A City “Collabatory”: Researchers, Commissioners and Community Members Planning Interventions Together

Improving children's health and development in their early years is important, urgent and, cost-effective. But it's difficult to do. Using an example from Bradford in the UK we argue that integration, innovation and community engagement are key. Long-term funding also helps. Problems with multiple causes need "whole system" responses. This includes integration of research, commissioning and service delivery. We test innovations, learn about how they are received, modify them and test again. A dynamic research programme starts with innovations that are "science-based"-things the literature suggests might work-and then evaluates them. Science-based approaches may translate into being "evidence-based". If a community is not ready for an intervention what needs to be put in place to enhance that readiness? We use two examples of using the Community Readiness Model. For obesity interventions in Roma children the model underlines the need to build trust. For interventions targeting social and emotional health, service planners need to explain what they are seeking to do and why it might be valuable. If the community is on-board, the professionals work together and there is security in broad-based long-term funding our "collabatory" approach just might change bringing up children in this city.