In 2006, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation launched Aligning Forces for Quality, a $300 million national health care quality initiative designed to build the capacity of 14 local communities to collaborate and influence health care quality outcomes. The primary goals of the program are to improve 1) the quality of chronic care in inpatient and outpatients settings, 2) public reporting of performance measures, and 3) consumer engagement. Community Science was contracted to conduct an assessment of the consumer engagement technical assistance provided by the National Partnership for Women and Families. We conducted interviews with grantees, project stakeholders, and local consumer advocates; made site visits to selected grantee communities; and developed an assessment report that helped the foundation improve its approach and strategy for achieving the goals of the Aligning Forces for Quality initiative . (2008-2009)
