1. Collaborations for Children and Youth: What Works! Graham Clyne, MA Director, The Calgary Children’s Initiative Collaboration for Preschool Development Learning Event November 29 th The Many Faces of Childhood Well-Being November 30 th 2007, Edmonton AB

2. 2 Sparrow Lake Alliance Symposium on Successful Collaborations 150 Professionals and leaders from different sectors – an all volunteer organization Committed to healthier child/youth outcomes through improved service integration and system change Host an Annual Conference, Specific Symposiums – Creating Reports / Recommendations Important cross sector networking and partnership opportunities for leaders with shared values What Works? – Four Community Stories of Success

3. 3 What Works? Big Picture Findings There is no single way forward – no formula There are common features and descriptors of effective collaborative partnerships Specific best practice behaviours are evident - among people, partners, agencies, and funders There are – and should be – tangible benefits for every collaborator Funding is not the driver behind successful community collaborations

4. 4 Common Elements of Success Create a Vision with Big Ideas…. Easily shared – overarching and inclusive Speaks to the aspirations of partner organizations and the broader community Creates latitude for future action, greater responsiveness Adds the potential to engage other “different” partners Revisiting the Vision is helpful when you struggle

5. 5 Common Elements of Success Work with the Willing… Partners who are ready to go – who buy into the vision Partners who see a “fit” with their organizational goals Make an effort to be inclusive – but don’t wait Create some immediate or short term wins Remember: Partners and their level of participation will change Merits of the work will enlarge/change the partners

6. 6 Common Elements of Success Innovative Leaders…. Styles that are open to risk taking and change Leaders that “see” and understand issues systemically People who are not “pre-occupied” with compliance Creativity should be strongly encouraged

7. 7 Common Elements of Success Partners as Navigators…. Able to openly share the limits and constraints of their organizations Helping to identify where / how strategies might fit with organizational imperatives Communicating the partners messages in their own organizations

8. 8 Building Momentum…. A launch event, local or external / expert “call to action” Celebrate any small early successes Describe the “value” created to any of the partners Tell the story of children and families who have benefited from the new way of doing business Common Elements of Success

9. 9 It’s all About People…. Provide time for personal and social networking Facilitate professional connections / opportunities Maximize face time esp. early in the process Share leadership opportunities among all the partners – regardless of size Demonstrate / verbalize your trust in one another

10. 10 Common Elements of Success Careful Maintainance is Required…. Collaboratives are dynamic and evolve over time Open communication is critical - at all levels Absence of problems: does not mean things are fine Opportunities are brought to and shared with the group The “tipping point” - “we” becomes commonly used to describe “our” work

11. 11 Best Practices Among Partners  How did agencies and their representatives participate?  What behaviours seemed common among successful collaboratives?  What actions and strategies sustained the partnership?  Where does leadership come from?

12. 12 Best Practices Among Partners Make it Local…. Critical to adapt to local circumstances Frameworks are modified as needed Plans change when opportunities arise Groups are not reluctant to “push back”

13. 13 Best Practices Among Partners Building commitment…. Personal and organizational commitment are both needed Cultures differ: how is your organizations best engaged? Communication vehicles and specific strategies required Tell / Sell the benefits to each organization Use your partners – cross board presentations

14. 14 Best Practices Among Partners Be and Stay Flexible…. Avoid elaborate written protocols / policies Big vision, clear principles, loose framework Be driven by principles – not policies Build a culture that values and celebrates innovation Remember the Big Vision whenever you need to

15. 15 Best Practices Among Partners Resource Implications…. Share what you can, whenever you can Make a Commitment – then figure out how Redeploy your resources and try new things Collaborative work should not be an add on – something should drop off the table

16. 16 Best Practices Among Partners Resource Implications…. Share what you can, whenever you can Make a Commitment – then figure out how Redeploy your resources and try new things Collaborative work should not be an add on – something should drop off the table

17. 17 Best Practices Among Partners Just Get Going.... Communities need to lead – not funders Process is fine – but its not an outcome Anticipate, create a problem solving culture Ready Aim Fire vs. Ready Fire Aim Aim Aim

18. 18 The Benefits of Collaboration Key Assumptions…. These will vary by community and agency Incentives / benefits tend to be quite specific Membership should have its privileges Many benefits occur “away from the table”

19. 19 The Benefits of Collaboration Better Outcomes for children, youth, families New information / new insights / better data Opportunities to Learn / Revisit your assumptions Collective responses to silo issues are preferable Shared funding opportunities where partners are needed

20. 20 The Benefits of Collaboration Mutual Support / Peer Support network of colleagues Opportunities for staff to learn, grow and innovate Piggy Backing and Resource Sharing There are notable synergies e.g. Able to do more, better

21. 21 Governments and Funders Create Incentives – use both carrots and sticks A loose framework, principles, intended outcomes Support the process piece – can be time consuming Research / Best Practice support – Challenge the group to reach for excellence

22. 22 Governments and Funders Participation should always be voluntary Support community funding decisions Co-conspirators! Lets try new approaches Model the service integration / collaboration you seek in communities

23. 23 The Role of Funding Funding if necessary, but not necessarily…. Can be divisive – especially during service shortfalls Resources for the process – can be helpful Small, flexible, funding to solve early problems Vision and directions should attract funding Partners will bring funding opportunities to the group Note: Funding was not considered as a dependant variable in the success of any collaborative projects

24. 24 Evaluating Your Collaborative Using these findings…. Review the SLA results (sparrowlakealliance.org) Turn the applicable findings into statements (e.g. We have a communications strategy for each partner to build organizational commitment) Have members score themselves, their organization and the collaborative against these statements (1-10) Discuss the similarities and differences in results – Strategize!