The partnership model: working with individuals, families, and communities toward a new vision of health
Courtney, R.; Ballard, E.; Fauver, S.; Gariota, M.; Holland, L.
Public Health Nursing 13(3): 177-186
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0737-1209 PMID: 8677233 DOI: 10.1111/j.1525-1446.1996.tb00238.xDocument Number: 216810
Increasingly, health professionals must learn to work in new partnership relationships with clients and community to promote health effectively. A partnership requires a transformation of the professional role from chief actor to partner, and the client role from passive recipient to partner. A partnership approach has particular merit in a reformed health care system that increasingly emphasizes active involvement and self-care actions of individuals and families to maintain health and prevent disease. A partnership approach is also important to professionals working with underserved, vulnerable, and/or minority populations. For too long professionals and policymakers have relegated these groups to passive roles in health decision making and action. This article will provide a description of the partnership process as it has been developed and implemented by nurse practitioners in an urban Hispanic community with emphasis on a community partnership. A partnership model is described and compared to the more traditional professional model. A definition and essential criteria for partnership are presented. Finally, a specific example of how the partnership process was implemented at the community level is discussed.