In 2016, Prevention Institute (PI) and the St. Joseph Fund (SJF) – a Providence grantmaking foundation that focuses on local community building – began a collaborative effort called Intersections Initiative to gain deeper insights into the obstacles faced by health systems in empowering communities. Recognizing the potential power of health systems to advance health equity and build community power, they launched Intersections to serve as a platform for hospital systems and stakeholders to devise community-centered strategies that complement clinical coordination and population health endeavors within the health system.
Through dialogue, training workshops and strategy sessions, SJF and PI activate community leaders, partners and residents in a thoughtful planning phase. This process underscores the shift from programs and services toward policy and systemic transformations. Together, they identify priority issues with strong community backing, strategize for impactful and equitable change, and ensure they collaborate with the right partners to yield favorable outcomes.
Since 2016, the Intersections Initiative has been established in seven communities and focused on upstream community-level prevention efforts, such as housing, education, civic engagement and economic stability. The initiative partners adopt comprehensive approaches, including policy creation, organizational practice alterations and system fortification, to bolster health, wellness and resilience. Notably, the initiative's emphasis on community power building and prevention enables strategies to address multiple focal areas concurrently, amplifying the potential for significant impact.
While initially slated for a three-year term, Intersections exemplifies SJF's commitment to nurturing enduring relationships. Several of the initial collaboratives are continuing, with a Providence ministry as a key member or leader involved.
PI and SJF have and will continue to collaborate to empower communities that are lively, hopeful, healthy and just.
