerships

Addressing today’s most pressing challenges requires collaboration between professionals of different disciplines and the capacity to work effectively across sectors. Cross-sector partnerships (CSPs) are an increasingly common vehicle for doing so, but too often they fall short of achieving the desired social impact. Three years of research alongside a unique multi-sector partnership to prevent human trafficking identifies lack of shared understanding as the main problem, caused by conflict avoidance during early stages of partnership development. Counterintuitively, controversy is necessary to develop shared norms, power structure, and communication practices—all elements of participatory design—through a process of stakeholder dialogue. Effective dialogue requires people to explore, confront, and contest diverse perspectives; however, research finds that groups are more likely to avoid conflict and engage in consensus-confirming discussions, thereby undermining their effectiveness. Using the singular case study of a cross-sector partnership that formed to enact new anti-trafficking legislation, this study examines how conflict avoidance constrained the performance and sustainability of a cross-sector, multi-actor collaboration. The study finds that conflict avoidance stifles shared understanding of governance, norms, and administrative practices, negatively impacting multiple processes that are important to sustainable collaborations. The conclusion drawn is that conflict management should receive greater attention in the study and practice of cross-sector partnerships.

Between Intensity and Diversity: Leveraging the Role of Place in Cross-Sector Partnerships

Between Intensity and Diversity: Leveraging the Role of Place in Cross-Sector Partnerships

Feasibility and Acceptability of an Online Family Literacy Program in an Under-Resourced Community During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The objective of this study was to examine the feasibility and acceptability of an online family literacy program (FLP) among low-income Latino families during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a mixed methods pilot study. Latino parent-child dyads participated in an 8-week online FLP conducted on video conferencing software, developed through a cross-sector health care-education partnership. We conducted surveys and structured observation to assess feasibility and acceptability and in-depth interviews to gain insight into the context of participants' experiences during the pandemic. The 35 participating parent-child dyads all identified as Latino, 83% reported limited English proficiency, and 60% of parents did not achieve a high school diploma. Nearly two-thirds of families participated in at least half of the sessions. On average, parents welcomed, liked, approved, and found the program appealing. While 86% experienced a technology problem at least once during sessions, all were resolved with minimal assistance. During qualitative interviews, we identified 3 themes that provide insight into their experiences with the FLP within the broader context of the pandemic: (1) disruption in family routine and financial strain caused by COVID-19 intensified family stress, (2) the forced transition to remote learning highlighted the inequities experienced by Latino preschool children, and (3) the FLP empowered parents and enhanced health and education experiences. Latino families had high participation levels in an online FLP and found it acceptable. Additional work is needed to understand how similar primary care programs can be leveraged to promote optimal development during a time of heightened need.

Pemberdayaan Kader Posyandu dalam Program Gerakan Amankan Kehamilan dan Persalinan (GEBRAK) dengan Mobile Application Family Center Maternity Care (FCMC)

Efforts to accelerate the success of reducing the Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), especially those related to maternal health efforts, are increasing cross-sectoral partnerships as outlined in a high-risk pregnant women's mentoring activity by cadres carried out in Malang City known as the GEBRAK (Movement to Secure Pregnancy and Childbirth) program. "Posyandu Melati" cadre activities such as training or mentoring cannot be carried out regularly scheduled and have not been carried out by all posyandu posts because of several constraints. The purpose of this community service is to increase the participation of the Cadre of Pregnant Women with High Risk Pregnancies and provide training and community empowerment on early detection of High Risk Pregnancies using the FCMC Mobile Application media method in Tasikmadu Village totaling 7 people. Results: three activities, namely Training Activities and mentoring Posyandu Cadres with the topic of high-risk pregnancy, KSPR, and FCMC mobile application, the second activity is socialization and application of the FCMC Mobile Application to pregnant women and their families and communities. The last activity is the Recording and Early Detection of High Risk Pregnancies by Cadres as a support for the success of the GEBRAK program. Increasing the skills of Posyandu cadres about monitoring high-risk pregnancies so that prevention, healing and recovery efforts can be given with clear indications as early as possible during pregnancy. Posyandu cadres are expected to be able to carry out their duties according to agreed commitments and be able to maintain infrastructure as a good support for activities.

