Nuts and Bolts 1 Collaborative Partnerships and Community

Nuts and Bolts #1 Collaborative Partnerships and Community Engagement

Objectives Participants will be able to: l Identify key collaborators and partners, and the steps to a collaborative process l Understand the key aspects to community engagement 2

Collaboration and Partnerships 3

Collaborative Partnerships A mutually beneficial and well-defined relationship among two or more organizations to JOINTLY develop structure and share Responsibility • Resources • Authority • Accountability • Rewards •

Why have a Collaboration? To accomplish a common goal that none of the units alone can attain l To help agencies share information, resources, staff and equipment l To create an awareness of needs, problems, or opportunities l 5

Characteristics of Successful Collaboration Develops clear, concrete, achievable goals. l Operate in a receptive environment that facilitates its work. l Have good leadership. l Understand respect each member for their different role and responsibility. l Build cooperative teams. l 6

Typical challenges Differences among collaborators must be understood and acknowledged. l Mixed loyalty that some members may have to their organization. l Merging of agencies can cause conflict. * Lack of clarity * Lack of awareness l 7

Difficult Issues that Undermine Collaborations l Territorial questions l Conflicting priorities l Confidentiality l Political roadblocks l Certification/Crede ntialing l Financial resources 8

Strategies to Overcome Resistance in Collaboration Joining with the host school l Relay the message that you are there to support rather than supplant. l Engage in ongoing negotiations with key players. l Developing common goals and group consensus. l Setting Boundaries. l 9

Establish a Planning Group Composition Considerations • Local health department • • Community or rural health center Business and community leaders • Faith community • Community and/or teaching hospital(s) • School superintendent, board, or designee • Mental health, substance abuse, and social service agencies • • Private physicians • University faculty School administration and Faculty (school nurse, teachers, principals, guidance counselors, physical education, nutrition/food services) • Elected Officials • Students • Parents 10

Community Engagement l What is community engagement l Why do it? l How do you do it?

What is it? • It is a redistribution of power • Enabling the less powerfulmarginalized from the political and economic game • To make their own future Douglass Taylor, Director Southeast Community Research Center (SCRC)

Characteristics of Community Engagement Transparent: all processes are open Knowledge Exchanged: expertise of both partners affects decisions Decision making is shared: joint planning, shared authority and responsibility and collaborative evaluation Trust: open and intentional evaluation of partnerships SCRC, 2008

Community Engagement with a multicultural lens What is multiculturalism? A process of recognizing, understanding, and appreciating one’s own cultural background as well as the cultural backgrounds of others. SCRC, 2008

Multiculturalism…continued Stresses an appreciation of the impact of differences in social location – based on: Race/ethnicity, gender, class/level, age sexual orientation, religion, physical/mental ability, immigration status, language, and military experience. SCRC, 2008

Stages of Community Readiness Community Tolerance: the problem or behavior is normative and accepted Denial: belief that the problem does not exist or change is impossible. Vague Awareness: recognition of the problem, but no motivation for action.

Stages…continued Preplanning: recognition of a problems and agreement that something needs to be done. Preparation: active planning. Initiation: implementation of a program.

Stages…continued Institutionalization: 1 or 2 programs operating and are stable. Confirmation and Expansion: recognition of limitations and attempts to improve existing programs Professionalization: marked by sophistication, training, and effective evaluation SCRC, 2008 adapted

Why Do Engagement? It enhances understanding of clients we serve. Increases willingness to employ health services. Expands and strengthens policy change process for sustainability (advocates and voters. Aligns with new paradigms in health.

Why Do Engagement? Creates sustainable change in people and programs Provides a ‘voice’ for clients Increases sustainability by integrating into the community health model SCRC, 2008 adapted

How do you do Community Engagement? Start where the people are

Levels of Engagement SCRC, 2008 adapted Informing: usually one way relationship, one agency producing and delivering information for use by the community Agency Community 1. (health, education child advocacy) Usually presentations, informational forums

Levels 2. Consulting: more of a two way relation where the community provides feedback to the agency. Agency is defining the issue on which the community’s view are being sought. Agency Seeking advice from community No implication of a solution Community

Levels Participating: the community is beginning to come more involved with increasingly shared perceptions and experiences. People are recognizing that they need to ensure their interests are taken into account. Agency Community 3. More people getting involved, adding to the process through their experiences: writing letter, attending events, sending emails.

Levels 4. Actively engaging: the partnership includes and depends on the community in the policy making processes. The community is acknowledged for their critical role in the policy dialogue. Agency Community Taking action and learning together towards a common vision.