Health Action Zones

Health Action Zones
Author: Marian Barnes
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 238
Release: 2012-09-10
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 1134342330

Health Action Zones (HAZ) were one of the earliest and most prominent area-based initiatives launched by the New Labour government in England soon after it came to power in 1997. Written by members of the team undertaking the national evaluation of HAZ, this book examines the initiative’s development and impact from a variety of perspectives. It outlines important features of the social, policy and evaluative environment within which HAZ were established and discusses enduring themes such as building and developing capacity with diverse and unequal partners within complex policy systems. Multidisciplinary in nature, the book provides in-depth analysis of a key policy initiative, offering guidance on how best to design, implement and evaluate future initiatives intended to deal with fundamental social problems.

Communities in Action

Communities in Action
Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 583
Release: 2017-04-27
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 0309452961

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.

The SAGE Handbook of Evaluation

The SAGE Handbook of Evaluation
Author: Ian Shaw
Publisher: SAGE
Total Pages: 631
Release: 2006-07-10
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1446207005

′This handbook thoroughly covers all aspects of evaluation, yet isn′t too technical to understand. It offers everything an organization needs to know to get the most out of evaluation′ - Nonprofit World `The Handbook succeeds in capturing and presenting evaluation′s extensive knowledge base within a global context. In so doing it provides a useful, coherent and definitive benchmark on the field′s diverse and dynamic purposes, practices, theories, approaches, issues, and challenges for the 21st century. The Handbook is an essential reference and map for any serious evaluation practitioner, scholar and student anywhere in the world′ - Michael Quinn Patton, author of Utilization-Focused Evaluation `Readers of this volume will find a set of texts that provide an evocative overview of contemporary thinking in the world of evaluation. This is not a book of simple tips. It does justice to the complex realities of evaluation practice by bringing together some of the best practitioners in the world to reflect on its current state. It is theoretically sophisticated yet eminently readable, anchored in evaluation as it is undertaken in a variety of domains. It is the kind of book that startles a little and makes you think. I highly recommend it′ - Murray Saunders, University of Lancaster In this comprehensive handbook, an examination of the complexities of contemporary evaluation contributes to the ongoing dialogue that arises in professional efforts to evaluate people-related programs, policies and practices. The SAGE Handbook of Evaluation is a unique and authoritative resource consisting of 25 chapters covering a range of evaluation theories and techniques in a single, accessible volume. With contributions from world-leading figures in their fields overseen by an eminent international editorial board, this handbook is an extensive and user-friendly resource organised in four coherent sections: " Role and Purpose of Evaluation in Society; " Evaluation as a Social Practice; " The Practice of Evaluation; " Domains of Evaluation Practice. The Handbook of Evaluation is written for practicing evaluators, academics, advanced postgraduate students and evaluation clients and offers a definitive, benchmark statement on evaluation theory and practice for the first decades of the 21st century.

Learning from Health Action Zones

Learning from Health Action Zones
Author: Linda Bauld
Publisher: eBook Partnership
Total Pages: 308
Release: 2002-02-02
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1904235921

Since they were established HAZs have been at the forefront of attempts to modernise health services and to reduce health inequalities. As a result there is much to learn from the efforts they have made. But the path that HAZs have taken, and the learning that they have generated, is not a straightforward one.

Purposeful Program Theory

Purposeful Program Theory
Author: Sue C. Funnell
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 576
Release: 2011-02-09
Genre: Education
ISBN: 0470939893

Between good intentions and great results lies a program theory not just a list of tasks but a vision of what needs to happen, and how. Now widely used in government and not-for-profit organizations, program theory provides a coherent picture of how change occurs and how to improve performance. Purposeful Program Theory shows how to develop, represent, and use program theory thoughtfully and strategically to suit your particular situation, drawing on the fifty-year history of program theory and the authors' experiences over more than twenty-five years. "From needs assessment to intervention design, from implementation to outcomes evaluation, from policy formulation to policy execution and evaluation, program theory is paramount. But until now no book has examined these multiple uses of program theory in a comprehensive, understandable, and integrated way. This promises to be a breakthrough book, valuable to practitioners, program designers, evaluators, policy analysts, funders, and scholars who care about understanding why an intervention works or doesn't work." Michael Quinn Patton, author, Utilization-Focused Evaluation "Finally, the definitive guide to evaluation using program theory! Far from the narrow 'one true way' approaches to program theory, this book provides numerous practical options for applying program theory to fulfill different purposes and constraints, and guides the reader through the sound critical thinking required to select from among the options. The tour de force of the history and use of program theory is a truly global view, with examples from around the world and across the full range of content domains. A must-have for any serious evaluator." E. Jane Davidson, PhD, Real Evaluation Ltd. Companion Web site: josseybass.com/go/funnellrogers

The Gypsy Debate

The Gypsy Debate
Author: Joanna Richardson
Publisher: Andrews UK Limited
Total Pages: 189
Release: 2017-02-13
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1845404831

Jo Richardson explores the extent to which modes of discourse reflect antipathy towards gypsies and travellers, and control and shape the treatment of this minority group by the rest of society. The focus is housing policy, but her discussion has a wide application.

