The Community Collaboration Coaches Roles, Strategies, and Tools

Building New Ways of Partnerships Beyond Coordination Cooperation Collaboration To Convergence Consolidation of Service Delivery Building Community Based Public - Private Partnerships

Community Collaboration Coaches Guiding the Process Facilitating Not Doing Brokering Resources Finding Problem Solvers Mediating Conflict Developing Leadership

Coaches “Guiding the Process”  Start wherever the community is at and build on their strengths  Recognize different phases of community planning  Create community buy-In  Set vision and priorities  Keep children, families, and quality at the forefront  Promote inclusive practices, services to homeless children, and comprehensive services  Promote common professional development  Ensure process and product work

Coaches “Facilitating Versus Doing”  Focus on system development  Bring and keep stakeholders to the table  Utilize community leaders  Maximize existing resources  Creating safe meeting environments  Ask the guiding and/or “hard” questions

Coaches “Mediating Conflicts & Finding Solutions To Problems”  Clarify using the vision and principles  Identify facilitators from the community  Bring in the resources that address the issue  Seek advise from people in the community who are working well together on the issue  Look to people with knowledge of the issue

Coaches Sustaining Communities  Guide structure development: ongoing council or committees to address issues, oversee policies and practices, and accountability  Guide development of communication structures within community and among other communities  Touch base and/or be on call for ongoing feedback and clarification

Coaches Help Level the Playing Field Help schools become community planners and community member Help schools become community planners and community member Help community partners be comfortable at the table Help community partners be comfortable at the table Build local leadership among a wide array of stakeholders (not just schools): child care, Head Start, city government, United Way, health care, mental health groups, business, philanthropic Build local leadership among a wide array of stakeholders (not just schools): child care, Head Start, city government, United Way, health care, mental health groups, business, philanthropic

Coaches Get to Know Your Communities  Spread the word in the state/region (letters, inform regional administrators, highlight at conferences): state role  Begin to identify communities to target (starting, existing, or requesting communities and/or other priorities): state and coaches role  Get to know your key contact in target community – coaches send a letter, an , or a phone call  Advise in creation of steering council and community meetings  Foreshadow considerations and issues that could arise Support development of meeting agendas

Early Learning Community Approaches Decision Making Common Standards Mission and Vision Guiding Principles Values and Beliefs Curriculum Assessment Evaluation Learning Environment Family Partnerships Meals Transportation Health/Safety Contracts and Interagency Agreements Supervision Fiscal Human Resources Staff Development Goals and Action Plans Structures for Shared Leadership Communication

Early Learning Community Approaches Decision Making Common Standards Mission and Vision Guiding Principles Values and Beliefs Curriculum Assessment Evaluation Learning Environment Family Partnerships Meals Transportation Health/Safety Contracts and Interagency Agreements Supervision Fiscal Human Resources Staff Development Goals and Action Plans Structures for Shared LeadershipCommunication Coaches Focus

Coaches Take Time to Outfit Yourself  Identify foundation documents to use as resources  Learn about state resource people  Identify communities that can be resources, models, and supports  Identify perceived barriers and work that has been done to address them

Coaches Take Note  The perception of yourself changes with your old friends  You are your best resources, supporters and teachers -- make time to get together  Be prepared -- your roles are always changing

State Level “top down support for grass route effort”  Honor local control and unique community needs  Bring and keep state agencies and associations at the table  Carefully support policy development  Establish statewide networks  Promote quality early learning standards  Create broad based public support  Maximize your connections

State Level Support for Coaches  Advisory Council  Funding  Connections to regional structures  Communication tools such as a listserv  Networking tools such as group meetings or conference  Cross department or division policy development:  Early learning standards