is a service of the

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2009 Conference Call Series on Early Childhood Inclusion

Effective Strategies for Supporting Local Partnerships to

Promote Inclusive Practices

March 17, 2009

Presenters and Facilitators

Susan Rohrbough, National Child Care Information and Technical Assistance Center (NCCIC)

Ruth Littlefield, 619 Coordinator, New Hampshire

Joan Izen, PTAN Project Director, New Hampshire

Mary Peters, 619 Coordinator, Wisconsin

Marcia Flaherty, Director of instruction, Manitowoc

Public Schools, WI.

Debbie Cate & Kathy Whaley, NECTAC

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Webinar Goals

Gain information about conceptual frameworks that can be used to better understand characteristics of partnerships and interagency relationships.  

Gain information about state level

strategies to promote and support interagency partnerships and relationships at the local level.  

  Gain information about tools and

resources used by state and local partners to promote and sustain inclusive practices.

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Information Sharing

Collaborative principles & practices

Role & function strategies

Cross-system, cross-sector considerations

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Partnership Information

Collaborative leadership

Collaboration frameworks

Duration and intensity

Elements of successful partnerships

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Collaborative Leadership

Collaborative Leadership is developed by a group that is partnering to solve agreed upon issues. Leaders of the group use supportive and inclusive methods to insure that those they represent are part of the change process.

Source: Turning Point. (n.d.). Fundamental concepts: Facilitator’s guide. Retrieved February 5, 2009, from www.collaborativeleadership.org/pages/curriculum/manual_sections/Cl_fundamental_concepts_manual_facilitators_guide.pdf

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Collaborative Leadership Guiding Principles

1. Assessing the Environment2. Developing clarity3. Building trust4. Sharing power and influence5. Developing people6. Self reflection

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Collaboration Pyramid

Cooperation

Coordination

Collaboration

Com

mun

icat

ion

Source: Kagan, S.L. (1991). United we stand: Collaboration for child care and early education services. New York, NY: Teachers College Press.

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Cooperation Coordination Collaboration• Shorter-term informal relations• No clearly defined

MissionStructurePlanning

• Each organizationShares littleRetains authorityKeeps resources separateNo risk

 

• Formal relationships• Understood mission• Coordinated effort• Longer-term specific interaction• Planning & division of roles• Open communication channels between organizations• Risk increases• Power can be an issue• Resources & rewards shared

• Durable relationship• Become new, committed structure• Full commitment• Common mission• Comprehensive planning• Well-defined communication• New structure determines authority•Risk is much greater•Partners contribute resources & reputation• Power can be unequal•Re sources, results & rewards shared

Lower Intensity

Higherintensity

Collaboration ContinuumKey Relationships and Work

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Adequate fundingResource

managementTimeStaffingEnvironment (i.e.,

facility and space)

Equipment and supplies

Effective communication systems

Detailed, comprehensive planning

Service deliveryPolicies and

proceduresOngoing

evaluation and improvement

Shared visionMutual respectAttitude, beliefs,

and valuesSkillsKnowledge

RESOURCESSYSTEMSPEOPLE

Key Elements of Successful Partnerships

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Determine convener(s) and facilitation

Provide small and large group experiences

Build on assets and strengths

Strategic and operational planning

Individual and group engagement

Team-building and group process

Shared vision

Mutual respect

Attitude, beliefs, and values

Skills

Knowledge

ACTIONSTRATEGY PEOPLE

Partnerships Into Action

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Establish cross-system, cross-sector work groups

Provide professional development opportunities

Set meeting and communication schedule

Systems development & implementation

Joint, coordinated service efforts

Procedural guidance

Assessing our work

Communication systems

Comprehensive planning

Service delivery

Policies and procedures

Ongoing evaluation and improvement

ACTIONSTRATEGYSYSTEMS

Partnerships Into Action

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Determine community assets

Create a Partnership Management role or position

Conduct a review of setting and space

Diversify resources

Partnership management

Environment/space assessment

Adequate funding

Resource management

Time

Staffing

Environment (i.e., facility and space)

Equipment and supplies

ACTIONSTRATEGYRESOURCES

Partnerships Into Action

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Cross-system, Cross-sector Considerations

Creating/using frameworks or models

Acknowledging the role of, and

attention to, ‘people’

Responding proactively to system

effects

Managing resources14

State Dialogue with New Hampshire and

Wisconsin:Sharing Experiences and

Lessons Learned

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New Hampshire: Partnerships

People: Identified shared vision for inclusion of preschoolers with disabilities in child care

Systems: Worked cross-systems to develop strategy for improvement

Resources: PTAN and State Personnel

New Hampshire PTAN Child Care Inclusion Project

DOE Bureau of Special Education Priority: Preschool LRE

DHHS Child Development Bureau Priority: Decrease expulsion of

children with challenging behaviors Priority: Increase child care

placement options for parents of children with special needs.

