Community Advisory Committees: Collaboration and Shared Learning

As a result of turmoil in world financial markets and a faltering economy in the United States, economic pressures on communities have intensified the risk of many people being overlooked or ignored; many are not receiving the health care they and their families need. At the same time, health foundations that rely on strong investment portfolios are reeling as they quantify their losses. Unfortunately during bleak economic times, some institutions retreat to survival mode and, out of necessity or shortsightedness, lose their focus on the people they are obligated to serve.

Against this backdrop of the impending economic crisis in the United States, however, some foundations are finding new strategies to reach out to their communities.