Partnerships, New Labour and the Governance of Welfare

Partnerships, New Labour and the Governance of Welfare
Author: Glendinning, Caroline
Publisher: Policy Press
Total Pages: 272
Release: 2002-07-03
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1861343396

Current policy encourages 'partnerships' - between statutory organisations and professionals; public and private sectors; with voluntary organisations and local communities. But is this collaborative discourse really as distinctive as the Labour Government claims? How far do contemporary partnerships exemplify an approach to governing which is based on networks (as distinct from hierarchies and markets)? Partnerships, New Labour and the governance of welfare: provides an up-to-date critical analysis of partnerships; addresses the highly topical theme of 'partnerships' as the means of achieving joined-up government; presents empirical evidence from a wide range of welfare partnerships; examines the relationships between local welfare partnerships and the management of those partnerships by central government; reveals the imbalance of power which characterises many contemporary partnerships. · It is essential reading for academics and students of contemporary social and public policy and for those with an interest in networks and other theories of welfare governance.

Managing and Leading in Inter-Agency Settings

Managing and Leading in Inter-Agency Settings
Author: Dickinson, Helen
Publisher: Policy Press
Total Pages: 152
Release: 2016-05-25
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1447329848

Leadership and management are increasingly considered important drivers of organizational performance. Yet despite the fact that they are viewed as essential components of integrated working, or partnerships, there is relatively little thoughtful work analyzing the relationship between the two sets of ideas. Until now. This updated second edition provides realistic, robust guidance for the leadership and management of interagency collaborative endeavors. It summarizes recent trends in policy, establishes what we can learn from research and practice, and sets out useful frameworks and approaches to address a range of problems that collaborations face.

Health Care Systems: Rethinking health care systems

Health Care Systems: Rethinking health care systems
Author: Jonathan Watson
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Total Pages: 718
Release: 2005
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9780415372527

This collection covers the organization, financing and regulation of health care systems in four clear contexts: reforming health care systems, understanding health care politics, financing and delivering health care, rethinking health care systems.

EBOOK: Public Health For The 21st Century

EBOOK: Public Health For The 21st Century
Author: Judy Orme
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education (UK)
Total Pages: 242
Release: 2007-02-16
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 0335230113

"Public Health for the 21st Century is a comprehensive consideration of the emerging challenges for public health policy makers. Its structure makes it accessible to those wishing to dip into specific areas as well as being both coherent and comprehensible to those who may wish to read the whole volume. It is a valuable addition to any public health library." Journal of Environmental Health Research "This is a timely and comprehensive review of the new public health. The book demonstrates a capacity and readiness of the public health community to engage the population to achieve the 'fully engaged scenario' that remains the major health challenge for the UK. Replacing 'political restlessness' with political resolve might be the key ingredient that has been missing." Tribune "The second edition of this text is a very welcome addition to the public health library. The sweep of its interests and the vision it encapsulates marks it out as a true standard bearer for public health into the 21st Century. Its approach is comprehensive and its subject matter compelling. In spite of the challenges ahead for public health, the book reminds us of the quality of those practicing and writing about the subject in the UK today." Mike Kelly, Director of the Centre for Public Health Excellence, The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) This bestselling book has been substantially updated to take account of changing policy and practice. The introduction has been re-written to form a new chapter giving a comprehensive overview of the field of public health, making the book much more accessible to a wider audience. Throughout this book, the authors analyse and reflect upon the influence of history, research and procedures upon contemporary public health practice. The text explores the debates surrounding the meaning of public health and looks at the policy changes that are reshaping its context. Also examined are the contributions that epidemiology and health economics make to public health. Public Health for the 21st Century is essential reading for those involved in developing and implementing policies for health improvement, health protection and the reduction of inequalities in health. It also appeals to a wider audience of professionals, lay people and students who are interested in the wider health and well being of their communities.