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Services for Young Children & Families in

WisconsinBirth to Six Collaborations

www.collaboratingpartners.com

Comprehensive System Approach

•Mental Health & Social Emotional

Development

•Early Care and Education

•Parent Education

•Family Support

•Health and Medical Home

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Networks and Community

Partnerships

Networks & Community Partnerships

Wisconsin Early Childhood Collaborating Partners Regional Action Teams

Braided Funding for Regional Minigrants, Community Collaboration Coaches

Action Plans for regional initiatives and personnel development across sectors

Wisconsin

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System of Personnel

Development

State Personnel Development Grant

Priority Areas: Early Transitions, Early Educational Environments, and the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards

Statewide training conducted Includes information for community

approaches to expanding service delivery options for children with disabilities

Wisconsin

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New Hampshire’s Effective Partnership

At the local level -People: common goal of inclusion,

need to build respect, skills and knowledge

Systems: Need to coordinate efforts for young children and develop systems

Resources: Assessment of what each partner can bring to the table (more than fiscal)

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Promoting Preschool Partnerships Pilot Project

•PTAN Advisory Committee

•Development of a Self-Assessment Tool–Accessing Services–Acquire/Share info–Planning/Provide services–Admin support

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Early Childhood Program Support

Leadership

Early Childhood Program Support /Leadership

Preschool Discretionary Grants Common role in each region SPP Priorities Environments, Child

Outcomes, and Transitions (B 6, 7 & 12) Support LEAs and community approaches Regional Services Network

Wisconsin

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http://www.cesa4.k12.wi.us/programs-services/special/ec/mini-grants/index.htm

Statewide Support

www.preschooloptions.org -

Personnel Development

Mini Grant Process

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Using the Collaboration Tool in New Hampshire to Promote Inclusion

• Pilot Project: 2 communities, urban and rural– Preschool Special Ed Coordinator– Child Care Director– Parent of a child who receives services from both programs

• Pilot Teams meet with Advisory Committee - Used facilitators - Decision makers• Revisions to Self-Assessment Tool and Action Plan Form - Minor language changes

- Evidence box• Planning for statewide implementation

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State WideTraining

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Inclusive Practices in Wisconsin

Building collaborative relationships

• Establish multi-agency planning councils• Inclusive staff development:

Convenient times, substitute teachers, systematic and continuous• Respectful itinerant services

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Impact of the Self-Assessment Tool

- Better lines of communication - Preschool special education coordinator

includes child care colleague in all staff communications - Common and consistent language used- Less “we”-”them”- Using same communication notebook - Parent feels more connected and heard- Shared daily journals for children- Parent feels more empowered

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Inclusive Practices in Wisconsin

• Children are the center of our conversation

• Individual needs considered

• All early childhood environments respected

• Problem solving together

• Support one another

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What is the one lesson you have learned that you would like to share in partnering to promote

inclusive practices?

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Application to My Work

Sharing program practices – opportunity for questions

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ResourcesWrap-up and Next Steps

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Resources

• NCCIC Collaborative Continuum

• New Hampshire’s Self-Evaluation Tool

• New Hampshire Preschool Technical Assistance

Network, PTAN

• Preschool Inclusion in New Hampshire:

Promoting Partnerships to Make it Better!

• Wisconsin Early Childhood Collaborating Partners

• Pre-Kindergarten Children with Disabilities: A Guide for

Making System and Program Level Decisions

• NECTAC Inclusion page33

PACT: Partnerships, Alliances, and Coordination Techniques

PACT is an initiative of NCCIC, a service of the Child Care Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

PACT gives State, Territory, and Tribal policymakers—particularly CCDF Administrators and their partners—the resources they need to build more comprehensive and collaborative early care and school-age programs for serving children and families

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PACT Materials PACT consists of an introduction and six training

modules: Fundamentals of Collaborative Leadership Creating, Implementing, and Sustaining Partnerships Communication Strategies Financing Managing and Facilitating Successful Partnerships Building Capacity to Evaluate Partnership Initiatives

Modules include intersecting and complementing concepts to provide users with a comprehensive package

Materials are available on NCCIC’s Web site at http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/pact

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10530 Rosehaven Street, Suite 400 ● Fairfax, VA 22030Phone: 800-616-2242 ● Fax: 800-716-2242 ● TTY: 800-516-2242

Email: info@nccic.org ● Web: http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov

Thank You

NCCIC is a service of the

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