Philanthropy Profile: A Conversation with Elizabeth Star-Winer of the Winer Family Foundation

As a Lactation Consultant and child birth educator with Novant Health in Charlotte, Elizabeth Star-Winer worked with hundreds of families, both in a hospital setting and in the community. Those experiences instilled in her a desire to focus her philanthropy on addressing the root causes of the challenges and disparities she observed, particularly the high rates of maternal and infant mortality across the state.1 “Because of my hands-on career experiences, I wanted our foundation to focus on improving outcomes in two areas: maternal and infant health and creating awareness of the long-term effects of trauma and toxic stress on families,” Star-Winer told the NCMJ. “We are intentional on focusing our work upstream with the understanding that systems change takes time and investment in cross-sector partnerships and strong leadership.” NCMJ Managing Editor Kaitlin Ugolik Phillips spoke with Star-Winer about how she transitioned from working directly with families to running her family’s foundation with a mission of building capacity and aligning systems to ensure all families with children, from prenatal to age five, thrive across our state.

Think Global Act Local: In search for ways to increase the engagement of local communities in energy transition

The literature on cross-sector partnerships, in particular Local Action Groups, has delivered many insights on their multi-directional impact on local communities. However, there has not been any empirical research into their potential contribution to increase citizen engagement in energy transition. This paper seeks to partially fill this gap. It has been the author’s ambition to look at Local Action Groups and draw a preliminary picture of these partnerships as tools used to increase the engagement of local communities (households) in the European Union in the shift of local socio-economic systems towards low-carbon economy (in particular in more efficient, cleaner and smarter consumption of energy used for electricity, heating, cooling and cooking), as well as to formulate recommendations in this regard for the public energy policy and propose directions for further research. Survey-based exploratory research has been conducted, which collected responses from 427 Local Action Groups operating in the European Union and the United Kingdom, and has delivered insights that they generally have an appropriate potential to carry out activities aimed at increasing the involvement of local communities in the energy transition process and that local conditions are conducive to it. At the same time, it provided premises that Local Action Groups can become a driver for change that is necessary for energy transition.

Why the network coordinator matters: The importance of learning, innovation, and governance structure in coproduction networks

ABSTRACT What drives citizens to coproduce public services? We critically assess the extant literature on organizational learning, innovation, and cross-sector partnerships and situate each within the coproduction frameworks. We theorize a moderated mediation model that reasons organizational learning and external partnerships drive innovation within public service networks, which in turn motivates both user and community coproduction. Networks are coordinated by organizations across nonprofit and public sectors. We argue that the coordinating organization’s governance structure moderates its innovative capacity for the resulting coproduction. We conduct second-stage structural equation modelling analyses by employing Area Agencies on Aging, statutorily empowered to coordinate the U.S. aging service network across sectors. We found that public service networks innovate through the learning processes, that innovation mediates the learning effects to motivate user and community coproduction, and that nonprofit innovations better accelerate user coproduction. Ultimately, citizens coproduce service outcomes when the network coordinator drives changes.

Exploring the Principal’s Role in Cross-Sector Partnerships: Sensemaking and Politics in a High-Performing Early College High School

Secondary–postsecondary partnership reforms have grown in scale and importance throughout the past few decades as part of the national agenda to increase college access, equity, and completion. However, little research has examined the role of the principal in cross-sector partnerships. This qualitative case study explores how one nationally acclaimed principal at an award-winning early college high school made sense of the cross-sector context and negotiated with K–12 and higher education stakeholders to maximize college opportunity for low-income, Latinx, and first-generation students. Our analysis integrates sensemaking and micropolitical theory to identify leadership practices that facilitate effective cross-sector collaboration, with implications for K–12 leadership and cross-sector partnership reform.

