This session will highlight The Power of Purposeful Partnerships and how the Healthy Families Partnership (HFP) of Douglas County directly embodies the conference theme, Stronger Together. Established in 2023 in response to community-identified needs, HFP brings together 15 expert organizations—including all four county hospitals—to improve maternal and child health across the community. Guided by child fatality review data, the Public Health Improvement Plan (PHIP), and continuous community feedback, HFP builds strong connections across sectors to enhance access to essential services and resources that promote maternal and child health. The partnership was intentionally designed to break down traditional silos and create meaningful, sustained collaboration among healthcare providers, community organizations, local agencies, and families.
HFP was developed through collaboration with 15 subject matter expert organizations, including all four county hospitals, local government, schools, libraries, mental health providers, and other family-focused agencies. The initiative distributes specially prepared “new family bags” containing a sleep sack, safe sleep education, developmental milestone information, child passenger safety guidance, perinatal mental health resources, and materials from partner organizations. Community engagement involving individuals with lived experience is central to HFP’s model and continues to inform the evolution of services.
Since its launch, HFP has strengthened cross-sector relationships, increased family engagement in planning, aligned messaging across organizations, and expanded coordinated access to services from birth onward. In its inaugural year, HFP distributed bags to more than 4,300 families who gave birth in Douglas County, demonstrating tangible community impact.
Participants will gain actionable strategies to launch and sustain community-centered partnerships rooted in shared purpose and responsive to community-identified needs, strengthening maternal and child health outcomes.
Request for 1-Hour Session:
Requesting a 60-minute session ensures at least 15 minutes for participants to engage with presenters through discussion and questions, supporting meaningful dialogue and practical application to their own community contexts.
