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Improving the health of communities depends on individuals and groups committed to working in partnership and collaboration to address common issues. It is through this collaboration and collective desire to address issues that real change can happen. Traditional groups and individuals, representing various components of the local health care system, and non-traditional groups and individuals, not directly focused on health, can have a tremendous influence on the overall health of the community. Both traditional and non-traditional groups and individuals are essential components to a successful partnership. The State Health Improvement Plan supports the efforts of partnerships to select health improvement prioritities and promote flexibility and creativity in pursuing solutions to community health problems.
The SHIP Affiliated Partnerships
SHIP Affiliated Partnerships are operating in almost every county of the Commonwealth ( view Partnership Map). Each Partnership is unique in size, membership, operating structure and areas of focus. The common bond of each is to improve the health of their respective communities.
**SHIP Partnership contact information is available by
Becoming an Affiliated Partnership
Partnerships apply for affiliation through the Bureau of Health Planning within the Department of Health by completing a SHIP Affiliation Application (PDF or Word). Along with providing basic direction, the accompanying Application Instructions seek to assist the Applicant to develop the components of a successful community partnership.
As outlined in the State Health Improvement Plan, the Department of Health partners with and recognizes efforts of community-based health improvement partnerships through a process which leads to the designation of the partnership as a "SHIP Affiliated Partnership."
Partnerships whose goals are aligned with those of the Department of Health and the State Health Improvement Plan will become SHIP Affiliated Partnerships.
Benefits of Affiliation
The Department of Health provides SHIP Partnerships with resources and assistance to help them improve the health of their communities. Benefits available to SHIP affiliated Partnerships include:
- Recognition of the valuable work of Partnership members.
- Opportunity for increasing the presence of the partnership within the community.
- A role for community-based partnerships in determining the direction and activities of the State Health Improvement Plan.
- Connection to the Department of Health.
- Attraction of grant opportunities. SHIP Affiliated Partnerships have enhanced credibility with possible funding sources.
- Focus and momentum for the partnership's efforts.
- Assistance in addressing health disparities.
- Opportunities to gain custom data on behavioral health risks of the community through participation in Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Oversampling.
- Free training and technical assistance.
- Regional and statewide opportunities for networking and collaboration including participation in Regional Councils convened in each DOH Health District.
- Weekly PartnerSHIP Bulletins that include Commonwealth news, events and trainings, resources and tools, data and statistics, funding opportunities and announcements.
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