PRESS RELEASE: April 21, 2023
Contact:
Savannah Martincic
Manager of Communications
smartincic@ms2ch.org
Fairfax, Virginia– Today, the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, with support from the Energy Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and NorthLight Foundation, released the Health Professional and Community Collaboration Guide in honor of Earth Day.
This guide was developed in recognition of the value, knowledge, and resources both community-based organizations and health professionals bring to climate, health, and equity, as well as other health advocacy efforts, along with the potential for even more powerful and authentic partnerships.
“By working together, health professionals and community groups can build on each other’s strengths to have a larger voice, greater reach, and more ability to address issues that have public health consequences than either working alone,” said Dr. Mark Mitchell, the lead author.
In addition to outlining the benefits of working together, the guide also provides strategies for finding, building, and maintaining effective partnerships. While the primary focus is community-based organizations and health professionals, these strategies can also be applied more broadly to other multidisciplinary collaborations.
“Our Climate and Health State Network Affiliates have been asking for such guidance on how to work with frontline and environmental justice groups,” said Dr. Lisa Patel, Executive Director of the Consortium. “We are pleased to be able to provide this guide as another tool for health professionals and community groups in our efforts to promote health equity and to help diversify the climate movement.”