In the United States, some populations suffer from far greater disparities in health than others. Those disparities are caused not only by fundamental differences in health status across segments of the population, but also because of inequities in factors that impact health status, so-called determinants of health. Only part of an individual's health status depends on his or her behavior and choice; community-wide problems like poverty, unemployment, poor education, inadequate housing, poor public transportation, interpersonal violence, and decaying neighborhoods also contribute to health inequities, as well as the historic and ongoing interplay of structures, policies, and norms that shape lives. When these factors are not optimal in a community, it does not mean they are intractable: such inequities can be mitigated by social policies that can shape health in powerful ways. Communities in Action: Pathways to Health Equity seeks to delineate the causes of and the solutions to health inequities in the United States. This report focuses on what communities can do to promote health equity, what actions are needed by the many and varied stakeholders that are part of communities or support them, as well as the root causes and structural barriers that need to be overcome.

In a period of increasing economic and social uncertainty, how do immigrant communities come together to advocate for educational access and their rights? This book is based on a 5-year university partnership with members from Indonesian, Vietnamese, Latino, Filipino, African American, and Irish American communities. Sharing rich examples, the authors examine how these diverse groups use language and literacy practices to advocate for greater opportunities. This unique partnership demonstrates how to draw on the knowledge and interests of a multilingual community to inform literacy teaching and learning, both in and out of school. It also provides guidelines for reimagining university/community collaborations and the practice of ethical partnering. Partnering with Immigrant Communities focuses on: Minoritized immigrant populations, including groups with undocumented status and those who came to the United States to flee religious persecution. The intellectual and activist legacies that are already present in communities as people come together to take action on matters that directly impact their lives. A local cosmopolitanism that serves as a refuge for many immigrants who may otherwise be scapegoated within the dominant culture. A coalition of multilingual, multiethnic communities whose experiences are intertwined by overlapping histories of colonization and shared present struggles.Ethical and effective community-based research, including concrete and theoretically informed examples. “Supported by theory and written with clarity, this inspiring account sets the gold standard for research that is both committed and ethical.” —Hilary Janks, emeritus professor,Wits University “A game-changing text.” —Elizabeth Dutro, University of Colorado, Boulder “A powerful illustration of intentional ethical engagement through practitioner and participatory research methodologies to support sustainable community-based inquiries toward social and political transformation.” —Tarajean Yazzie-Mintz, senior program officer for Tribal College and University (TCU) Early Childhood Education Initiatives, American Indian College Fund

This book provides new knowledge, insights and experience about school-university partnerships. Drawing upon evidence from international research of the world’s most improved systems, and learning from a UK research council funded ‘knowledge exchange’ project, it reveals that when the profound differences between the practice worlds of schools and the theoretical worlds of university academics are embraced and cherished, rather than eschewed, school-university partnerships become exciting avenues of learning which connect, challenge and transform the thinking and practice of all those involved. Over its eight chapters, the book explores uncertainties, challenges and possibilities faced by those who seek to create, develop and sustain school-university partnerships that aspire to improve the practice and understanding of the leadership of teaching and learning in schools. It explicates and elucidates precepts, principles and practices for achieving such successful partnerships between higher education and school leaders, and contextualises these in terms of policy wide developments internationally. This book will appeal to school leaders internationally, leadership training organisations, and academics who lead postgraduate leadership and management programmes.

Strengthen programs of family and community engagement to promote equity and increase student success! When schools, families, and communities collaborate and share responsibility for students′ education, more students succeed in school. Based on 30 years of research and fieldwork, the fourth edition of the bestseller School, Family, and Community Partnerships: Your Handbook for Action, presents tools and guidelines to help develop more effective and more equitable programs of family and community engagement. Written by a team of well-known experts, it provides a theory and framework of six types of involvement for action; up-to-date research on school, family, and community collaboration; and new materials for professional development and on-going technical assistance. Readers also will find: Examples of best practices on the six types of involvement from preschools, and elementary, middle, and high schools Checklists, templates, and evaluations to plan goal-linked partnership programs and assess progress CD-ROM with slides and notes for two presentations: A new awareness session to orient colleagues on the major components of a research-based partnership program, and a full One-Day Team Training Workshop to prepare school teams to develop their partnership programs. As a foundational text, this handbook demonstrates a proven approach to implement and sustain inclusive, goal-linked programs of partnership. It shows how a good partnership program is an essential component of good school organization and school improvement for student success. This book will help every district and all schools strengthen and continually improve their programs of family and community engagement.

Action Research in Practice presents a collection of stories from action research projects in schools and a university. Topics include discussing action research, social research and partnerships in research.

Multi-actor partnerships are promoted as central to the achievement of sustainable development. However, these relationships are not always easy, and calls are being made for more guidance on how partners can work together effectively to deliver results and achieve meaningful change. Shaping Sustainable Change explains the growing and significant role of partnership brokering in shaping these relationships. Drawing upon the work of the Partnership Brokers Association, it uses evidenced-based materials to show how the work of partnership brokering contributes to the management of collaborative relationships so that they are better positioned to have a positive and sustainable impact. As well as making the case for partnership brokering, the publication explores the profile and key activities carried out by partnership brokers, and the skills required to undertake this role. Examples are also provided to illustrate how partnership brokering works in practice in relation to different contexts, sectors and themes. This book will appeal not only to partnership brokers but also to professional and academic readers interested in achieving sustainable development.

Bringing “coaching skills” to a therapy practice and clients. In Therapy with a Coaching Edge, professional practice guru Lynn Grodzki offers a new, paradigm-changing therapy model—adding the leverage and action of a coaching approach to the wisdom and goals of psychotherapy. This book presents a set of powerful coaching strategies that have been adapted and designed specifically for therapy—to provide more reach and range for therapists and counselors while not requiring a wholesale abandonment of therapeutic principles. Using this model, therapists at all levels of experience can promote behavioral change without insisting on homework or rigid protocols. Clients can spot results in each and every therapy session. Resistance to treatment often softens and client retention improves. Grodzki gives new and veteran clinicians the skills to not only improve client outcomes, but also energize themselves as practitioners. Therapists feel empowered as they learn to ask compelling questions that generate "ah-ha" moments. They help clients go beyond a discussion of symptoms to explore topics of core values. They show clients how to make decisions based on both necessity and a vision of a better future. The model provides readers with just-in-time learning, to identify a skill when it is needed an then immediately apply the steps in a session. Grodzki, an expert psychotherapist and master certified coach, has proven herself to be a trusted voice for therapists through her writing and workshops; she makes the steps to using a coaching approach understandable by offering lively case examples, "your turn" exercises, and sample scripts to give her readers the confidence and context to move forward.

Ongoing, strategic Family-School Partnering (FSP) is an essential component of every educational community. FSP is a multi-dimensional process in which schools, families, and communities engage in shared actions to ensure a child’s academic, social, and emotional success. With this text, the authors intend to offer a practical guide that demonstrates how this partnering can be strategically implemented in all levels of schooling. The main focus of the text is how to plan, implement, and evaluate FSP within existing school structures and resources. The authors begin with an overview of the foundational and organizational information necessary for successful FSP, including a review of ecological systems theory. FSP theories and strategies are presented at a universal, targeted, and intensive level, giving the school mental health professional insight into working with students and families who have differing needs. A school-based case example illustrates FSP in action and provides a practical roadmap for implementation. Each chapter contains easily adaptable tools and a list of useful web links to resources which can be used in conjunction with the strategies presented and discussed by the authors. An accompanying CD will also contain all the handouts, forms, and other such resources presented throughout the text.