This report — a thought paper rooted in 47 interviews with industry leaders — highlights what we’ve learned about utilizing peer networking to advance recent place-based initiatives. It then shapes these lessons into 10 solid strategies for successfully incorporating peer networking into the new multiyear, mutli-million dollar Building Healthy Communities project.
The California Endowment’s Building Healthy Communities program is a $250 million place-based initiative dedicated to helping 14 communities in California create an environment where children are healthy, safe and ready to learn. To realize this vision, a diverse set of players must work together over the initiative’s 10-year commitment. Peer networks — which provide a venue for communications, resource sharing and problem solving — can serve an important role facilitating such cooperation at each site.
