Building Effective Community Partnerships

Why do we need Partners?  Transition has to focus on the entire person  Reentry is a multi-faceted issue that requires multi-faceted solutions  It allows us to focus on what we know how to do best and what we have been mandated and funded to do

What is a Partnership? “ A group of leaders who use an inclusive strategy to establish shared goals and agree to use their personal and institutional power to achieve them” Institute for Educational Leadership

Steps to Building Partnerships Small group of leaders form around a common focus Small group of leaders form around a common focus Identify additional partners Identify additional partners Get Ready for Action Get Ready for Action Implementation or Action Implementation or Action

Key Questions Do we have a common understanding of the issues, problems, opportunities? Do we have a common understanding of the issues, problems, opportunities? How do we define success and how do we measure it? How do we define success and how do we measure it? Have we created a culture where mistakes and failures are allowed and do we learn from it? Have we created a culture where mistakes and failures are allowed and do we learn from it? Who does what, when, where? Do we have MOUs? Who does what, when, where? Do we have MOUs?

Sustaining Momentum – Warning!  It’s not about the MONEY, but …  After initial flurry of excitement, your partnerships will wane  Beware of institutionalizing the strategy

Sustaining Momentum - Ideas Expand geographical reach Expand geographical reach Develop new and non-traditional partners Develop new and non-traditional partners Deepen and broaden the focus Deepen and broaden the focus Revisit the initial agreement, focus and renew commitments Revisit the initial agreement, focus and renew commitments Collaborate with other partnerships Collaborate with other partnerships Develop graceful EXIT Strategy Develop graceful EXIT Strategy

Durham County Reentry 2000 Criminal Justice Resource Center (CJPP) Criminal Justice Resource Center (CJPP) Division of Community Corrections Division of Community Corrections Durham Police Department Durham Police Department Parole and Post-Release Commission Parole and Post-Release Commission

Durham County Reentry 2001 Criminal Justice Resource Center Criminal Justice Resource Center Division of Community Corrections Division of Community Corrections Durham Police Department Durham Police Department Parole Commission Parole Commission Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce Community College, Vocational Rehab Services, Weed and Seed Community College, Vocational Rehab Services, Weed and Seed

Durham County Reentry 2002 CJRC, DCC, Parole Commission CJRC, DCC, Parole Commission Chamber of Commerce, Community College, Vocational Rehab Services Chamber of Commerce, Community College, Vocational Rehab Services City of Durham: Police, Weed & Seed, PSN City of Durham: Police, Weed & Seed, PSN Religious Coalition for a Non-Violent Durham, Durham Congregations in Action Religious Coalition for a Non-Violent Durham, Durham Congregations in Action

Durham County Reentry 2004 CJRC, DCC, Parole Commission CJRC, DCC, Parole Commission Chamber of Commerce, Community College, Vocational Rehab Services Chamber of Commerce, Community College, Vocational Rehab Services City of Durham, Police, Weed & Seed, PSN City of Durham, Police, Weed & Seed, PSN Religious Coalition for a Non-Violent Durham, Durham Congregations in Action Religious Coalition for a Non-Violent Durham, Durham Congregations in Action Going Home Initiative, TASC, Job Link Going Home Initiative, TASC, Job Link

Durham County Reentry 2007 CJRC, DCC, Parole Commission CJRC, DCC, Parole Commission Chamber of Commerce, Community College, Vocational Rehab Services Chamber of Commerce, Community College, Vocational Rehab Services City of Durham, Police, Weed & Seed, PSN, Workforce Development Board City of Durham, Police, Weed & Seed, PSN, Workforce Development Board Religious Coalition for a Non-Violent Durham Religious Coalition for a Non-Violent Durham Going Home Initiative, TASC, Job Link Going Home Initiative, TASC, Job Link Durham Affordable Housing Coalition, other housing providers Durham Affordable Housing Coalition, other housing providers The Durham Center The Durham Center

Durham County Reconciliation and Reentry Ministry Initial Partners and Sponsors: Durham Congregations in Action Religious Coalition for a Non-Violent Durham Durham County CJRC

Durham County R&R Ministry Partnership Steps: –Shared Vision –Developed mutual understanding and appreciation of each other’s work –Identified existing gaps –Developed Program Idea –Developed Training Manual –Developed MOU –Ready for Action

Durham County R&R Ministry Partners: Durham Congregations in Action Criminal Justice Resource Center United Christian Campus Ministry, NCCU Parents of Murdered Children PROUD Workforce Development Board Project Safe Neighborhoods NC Conference United Methodist Church Individual Area Churches End Poverty Group Duke Divinity School

Words of Wisdom  Be honest, but gentle  Do no harm, and protect each other from making mistakes  Keep your agreements  Respect each other’s boundaries and professional knowledge  Don’t take your partners for granted