Creative Partnerships for Community Health Improvement: A Qualitative Evaluation of the Healthy Carolinians Community Micro-Grant Project

Abstract

This qualitative study evaluated a recent innovative strategy used to involve community-based organizations (CBOs) in implementing health-related projects through locally administered microgrants. The purpose of this study was to identify key elements that enabled the success of the CBO projects, barriers and challenges to project success, and ways to effectively engage CBOs as partners in local health initiatives. In addition, this study sought to identify aspects of this approach that can be replicated. Study findings revealed that microfinancing CBOs aided in building partnerships, developing local leadership and expertise, and providing resources that enabled progress toward CBO missions and goals. These positive outcomes far out-weighed barriers and challenges faced by CBOs. Furthermore, the results of this study revealed ideas and information that provide useful guidelines for establishing and administering microgrant projects through local organizations that encourage community groups to design and implement community based health initiatives.

Keywords

community-based organizations collaborative partnerships microfinancing

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