Collaboration between social entrepreneurs and large companies: Mutual value creation through different forms of partnerships

The purpose of this paper is to deeply explore partnerships between large companies and social entrepreneurs. The objectives are as follows: to identify different types of partnerships between social entrepreneurs and large companies, determine mutual benefits of partnership, explore the challenges which large companies and social entrepreneurs face in the partnership. Important results of the paper shed light on this under-investigated relationship between social entrepreneurs and large companies. First, the study offers a new categorization of partnerships between social entrepreneurs and large companies. A new model — the Partnership Matrix accordingly was developed. This model is based on mutual benefits for both parties: Business, Innovation, Reputation — Impact, Survival, Scale. Second, benefits and obstacles to the development of collaboration between social entrepreneurs and large companies were identified. An extensive set of semi-structured interviews allowed to hold in-depth analysis of qualitative data. The research contributes to the literature on social entrepreneurship, business and society. The results of the research have practical implications; they can help social entrepreneurs and large companies to develop partnerships using more conscious, thoughtful and suitable approaches to mutual value creation. Keywords: cross-sector partnership, social entrepreneurship, corporate social responsibility, social partnership, hybrid organization.

Abstract IA013: Delivering an effective community-driven model to reduce cancer risk at a population level: results from MD Anderson’s Be Well Communities

Abstract Be Well Communities™ is The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s place-based strategy for cancer prevention and control, working with communities to promote wellness and reduce modifiable risk factors for cancer. This initiative builds cross-sector partnerships and drives systems change for health by uniting individuals, schools, workplaces, government agencies, health care providers and policymakers to plan and carry out sustainable, community-led solutions that will make positive, long-lasting changes in people’s lives. Be Well Communities is built on 100 years of healthy community initiative best practices, literature, and experience and is aligned with the institution’s strategy and community outreach and engagement efforts. Since 2016, MD Anderson’s Cancer Prevention & Control Platform built a model that creates strong community linkages, advances professional and policy changes, and establishes active health coalitions. Community-driven coalitions ensure that interventions are executed in alignment with the priorities and needs of the community. Key components of effective community-based efforts include creating a shared vision and building trust with the community, creating a diverse network of partners through relationship building and mutual accountability, establishing a governing process with a grassroots component, and leveraging resources, training, and commissioning technical expertise where necessary. Additional components of the model include community assessment, planning, and a multi-year implementation phase – with a vision towards sustainability and evaluation throughout. Foundational to the work is partnership with community-based organizations and clinics who are supported to enhance their capacity to deliver and evaluate evidence-based interventions that are tailored directly to the needs of the community. Together with community partners, this work is positively impacting communities across the Greater Houston Area. More than 50 local, regional and state organizations are actively engaged on Be Well Communities coalitions, guiding the implementation of action plans in partnership with community residents. Since 2017, key milestones include: 7+ million pounds of healthy food distributed 27 sunshades installed at city parks, schools and college campuses 79,000+ students participated in school-based health and physical activity programs 10,000+ college students, staff and faculty have access to tobacco-free education and resources 24 free vaccination clinics hosted 1,900 cancer screenings provided in 12 months Further, for the most mature community in the portfolio, 90% of all interventions were completed or sustained. This collaborative approach, led by the wants and needs of the community, has established an infrastructure that is addressing its short-term goals and promises to improve long-term, cancer-related outcomes in communities. Aligning across sectors with a shared vision, fundamentally changing the way groups work together, is the building block for creating systems change for health. Citation Format: Ruth Rechis. Delivering an effective community-driven model to reduce cancer risk at a population level: results from MD Anderson’s Be Well Communities. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Precision Prevention, Early Detection, and Interception of Cancer; 2022 Nov 17-19; Austin, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Can Prev Res 2023;16(1 Suppl): Abstract nr IA013.

Governing partnerships with technology companies as part of the COVID-19 response in Canada: A qualitative case study.

