Nuts and Bolts #1Nuts and Bolts #1

Collaborative Partnerships and Collaborative Partnerships and Community EngagementCommunity Engagement

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ObjectivesObjectives

Participants will be able to:

Identify key collaborators and partners, and the steps to a collaborative process

Understand the key aspects to community engagement

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Collaboration and PartnershipsCollaboration and Partnerships

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Collaborative PartnershipsCollaborative PartnershipsA mutually beneficial and well-defined

relationship among two or more organizations to JOINTLY develop

structure and share

• Responsibility• Resources

• Authority• Accountability

• Rewards

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Why have a Collaboration?Why have a Collaboration?

To accomplish a common goal that To accomplish a common goal that none of the units alone can attainnone of the units alone can attain

To help agencies share information, To help agencies share information, resources, staff and equipmentresources, staff and equipment

To create an awareness of needs, To create an awareness of needs, problems, or opportunitiesproblems, or opportunities

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Characteristics of Successful Characteristics of Successful CollaborationCollaboration

Develops clear, concrete, achievable Develops clear, concrete, achievable goals.goals.

Operate in a receptive environment Operate in a receptive environment that facilitates its work.that facilitates its work.

Have good leadership.Have good leadership.Understand and respect each Understand and respect each

member for their different role and member for their different role and responsibility.responsibility.

Build cooperative teams.Build cooperative teams.

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Typical challengesTypical challenges

Differences among collaborators must Differences among collaborators must be understood and acknowledged.be understood and acknowledged.

Mixed loyalty that some members may Mixed loyalty that some members may have to their organization.have to their organization.

Merging of agencies can cause Merging of agencies can cause conflict.conflict.

* Lack of clarity* Lack of clarity* Lack of awareness* Lack of awareness

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Difficult Issues that Undermine Difficult Issues that Undermine CollaborationsCollaborations

Territorial questions

Confidentiality

Certification/Credentialing

Conflicting priorities

Political roadblocks

Financial resources

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Strategies to Overcome Strategies to Overcome Resistance in CollaborationResistance in Collaboration

Joining with the host schoolRelay the message that you are there

to support rather than supplant.Engage in ongoing negotiations with

key players.Developing common goals and group

consensus.Setting Boundaries.

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Establish a Planning Group Establish a Planning Group Composition ConsiderationsComposition Considerations

• Local health department

• Community or rural health center

• Community and/or teaching hospital(s)

• Mental health, substance abuse, and social service agencies

• Private physicians

• University faculty

• Elected Officials

• Business and community leaders

• Faith community

• School superintendent, board, or designee

• School administration and Faculty (school nurse, teachers, principals, guidance counselors, physical education, nutrition/food services)

• Students

• Parents

Community EngagementCommunity Engagement

What is community engagementWhat is community engagement

Why do it?Why do it?

How do you do it?How do you do it?

What is it?What is it?• It is a redistribution of powerIt is a redistribution of power

• Enabling the less powerful-marginalized Enabling the less powerful-marginalized from the political and economic gamefrom the political and economic game

• To make their own futureTo make their own future

Douglass Taylor, DirectorDouglass Taylor, DirectorSoutheast Community Research Center (SCRC)Southeast Community Research Center (SCRC)

Characteristics of Community Characteristics of Community EngagementEngagement

Transparent: all processes are openKnowledge Exchanged: expertise of both

partners affects decisionsDecision making is shared: joint planning,

shared authority and responsibility and collaborative evaluation

Trust: open and intentional evaluation of partnerships

SCRC, 2008

Community Engagement with a Community Engagement with a multicultural lensmulticultural lens

What is multiculturalism?

A process of recognizing, understanding, and appreciating one’s own cultural background as well as the cultural backgrounds of others.

SCRC, 2008

Multiculturalism…continuedMulticulturalism…continued

Stresses an appreciation of the impact of differences in social location – based on:

Race/ethnicity, gender, class/level, age sexual orientation, religion, physical/mental ability, immigration status, language, and military experience.

SCRC, 2008

Stages of Community Stages of Community ReadinessReadinessCommunity Tolerance: the problem or

behavior is normative and accepted

Denial: belief that the problem does not exist or change is impossible.

Vague Awareness: recognition of the problem, but no motivation for action.

Stages…continuedStages…continued

Preplanning: recognition of a problems and agreement that something needs to be done.

Preparation: active planning.

Initiation: implementation of a program.

Stages…continuedStages…continuedInstitutionalization: 1 or 2 programs

operating and are stable.

Confirmation and Expansion: recognition of limitations and attempts to improve existing programs

Professionalization: marked by sophistication, training, and effective evaluation

SCRC, 2008 adapted

Why Do Engagement?Why Do Engagement?

It enhances understanding of clients we serve.

Increases willingness to employ health services.

Expands and strengthens policy change process for sustainability (advocates and voters.

Aligns with new paradigms in health.

Why Do Engagement?Why Do Engagement?

Creates sustainable change in people and programs

Provides a ‘voice’ for clients

Increases sustainability by integrating into the community health model

SCRC, 2008 adapted

How do you do Community How do you do Community Engagement?Engagement?

Start where the people are

Levels of EngagementLevels of EngagementSCRC, 2008 adaptedSCRC, 2008 adapted

1. Informing: usually one way relationship, one agency producing and delivering information for use by the community

Agency Community(health, educationchild advocacy)Usually presentations, informational forums

LevelsLevels2. Consulting: more of a two way

relation where the community provides feedback to the agency. Agency is defining the issue on which the community’s view are being sought.

Agency CommunitySeeking advice from communityNo implication of a solution

LevelsLevels3. Participating: the community is

beginning to come more involved with increasingly shared perceptions and experiences. People are recognizing that they need to ensure their interests are taken into account.

Agency Community

More people getting involved, adding to the process through their experiences: writing letter, attending events, sending emails.

LevelsLevels4. Actively engaging: the partnership

includes and depends on the community in the policy making processes. The community is acknowledged for their critical role in the policy dialogue.

Agency Community

Taking action and learning together towards a common vision.