Sustained resident engagement
can result in more effective and equitable health policies
and practices-and increase residents’ support for them. Engagement-especially when sustained over
time-strengthens the regional networks that have direct,
positive effects on residents’ physical and mental health. Sustained resident engagement builds relationships between people, organizations, and sectors so that
they can understand and support one another better. Ensuring active resident engagement and leadership-in
which residents have a respected voice and real power in decision-making-is essential to creating the kind of
effective cross-sector collaboration that can transform regional health. This planning curriculum is designed
to help improve resident engagement strategies.