Cross-sector partnerships are vital for maintaining resilient health systems; however, few studies have sought to empirically assess the barriers and enablers of effective and responsible partnerships during public health emergencies. Through a qualitative, multiple case study, we analyzed 210 documents and conducted 26 interviews with stakeholders in three real-world partnerships between Canadian health organizations and private technology startups during the COVID-19 pandemic. The three partnerships involved: 1) deploying a virtual care platform to care for COVID-19 patients at one hospital, 2) deploying a secure messaging platform for physicians at another hospital, and 3) using data science to support a public health organization. Our results demonstrate that a public health emergency created time and resource pressures throughout a partnership. Given these constraints, early and sustained alignment on the core problem was critical for success. Moreover, governance processes designed for normal operations, such as procurement, were triaged and streamlined. Social learning, or the process of learning from observing others, offset some time and resource pressures. Social learning took many forms ranging from informal conversations between individuals at peer organisations (e.g., hospital chief information officers) to standing meetings at the local university's city-wide COVID-19 response table. We also found that startups' flexibility and understanding of the local context enabled them to play a highly valuable role in emergency response. However, pandemic fueled "hypergrowth" created risks for startups, such as introducing opportunities for deviation away from their core value proposition. Finally, we found each partnership navigated intense workloads, burnout, and personnel turnover through the pandemic. Strong partnerships required healthy, motivated teams. Visibility into and engagement in partnership governance, belief in partnership impact, and strong emotional intelligence in managers promoted team well-being. Taken together, these findings can help to bridge the theory-to-practice gap and guide effective cross-sector partnerships during public health emergencies.

Drivers of social innovation in disability services for inclusion: a focus on social farming in nonprofit organizations

PurposeThis study investigates the drivers of social innovation in disability services with specific reference to the context of nonprofit organizations of social farming. In addition, it highlights the role of stakeholder networks in enhancing the social innovation process and the characteristics of stakeholders and networks driving and supporting social innovation.Design/methodology/approachFollowing a qualitative methodology, research was conducted through a case study survey with interviews to 13 nonprofit organizations of social farming for people with disability located in the northeast of Italy.FindingsInsights gained from the interviews revealed that individual, organizational and contextual factors drive social innovation in disability nonprofits. In addition, networks play a key role in enhancing the three drivers of social innovation through the social innovation journey, from opportunity recognition to implementation of the innovation, to its consolidation phases. Characteristics of the networks and the stakeholders involved are also outlined.Practical implicationsPractical implications for social entrepreneurs include the need to establish cross-sectoral partnerships with diverse stakeholders, including private companies.Social implicationsImplications for policy makers stress the need for ongoing support for nonprofit disability organizations. Social implications are not limited to the inclusion of socially weaker groups; rather, the entire community benefits from the social innovation process.Originality/valueSocial farming represents a valuable solution to meet the needs of disadvantaged people. While much research has investigated the topic of social innovation in social entrepreneurship, only a few studies have addressed social innovation in the context of disability nonprofits involved in social farming.

Minding the GAP: An overview of five years of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) projects under the Global Action Programme (GAP) within Regional Centres of Expertise (RCEs) on ESD

Research on Regional Centers of Expertise (RCEs) on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) has focused on how multi-stakeholder and cross-sectoral partnerships can work to enable ESD projects, with a particular focus on how higher education institutions could effectively collaborate with community partners. However, much of this research has focused onhowpartners worked together (for example, what governance and coordination structures allowed higher education institutions to effectively collaborate with partners) without as much focus of investigation onwhatactivities RCEs were working on. While diverse and compelling research on RCEs already exists, much of this research falls into conceptual theory building or case studies of individual RCE activities. In this article, an overview and analysis of activities from RCEs around the globe is offered to provide some trend analysis for topics and modalities of ESD projects conducted during the Global Action Programme (GAP) on ESD which ran from 2015 to 2019. This empirical analysis can serve as record of where the Global RCE Network has been over the 5 years of the GAP, where it is now, and where it may wish to go in the future.

Implementing the Partnership Assessment Tool for Health to Assess and Strengthen Cross-sector Partnerships: Lessons from a Federally Qualified Health Center.

La Clínica del Pueblo (LCDP), a federally qualified health center that serves the low-income, Latino/a/x community in D.C., used the Partnership Assessment Tool for Health (PATH) to assess two cross-sector partnerships: a medical-legal partnership with a legal services agency and a five-year partnership with FRESHFARM focused on alleviating food insecurity.