Building strong community partnerships to address social needs: A case study in effective advisory board collaboration from the Accountable Health Communities model

Health Net of West Michigan is a nonprofit organization in Kent County, Michigan, that aims to create a “community where everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible.” As an Alignment Track bridge organization participating in the Accountable Health Communities (AHC) Model, Health Net established an advisory board made up of community partners across sectors who strive to create equitable systems change. Health Net’s advisory board focuses on addressing social determinants of health at the community and systems levels, involving community advisors and executive-level representatives f rom community entities, coalitions, and local government.