Lack of coordination of health and community services with individual agencies working in isolation leads to wasted resources and poor outcomes for the most vulnerable in our nation’s neighborhoods. One method of addressing this lack of coordination is by adopting a place-based system integration model where providers of services collaborate and work together to improve the health and well-being of the populations they serve. This study will test this model that aligns a city health department with cross-sector community stakeholders to improve health and reduce inequities across neighborhoods. The research team will examine how the Center's shared decision-making model within the East Harlem Neighborhood Health Action Center; which encompasses the city health department, clinical and non-clinical partners, faith- and community-based organizations, and community health workers; will increase coordination, effectiveness, and efficiency across these sectors. Using qualitative & quantitative methods the research team will assess the community’s health outcomes, satisfaction, success in linking clients to needed services, and success in coordinating systems to improve health and health equity in the neighborhood. Lessons learned from this study will inform best practices for replicating this model in other neighborhoods in New York City and across the U.S.

Principal Investigators:
Carl Letamendi, PhD, MBA
Director of Evaluation & Divisional Support, Center for Health Equity
New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene

Jennifer Pierre, DrPH, MPH
Director of Qualitative Research, Center for Health Equity
New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene

Project Details:
Year: 2017
Funding Amount: $250,000
Status: Inactive