Urban
Resilience
Governance
Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 Community Action Plans
Description
When faced with the social and economic challenges of a public health crisis like COVID-19, community organizations can play a key role in addressing population needs and fostering community resilience. But how can these networks be supported so they generate the most relevant impacts and lessons?
This research project examines the implementation and impact of COVID-19 community action plans (CAPs) on the island of Montréal and in the neighbouring cities of Longueuil and Laval. The CAPs are the result of the philanthropic initiative, Fonds COVID Québec, which has funded concerted plans at the local level to help stop the transmission of COVID-19, facilitate screening and vaccination, and support seniors and vulnerable people. Locally, the CAPs bring together public institutions (CISSS/CIUSSS), levels of governance (boroughs and cities), and community actors (organizations and networked groups).
Objectives
The objective of this project is to study different approaches to implementing CAPs, along with their subsequent impacts. We are specifically interested in the dynamics of governance, collaboration, and coordination mechanisms, along with factors that could promote or limit CAP implementation, as well as lessons to be learned to ensure the CAPs’ sustainability.
The research project is focused on the second phase of funding from Fonds COVID Québec, extending from February to August 2021. To meet the project’s objectives, Cité-ID will conduct a comparative analysis of eight of the 26 funded CAPs.
Expected results
This study will
- seek to understand the operating modes of the CAPs as well as the factors influencing implementation;
- document their impacts;
- deepen knowledge on inter-organizational collaboration in response to crises;
- Identify lessons learned for organizations intent on using this intervention model in the future.
Mandate
The Foundation of Greater Montréal and Philanthropic Foundations Canada have contracted Cité-ID to study the impact of community action plans (CAPs) financed by Fonds COVID Québec on beneficiaries and implementing organizations. The mandate also consists of identifying conditions that promote or hinder the sustainability of the CAP intervention model. The study is directed by Marie-Christine Therrien, full professor at ENAP and director of Cité-ID, and is being conducted in collaboration with the Direction régionale de la santé publique (DRSP) of Montréal.