Orange Sparkle Ball in collaboration with Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University hosted another installment of the Public Health + Webinar series about the intersection of public health and other disciplines. This feature quintessentially illustrated the need for cross-disciplinary approaches and how Public Health truly touches nearly every aspect of our world.
We had the opportunity to tune into a great conversation with Teri Gartska, Ph.D., Associate Director of the Center for Public Partnerships & Research (CPPR) at the University of Kansas and Isabelle Swiderski, MA, MBA, Founder of Seven25. Teri offered us a refreshing perspective on systems thinking and her vision for how Public Health practitioners can break silos between various systems.
At CPPR, Teri works with a cross-disciplinary team that engages in multiple sectors such as early childhood care, maternal and child health, and positive youth development. They work to make service systems within these various sectors more responsive and accessible to children and families. While it might sound simple, it’s rather a difficult task. In Teri’s words, her team works on “complex problems without clear solutions.” One tool that blossomed in response to this space is the IRIS referral software and service system. It was the answer to the singular problem of gaps in community health communication. It works by creating a bridge to allow health and social services to refer individuals and families to needed social determinants of health resources. It’s implemented in more than 20 communities and has evolved to strengthen community collaboration in general and build networks.
Key in the development of IRIS was the team’s knowledge that “just providing a technical solution, a tool, is not the answer.” Working with communities to provide implementation support, building collaboration across systems, and facilitating conversations among partners regarding accountability is integral to establishing a connected community.
Beyond the case study of IRIS, more broadly, Terry’s work encompasses collaborating with communities to examine values, workflows, and culture within different systems, such as social services, health care, and public health. The goal is to establish congruence between each sector. Her team works to break down barriers and establish a shared vision for change, ultimately creating a more connected system.
“If you're going to break down barriers in systems, there’s going to have to be some conversations about what these systems will do differently.”
Teri left us with great advice for finding our role in supporting communities:
“Find your why… why do you get up in the morning?”
Her why is making a difference for kids and families by trying to solve difficult systematic issues. She believes that public health practitioners are pivotal to breaking down these barriers by traversing across sectors.
“Public health is at the center point of where things are going to be in the future if we are going to break down these silos.... so if the future is going to be different then it is today, we are going to need translators... folks who can cross-systems and break those walls down.”
Learn more:
Center for Public Partnerships & Research (CPPR)
To view previous and upcoming installments in the Public Health + Series click here.
Written by Liris Stephanie Berra, Public Health Innovation Analyst
Liris is a Master of Public Health student at Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University. She is part of the Global Health department, pursuing a concentration in Community Health Development and a certificate in the Social Determinants of Health.
