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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 15(4)

Integrating health planning and social planning: a case study in community-based partnerships for better health

Aleta Ambrose A and Patricia Short A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Social Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia.

B Corresponding author. Email: t.short@uq.edu.au

Australian Journal of Primary Health 15(4) 294-302 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY09010
Published: 26 November 2009

Abstract

This paper reports the findings of a study that investigated the processes through which health planning and social planning were integrated in practice, at the community level, through the active engagement of childcare centres in health promotion and community capacity building. A small-scale, retrospective study of Healthy Bodies Healthy Minds, a community-based health promotion project for early childhood environments, was conducted.

Focusing on links between health and social planning, the study revealed crucial factors that led to integrated planning and action at the community level: opportunities for professional development, the strengthening of partnerships through interpersonal networks, reduced isolation of childcare staff in community contexts, and genuine engagement of childcare centre staff in a planning process. It also demonstrated how momentum for planning and action at the community level was created, and how a shift towards integrated health and social planning, stemming from an attitudinal shift by childcare staff towards planning and partnerships, emerged. Insights are gained on ways to build upon the social component of health promotion programs, so as to establish sustainable partnerships for integrating health and social planning in communities.

Additional keywords: community health planning, integrated planning, public health.


Acknowledgement

We wish to acknowledge and thank Queensland Health, Public Health Services Branch staff for their valuable time, and timely responses to requests for information, and all other contributors who enthusiastically shared their stories.


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1 The study was carried out as partial fulfilment of requirements for the award of Master of Social Planning and Development (Qld). The second author was involved in the project as thesis advisor. The project was funded from personal resources. The project was approved by the School of Social Science Ethical Review Committee at The University of Queensland.

2 Parents were considered as informants; however, due to time constraints, ethical considerations, and methodological concerns, the choice was made to interview only Queensland Health staff and early childhood centre directors involved.

3 A pseudonym is used here to protect the anonymity of the centre and the centre director who participated in this research.