Lessons Learned from an Intersectoral Collaboration between the Public Sector, NGOs, and Sports Clubs to Meet the Needs of Vulnerable Youths
The Norwegian Government emphasizes intersectoral collaboration to achieve health
goals such as reducing social health differences. However, research shows that achieving fruitful
collaboration between different organizations and the public sector is challenging. The sports sector
is one potential partner for such collaboration. Although the Government calls for intersectoral
collaboration that includes the sports sector, there are few concrete guidelines for how this may be
implemented in practice. Guided by The Bergen Model of Collaborative Functioning, the purpose
of this study was to explore factors that promote or inhibit collaboration in an intersectoral project
involving the sports sector, NGOs, and public sector. The current project aimed to work towards
creating health promoting activities aimed at vulnerable youths. Methods: A qualitative case study
of the Sports Project with interviews of eleven collaborative partners. Results: Factors promoting
collaboration amongst the different partners were having a common mission, an appreciation of the
partners’ complementary skills and knowledge, and a consistent user perspective. Conclusions: By
orienting the collaboration towards the users’ needs, the partners have succeeded in creating tailored
health-promoting activities for vulnerable youths. However, a challenge remains in transforming the
collaborative project into a sustainable structure.
goals such as reducing social health differences. However, research shows that achieving fruitful
collaboration between different organizations and the public sector is challenging. The sports sector
is one potential partner for such collaboration. Although the Government calls for intersectoral
collaboration that includes the sports sector, there are few concrete guidelines for how this may be
implemented in practice. Guided by The Bergen Model of Collaborative Functioning, the purpose
of this study was to explore factors that promote or inhibit collaboration in an intersectoral project
involving the sports sector, NGOs, and public sector. The current project aimed to work towards
creating health promoting activities aimed at vulnerable youths. Methods: A qualitative case study
of the Sports Project with interviews of eleven collaborative partners. Results: Factors promoting
collaboration amongst the different partners were having a common mission, an appreciation of the
partners’ complementary skills and knowledge, and a consistent user perspective. Conclusions: By
orienting the collaboration towards the users’ needs, the partners have succeeded in creating tailored
health-promoting activities for vulnerable youths. However, a challenge remains in transforming the
collaborative project into a sustainable structure.
Publisert i Societies, 2022
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