Date of Award
4-22-2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
Executive Leadership
First Supervisor
Dr. Guillermo Montes
Second Supervisor
Dr. Yvette Conyers
Abstract
This hermeneutic phenomenology study explores the experiences of community-based organization (CBO) leaders in the Rochester, New York, Finger Lakes region, who have collaborated to address health disparities. The COVID-19 pandemic shed light on the existence of health disparities. Collaboration challenges like fragmentation and misaligned objectives persist. Understanding the facilitators and barriers of collaborative efforts is essential for informed strategies and policies to tackle health disparities effectively. The study consisted of leaders from CBOs, coalitions, and community groups who each had more than three years of experience in a collaboration to address health disparities. Eleven community leaders from diverse professional backgrounds participated. Open-ended interviews were conducted to elicit suitable responses for hermeneutic phenomenological analysis. Thematic analysis was employed, and the theoretical framework guiding this study was Collective Impact (CI). The study uncovered five key findings. Firstly, participants favored collective advocacy over individual strategies. Secondly, while not experts in the Collective Impact Framework, they showed expertise crucial for its success. Thirdly, community leaders noted challenges in collaboration. Fourthly, community leaders highlighted attributes for successful collaboration. Lastly, exposure to health disparities increased commitment to advocacy efforts. Community leaders are crucial in health collaboration and tackling health disparities. Despite challenges, unwavering commitment to enhancing healthcare in our communities is essential. This research advocates cultivating inclusive, equitable, resilient healthcare collaborations, empowering community leaders, and fostering effective teamwork to drive sustainable change.
Recommended Citation
Green, Thomas, ""We're All in This Together": Examining the Perspectives of Community Leaders Participating in Health Coalitions to Address Health Disparities" (2024). Education Doctoral. Paper 592.
https://fisherpub.sjf.edu/education_etd/592
Please note that the Recommended Citation provides general citation information and may not be appropriate for your discipline. To receive help in creating a citation based on your discipline, please visit http://libguides.sjfc.edu/citations.