Good Health is Good Business: Lessons from Public-Private Partnership to Improve Population Health

Session Submission Type: Workshop

Abstract

Public health is increasingly confronted with complex challenges that cannot be solved in isolation. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the need for collaboration between public health agencies (state and local) and the private sector (businesses, chambers of commerce, and non-governmental entities) playing a pivotal role in managing the spread of disease and distributing critical resources. This marked the beginning of a new era of cross-sector partnerships, where private sector involvement became not just beneficial, but essential. As public health moves beyond the pandemic, the question is how to sustain and deepen these public-private partnerships to ensure lasting population health impact. This session will explore the benefits and challenges of public-private partnerships, with insights from the de Beaumont Foundation and the Washington State Department of Health (DOH).

Despite the private sector’s crucial role, public health agencies have not fully capitalized on the potential of public-private partnerships to improve health outcomes. This may be due to perceived ideological differences and a lack of understanding of how the private and public sectors may work together toward common goals. To build meaningful, lasting partnerships, it is essential to acknowledge these differences while focusing on the mutual benefits of working together. Public health agencies must find ways to bridge these gaps and engage the private sector in a way that not only addresses short-term health crises but also strengthens long-term public health systems while also balancing mutuality of goals.

The de Beaumont Foundation recognized the importance of partnership and the historical lack of established relationships between public health and the private sector. In response, in 2022, the foundation launched its “Innovative, Multi-Sector Partnerships for Community Transformation (IMPACT)” program to facilitate impactful collaborations. IMPACT emphasized the role of the private sector in shaping healthier communities through policy advocacy, community initiatives, and business-driven public health practices. IMPACT supported the shared vision of health, equity, and prosperity by providing funding and technical assistance to five local health and business partnership teams over a 15-month period and de Beaumont will share about these experiences.

DOH views partnership as an evolving process, not a product, and is committed to fostering ongoing relationships that improve population health. One example of this approach is the COVID-19 Vaccine Action Command and Coordination System (VACCS), which supported vaccine administration and WA-DOH will share about this experience. As DOH’s public-private partnership work evolved, the department developed a report, “Leveraging Partnership to Improve Population Health, Lessons from the Washington State Department of Health Experience with Public-Private Partnerships” based on a literature review and interviews, the report offers valuable insights into how state-level public health agencies can engage businesses to improve population health. It examines how public health priorities have shifted post-pandemic and highlights the benefits for businesses, communities, and public health agencies from these collaborative efforts. 

This session will offer a closer look at building and sustaining public-private partnerships. Following the presentation, a moderated discussion will focus on how to engage in authentic and effective partnerships.

Policy Area

• Workshops

Moderator

• Anna K Hidle, Washington State Department of Health

Organizer

• Anna K Hidle, Washington State Department of Health

Speakers

• Sarah Bounse, de Beaumont Foundation

• Anna K Hidle, Washington State Department of Health