Down East Partnership for Children: A Systems Approach to Improving Community Health

Improving community health is a highly complex endeavor that requires extensive analysis of and effective response to a wide array of factors. Utilizing a systems approach to improve community health is the most effective way to respond to these factors and lays a strong foundation for sustaining community health improvement. The Down East Partnership for Children (DEPC) in Rocky Mount, NC provides a model for delivering an assets-driven, evidence-based and community-centered systems approach to addressing health challenges faced by children and their families. This report provides an overview of the systems approach, an analysis of DEPC’s systems based approach to community health improvement, an analysis of why this model has proven successful, and recommendations for moving forward.Master of Public Healt