Convening an Issue Dialogue, writing an issue brief on improving the public health system and launching a public health working group of funders

Many experts concur that the current network of local, state and federal public health systems needs to perform better, especially given recent threats such as bioterrorism, natural disasters and flu epidemics. Clearly, the resources of a single foundation cannot support all the needed changes, but many foundations working together may provide solutions. This grant supports a collaborative network of foundations united in a common goal of improving the way our public health systems perform. Grantmakers in Health (GIH), the grantee, will create a new public health work group to enable foundations to share plans and activities for strengthening public health systems. During the first year, GIH will hold a one-day Issue Dialogue on strengthening public health agencies' performance. In addition to providing participants with a background paper prior to the Issue Dialogue meeting, GIH will subsequently publish an Issue Brief that will incorporate background information and new information gained from the Issue Dialogue meeting, with an emphasis on the activities of both public and private organizations and foundation-funded programs. Beginning in February 2008, GIH will hold an open dialogue at its annual meeting for three years so that members of the new workgroup can share experiences and explore new opportunities to collaborate. The project will be considered successful if foundations implement collaborative initiatives that strengthen public health systems, resources and policies.

Grant Details

Amount Awarded $120,286.00

Awarded on: 9/14/2007

Time frame: 10/1/2007 - 9/30/2010

Grant Number: 62971