Interagency Collaboration: Transition’s Reality Show Sharon deFur Jeanne Repetto coe.ufl.edu

Winning this show counts… How is your team doing?

The Show’s Bottom Line States and Districts Need Effective…. Communication, Collaboration, and Accountability …………..Across All Systems to Transition.

Show’s Goal Interagency Teams that can meet the “Bottom Line”

All Teams Can Win Where is your team in the standings?

What League are You Playing In? State Level District Level Community Level

Teamwork Stages and Milestones Everson & Ivester, 2008 Forming Storming Norming Performing

Is it in the Forming Stage? Why are we here? Are there shared values and beliefs? Membership – who needs to be present? Resources: people, time, money - is there Commitment? Do we have Shared leadership and decision-making? What authority exists for the group?

Forming Stage Tools Identification of Core Development Team Development of Need for Team Determine Geographic and Community to be Served Develop a List of Potential Team Members Secure Commitment from Individuals and Agencies to Become Members

Let’s talk… What’s working to help interagency team forming? What are some ideas to help interagency team forming?

Is it in the Storming Stage? Why do we exist? What are stakeholders needs? What are our desired outcomes? How will we monitor our progress? How will we operate? What are some potential disagreements? How are conflicts resolved? How will we communicate?

Is it in the Storming Stage? Is there a decision-making process? How is leadership shared? How are members included? What is the communication process? When to meet? Where to meet? Why to Meet? How does the meeting work? Has the group developed operating agreements? How are they enforced? Reviewed?

Storming Stage Tools Resource Mapping Needs Assessment Develop a Mission Statement Meeting Agenda Organizational Chart 3 Year Cycle of Rotating Chairs Established Meeting/Communication Procedures

Let’s talk… What have been our interagency experiences in the storming stage? What are some ideas that can help our interagency team move past the storming stage?

Is it in the Norming Stage? Do we have an action plan? How can we assess our next step? How can we ensure we are addressing our assessed needs? How does the group reach decisions? Does the group impact policy?

Is it in the Norming Stage? What products does the group develop? e.g. materials, professional development, website, etc.. What policies or procedures need to be changed to implement our objectives? How can we effect these changes? Do we need a formalized interagency agreement?

Norming Stage Tools Set Goals Develop an Action Plan Identify and Evaluate Milestones to Reach to Meet Goals Evidence of Impact, e.g., published mission statement, website, policy changes, matrix of services, information packets Signed Interagency Agreement

Let’s talk… How has our interagency team demonstrated that we have adopted norms? What are some ideas that can help our interagency team be more proactive?

Is it in the Performing Stage? How can we maintain our direction and focus? How do we self-monitor and evaluate meeting our goals? How do we set new goals? Groups change as people come and go…How can we sustain our efforts and focus? How can we institutionalize interagency collaboration?

Performing Stage Tools Outside Evaluation Data Collection and Evaluation of Outcomes and Impact Yearly Meeting Focusing on Team’s Action Plan and Setting a New Agenda Networking with Other Interagency Teams Staying Focused on Meeting the “Bottom Line”

Let’s talk… How do we know we are performing well? What do we want to celebrate? What are some ideas that can help our interagency team be more reflective and use data for action?

Supports to Help Win the Game

Collaboration reflects a style or interaction for a specific purpose… Networking Meet and greet, information exchange, referral to one another’s agency Coordinating Ensuring that eligibility definitions don’t create barriers; timing of resource support compliments, doesn’t conflict Cooperating Sharing ideas and materials; working together on a specific project; Collaborating Sharing resources; shared ownership of successes and challenges

What are 9 Principals of Teaming? Stodden et al., 2004 The Team….. Reflects a Shared/Collective Vision 1. Promotes Empowerment for All Members 2. Demonstrates Shared Decision Making 3. Demonstrates Synergy 4. Regards Diversity as Necessary 5. Fosters Participation of Stakeholders 6. Facilitates Personal Growth of Itself and Members 7. Responsive to Authentic Context 8. Demonstrates a Dynamic Quality

References Everson,J., & Ivester, J. (2008). Using interagency and interdisciplinary teams to enhance transition services. In F. R. Rusch (Ed.), Beyond high school: Preparing adolescents for tomorrow’s challenges (pp ). Upper Saddle, NJ: Pearson. Stodden, R.A., Brown, S.E., Galloway, L.M., Mrazek, S., & Noy, L. (2004). Essential tools: Interagency team development and facilitation. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota, Institute on Community Integration, National Center on Secondary Education and Transition.