A roundtable on cross-sector collaboration and resource alignment for health equity: Meeting summary

Cross-sector collaboration is a highly recommended strategy to eliminate health inequities nationally and globally. In the federal sector, it is evolving into an important approach for solving complex social problems, as evidenced by its steady proliferation the past few decades. Despite the increased adoption of cross-sector collaboration, it is still not a default strategy or preeminent option for managing complex social problems. In September 2015, the Federal Interagency Health Equity Team (FIHET) hosted a Roundtable event to discuss opportunities and strategies to foster widespread adoption of cross-sector collaboration and resource alignment. The Roundtable featured several expert panelists and participants from the government sector, foundations, and communities, and explored issues, barriers, and innovation in this area of practice. Key recommendations from the Roundtable centered on mission alignment, increasing investments in infrastructure and capacity building, establishment of common language and goals, and embracing innovation to overcome institutional barriers. Participants also offered recommendations to improve funding infrastructure and requirements, increase information access, and foster cross-sector collaboration at the local level. (author abstract)