Using Social Network Analysis to Strengthen Organizational Relationships to Better Serve Expectant and Parenting Young People

Interorganizational collaboration in a trauma-informed community: A network analysis of cohesion and change

Strengthening interorganizational collaboration is critical to mitigate the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and improve community health. We examined change in interorganizational collaboration around ACEs within Peace4Tarpon's network and investigated factors influencing collaboration. We conducted a community-wide social network analysis among 32 trauma-informed organizations in 2016 and 2018, using network analysis methods to examine interorganizational cohesion (density, transitivity, triad census) over time, and multiple regression quadratic assignment procedure to investigate factors influencing collaboration. Network cohesion measures indicated small increases in collaboration level and greater network cohesion over time. Conducting ACEs screenings was a significant factor (b = 0.237; p < 0.01) predicting likelihood of interorganizational collaboration in 2016. No assessed ACEs practices predicted collaboration in 2018, suggesting variables assessed predicted a small proportion of variance in collaboration change. Results provide a foundation for understanding how ACEs/trauma-informed practices influence collaboration and highlight implications of interorganizational collaboration. Peace4Tarpon's 2-year progress provides insights for other trauma-informed communities.

Recommendations to Improve the Nature and Extent of Relationships Among Organizations Within a Network to Enhance Supports for Transgender Survivors of Sexual Assault

CONTEXT

To enhance the provision of comprehensive supports to transgender (trans) survivors of sexual assault, a structurally marginalized group with complex care needs, we developed an intersectoral network of trans-positive health care and community organizations in Ontario, Canada.

OBJECTIVE

As a baseline evaluation of the network, we conducted a social network analysis to determine the extent and nature of collaboration, communication, and connection among members.

DESIGN

Relational data (eg, activities of collaboration) were collected from June to July 2021, and analyzed using a validated survey tool, Program to Analyze, Record, and Track Networks to Enhance Relationships (PARTNER). We shared findings in a virtual consultation session with key stakeholders and facilitated discussion to generate action items. Consultation data were synthesized into 12 themes through conventional content analysis.

SETTING

An intersectoral network in Ontario, Canada.

PARTICIPANTS

Of the 119 representatives of trans-positive health care and community organizations invited to participate in this study, 78 (65.5%) completed the survey.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Proportion/count of organizations collaborating with other organizations. Network scores for value and trust.

RESULTS

Almost all (97.5%) invited organizations were listed as collaborators, representing 378 unique relationships. The network achieved a value score of 70.4% and trust score of 83.4%. The most prominent themes were "Communication and knowledge exchange channels," "Clearer roles and contributions," "Indicators of success," and "Client voices at the centre."

CONCLUSION

As key antecedents of network success, high value and trust indicate that network member organizations are well positioned to further foster knowledge sharing, define their roles and contributions, prioritize the integration of trans voices in all activities, and, ultimately, achieve common goals with clearly defined outcomes. There is great potential to optimize network functioning and advance the network's mission to improve services for trans survivors by mobilizing these findings into recommendations.

Leveraging Technology to Increase Behavioral Health Services Access for Youth in the Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare Systems: a Cross-systems Collaboration Model

Behavioral health services access for justice- and child welfare-involved youth is limited despite significant need. Structural interventions to address limited access are nascent. Technology can advance access, but few interventions focus on system-impacted youth and their mental health needs and challenges. This article describes the development, process, and initial outcomes of the Youth Justice and Family Well-Being Technology Collaborative (JTC) that was formed to leverage technology within and across public health and justice-related systems to promote increased behavioral health services access. Cross-system considerations are identified for public health, court, and other key stakeholders to successfully integrate technology into practice to expand access to these critical services.

Understanding the Development, Evaluation, and Sustainability of Community Health Networks Using Social Network Analysis: A Scoping Review

OBJECTIVE

Identify the scope of the literature which reports use of social network analysis to inform, support, or evaluate health promotion-focused community network/partnership development.

DATA SOURCE

A comprehensive search (not date-limited) of PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science Core Collection, PsycInfo, and the Cochrane Library Database for Systematic Reviews.

INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA

Criteria for inclusion included published in the English language and used social network analysis to inform, support, or evaluate development of community networks/partnerships aiding health promotion efforts. Studies were excluded if they did not use social network analysis or were not focused upon health promotion.

DATA EXTRACTION

Three of the four authors extracted data using a summary chart to document information regarding study aims, target issue/population, methods, and key outcomes of the social network analysis.

DATA SYNTHESIS

The extracted data were qualitatively analyzed by 3 authors to categorize key social network analysis outcomes into categories.

RESULTS

Ninety-seven studies representing 9 geographical regions were included, with the majority (69) published after 2010. Key outcomes included the effectiveness of social network analysis to identify network characteristics, track network change over time, compare similar networks across locations, and correlate network attributes with outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Findings support the utility of social network analysis to inform, support, and evaluate development of sustainable health promotion-focused networks/partnerships.

Supporting Expectant and Parenting Teens: New Evidence to Inform Future Programming and Research

Until recently, federal programs had not explicitly focused on improving the outcomes of highly vulnerable teen parents. Established in 2010, the Pregnancy Assistance Fund (PAF) aims to improve the health, social, educational, and economic outcomes for expectant and parenting teens and young adults, their children, and their families, through providing grants to states and tribes. This article introduces the Maternal and Child Health Journal supplement “Supporting Expectant and Parenting Teens: The Pregnancy Assistance Fund,” which draws together the perspectives of researchers and practitioners to provide insights into serving expectant and parenting teens through the PAF program. The articles in the supplement include examples of programs that use different intervention strategies to support teen parents, with programs based in high school, college, and community settings in both urban and rural locations. Some of the articles provide rigorous evidence of what works to support teen parents. In addition, the articles demonstrate key lessons learned from implementation, including allowing some flexibility in implementation while clearly outlining core programmatic components, using partnerships to meet the multifaceted needs of young parents, hiring the right staff and providing extensive training, using strategies for engaging and recruiting teen parents, and planning for sustainability early. The studies use a range of qualitative and quantitative methods to evaluate programs to support teen parents, and three articles describe how to implement innovative and cost effective methods to evaluate these kinds of programs. By summarizing findings across the supplement, we increase understanding of what is known about serving expectant and parenting teens and point to next steps for future research.