Aligning Forces for Quality (AF4Q) is a national multi-stakeholder effort working toward common, fundamental objectives that lead to better care. All stakeholders, including consumers, health plans, clinicians, and employers, play a prominent role in achieving the AF4Q objectives to ensure the end results meet the needs of the AF4Q communities. A diverse set of committed partners, including robust consumer representation, is important to AF4Q’s long-term sustainability.

This document outlines a set of best practices for Alliances to recruit, orient, and support consumer stakeholders, also called community partners. It also contains resources consumers can use directly. While these best practices are aimed at consumer representatives, they are relevant to any group of volunteer stakeholders. AF4Q Alliances have implemented these best practices successfully.

Aligning Forces for Quality (AF4Q) is the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s signature effort to lift the overall quality of health care in targeted communities, as well as reduce racial and ethnic disparities and provide real models for national reform.