Background Collaborative partnerships are increasingly recognised as valuable and essential tools for improving community health.

Aim To present the process used to establish a collaboration between a university and a community, including a description of the conceptual model that provided guidance for one such project.

Discussion While numerous studies explore the potential benefits of such efforts, few have addressed how to initiate partnerships. The initiation phase and formative work required are arguably the most crucial step, as they become the foundation on which all future efforts are built and through which sustainability is achieved.

Conclusion These formative steps are essential when working with Native American communities, which experience severe health disparities, but for which limited initiatives are available for community health interventions.

Implications for practice The approach used in this project can guide the establishment of a university-community collaboration, from initiation to evaluation.