A recent report co-authored by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis and Wilder Research provides new information about collaboration between community development and health organizations to improve the health of communities. Collaboration to Build Healthier Communities: A Report for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America discusses current levels of collaboration, factors that most strongly influence the success of cross-sector projects, and recommendations for furthering collaborative efforts to improve community health. The research also shows that the Healthy Communities Initiative championed by Federal Reserve Banks and their partners has provided a valuable platform for laying the groundwork necessary for collaborative success. The findings are based on a survey of more than 650 practitioners across the United States. To read the report, visit www.minneapolisfed.org/community_education/mnhealthycommunities/#news. For more on the Healthy Communities Initiative, see www.frbsf.org/community-development/initiatives/healthy-communities.
