Enhancing public health research and learning through community-academic partnerships: the Michigan experience.

“. . . Community lies at the heart of public health . . . interventions work best when they are rooted in the values, knowledge, expertise, and interests of the community itself . . . health encompasses the physical, mental, spiritual, environmental and economic well-being of a community and its members. We recognize the power of equal partnerships including community-based organizations, academic institutions, and health agencies, addressing health issues of the community. We understand that in order for these partnerships to be equal and for interventions to be communitybased, community members must participate fully in the identification of health issues and the selection, design, implementation and evaluation of programs that address them.” 1