Chapter 15 Partnerships and Collaboration: Critical components to Promoting Health

1. Chapter 15Partnerships and Collaboration:Critical components to Promoting Health

2. “…partnerships successfully bring people together, expand resources, and focus on a problem of community concern better than any single group or agency could do alone….” Frances Butterfoss, Coalitions and Partnerships in Community Health, 2007

3. Characteristics of Failed Partnerships • Unclear, unrealistic or vague goals • Unclear, unrealistic or vague roles, responsibilities, processes • Insufficient authority (or responsibility without authority) • Low trust; poor communication • Poor follow-through • Costs to members exceed benefits

4. Key Characteristics of Successful Collaborations • Environment • Membership characteristics • Process and Structure • Communication • Purpose • Resources Ref: Mattessich and Murray-Close, Collaboration: What Makes It Work? 2001

5. 20 Key Characteristics of Successful Collaborations • History of community collaboration/ cooperation • Group seen as legitimate leader in community, reliable and competent • Favorable political & social climate • Mutual respect, understanding & trust • Appropriate cross-section of members • Members see collaboration as in their self-interest • Share a stake in both process & outcome • Ability to compromise • Participation from multiple levels of organizations Source:: Mattessich and Murray-Close, Collaboration: What Makes It Work? 2001

6. 20 Key Characteristics of Successful Collaborations • Clear roles, rights, and policy guidelines • Adaptability • Appropriate pace of development • Open & frequent communication • Informal relationships and communication links • Flexibility • Concrete, attainable goals and objectives • Shared vision • Unique purpose • Sufficient funds, staff, materials, time • Skilled leadership

7. Key to Effective Collaboration:Common Interest Space Your Organization’s Interests Common Interest Space Public’s Interests Partners’ Interests

8. Steps to Building a Successful Partnership Prepare/ Groundwork Organize Partnership/Develop Action Plan Implement Action Plan/Monitor Progress Evaluate Sustain Partnership

9. Step 1: Prepare/Groundwork Determine public health problem, goals, and affected populations Conduct a preliminary analysis of the problem Assess the need for a partnership Identify potential partners/ stakeholders Assess potential partners’ appropriateness Convene a core groupof potential partners Identify other potential members

10. Step 2: Create Action Plan/ Organize Partnership This step involves two simultaneous sets of activities: developing an action plan organizing the partnership

11. Step 2a: Create an Action Plan Convene an initial meeting of the partnership Systematically assess the problem Identify leverage points and shared investments, partner skills and resources Define a sharedvision, mission, and goalssupported by all members

12. Step 2a: Action Plan (cont.) Develop an Action Plan:Outline specific objectives and steps to achieve each goal; set a timeframe for each objective Identify quick wins: Decide which goals/strategies will be addressed first

13. Step 2b: Organize the Partnership Ensure the partnership has characteristics for success not failure Ensure that partners’ needs are met Delineate roles, responsibilities, and commitments Delineate financial needs and resources Prepare appropriate legal documents and obtain approval

14. Step 2b: Organize the Partnership Establish clear ground rules or by-laws Determine: Governance structure Stable and committed leadership Roles, responsibilities and expectations of partners Decision-making processes Frequency, location, and duration of meetings Partners’ involvement in planning and priority setting

15. Step 2b: Organize the Partnership Establish clear ground rules or by-laws (cont.) How work will be done (e.g., work groups, committees) How progress will be communicated How basic tasks will be accomplished How to credit members’ contributions How to have clear lines of communication

16. Step 3: Implement Action Plan/ Monitor Progress Develop and maintain tracking system to record progress of partnership Adjust goals, objectives and steps Provide oversight to partner commitments and ensure adherence to action plan Reward and recognize contributions of partners

17. Step 3: Implement Action Plan/ Monitor Progress (cont.) Maintain consistent communication Ensure regular opportunities for informal contact Publicize successes Share new materials and information that are relevant to their organization and partnership

18. Step 4: Evaluate Evaluation should be planned from the beginning, not left until the end should be on-going process throughout the life of the partnership.

19. Step 4: Evaluate (cont.) Develop evaluation system that is S.M.A.R.T. -- Specific, -- Measurable, -- Appropriate, -- Realistic, and -- Time-framed

20. Step 4: Evaluate (cont.) Determine: What will be measured, when, how, and by whom How the data will be collected and by whom Who will analyze the results How the results will be shared How the results will be used to modify the action plan and partnership processes Evaluate: process, impact, outcome

21. Step 5: Sustain the Partnership Factors important in planning and implementing a partnership continue to play a role in maintenance of a partnership (e.g. leadership, degree of formalization, membership, management conflict, difference in member contributions and involvement)

22. Step 5: Sustain the Partnership (cont.) Common organizational problems once partnership is operationalized: Failure to produce desired outcomes Lack of administrative support for partnership activities Threats to autonomy of members Lack of consensus about membership or structure Disagreements about responsibilities Inadequate attention to other priorities

23. Step 5: Sustain the Partnership (cont.) Focus on team-building, decision-making and consensus development Adhere to established ground rules and lines of authority already established Monitor progress of activities: Track evaluation measures and keep members informed through newsletters, special mailings, distribution of minutes, conference calls, etc.

24. Step 5: Sustain the Partnership (cont.) Be able to document or demonstrateoutcomes of the partnership Secure resourcesfrom internal and/or external sources Review the range of partners Create processes for recognizing and celebrating achievements Communicate clearly and frequently withmembers Communicate with the public and the press