Connections Community of Practice: Membership Information
The Connections Community of Practice is funded through a Cooperative Agreement between the Public Health Informatics Institute and the Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau (HRSA/MCHB).
Frequently Asked Questions about the Connections Community of Practice
Who can become a part of the Connections CoP?
The intent of Connections is to support open and dynamic participation of any individual or organization working on/or interested in the integration of child health information systems. Members include:
- Individuals and organizations with a primary interest in the integration of child health information systems within a public agency or those who are involved with a community effort to exchange health information to improve health outcomes for children.
- Any individual wanting to enhance their knowledge of program integration and the role of informatics.
Are there categories of membership? Can I register to receive information about Connections even if my health department does not yet have an integration project?
Categories of membership are defined to allow for various levels of participation by interested parties.
- Stakeholder members are those individuals/organizations that wish to be informed of Connection’s activities, and receive invitations to participate in activities. Stakeholders are able to participate in any community activity, however they are not required to participate in workgroups or provide written project plans. Stakeholders complete only the Membership Application.
- Project members represent those agencies/organizations with a public service focus that have submitted written project plans and have agreed to participate at the highest level of activity in the community of practice. Individual members must be affiliated with an organization with a public service mission and must have a defined role within that agency for some aspect of integrating child health information systems, with the ultimate goal of improving child health. Project Members complete all of the attached forms for Connections membership (Application, Assessment, and Project Brief).
How does my organization benefit from being a member of Connections?
Members of the Connections CoP describe the value of participating in Connections as access to knowledge, people, and processes to improve the likelihood of success for our integration projects. Additionally, membership provides the following benefits:
- An increase in workforce and organizational informatics capacity achieved through interaction with peers. These interactions lead to a deeper understanding of what works in other areas and how members might apply useful solutions to their situation
- Shortened time for “the learning curve” and implementation of new approaches and technologies
- Greater “buy-in” from key stakeholders and partners
- Understanding how our individual project fits with the broader national strategies and practices at a national level.
What is the process for becoming a member of Connections?
First, complete the Membership Application form. The Public Health Informatics Institute is the convener for the Connections Community of Practice. In your application, indicate whether you want to participate as a Stakeholder or Project Member.
If you are applying to be a Stakeholder, complete only the Membership Application Form. The Institute will use your project registration information to add you to the contact list for the CoP.
If you wish to join as a Project Member, you must complete and submit the following forms:
- Membership Application Form
- Project Brief Form
- Project Readiness Assessment
Click on the title to access the corresponding form.
How can I learn more about the work of the Connections Community of Practice?
Contact Debra Bara, the Institute’s community manager for Connections at connections@phii.org.