Collaboration / Partnership
We all work in collaboration with clients, with community and government.
You'll find resources here that document the stages of collaborative partnerships. Citizens increasingly expect all orders of government and community agencies to work together to take a more coordinated approach to the services they deliver.
Building collaborative partnerships, however, can be a challenge. Families First Edmonton (FFE) research on its own collaborative partnership of 14 organizations shows that it is during the implementation stage -- when collaboration goes into action -- that collaborative partnerships are most tested.
The key to successfully navigating through that implementation dip is commitment to the shared vision and willingness to keep the lines of communication open.
Low income families who receive services can also be considered partners. During the Families First Edmonton (FFE) study, researchers explored with families their experiences dealing with and across systems to access services for themselves and their children. Their comments and stories provide further insight into the need to work together differently across sectors.