Utilization of an interorganizational network analysis to evaluate the development of community capacity among a community-academic partnership

摘要

Rural, low-income and minority residents in Brazos Valley, TX, face great disparities in health outcomes and access to resources and services. These residents report significant mental health problems, troubling levels of alcohol and substance abuse, and high levels of obesity and chronic disease such as emphysema, congestive heart failure, diabetes, hypertension, and arthritis.Residents report significant shortages in access to health-related services that can help address these problems, including mental health and drug and alcohol abuse. Transportation poses a significant barrier to access to care for residents in Brazos Valley, TX, with almost half of all rural residents having to travel more than 20 miles for medical care and public transportation systems described as being unreliable and inadequate. Communities in Brazos Valley, TX, experience inadequate communication at all levels—between residents and service providers and between the service organizations themselves—contributing to inefficiency and dissatisfaction among clients. Little research exists that describes such challenges to communication and relationship building—and how communities and researchers can work in collaboration to seek solutions.