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 | Introduction to Effective Partnerships | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Effective partnerships between agencies, schools, colleges or universities, businesses,
government, and residents for the benefit of the community are a vital part of
youth service in America. Service-learning collaborations provide students with
an increased confidence in their ability and show the community that young people
can make valuable contributions. (PA Service-Learning Resource and Evaluation
Network) By working together, we can reach a larger population, avoid duplication
of efforts, make better use of resources and deal more effectively and thoroughly
with the myriad of problems faced by our young people. Whether it is schools partnering
with Volunteer Centers, community based organizations partnering with business,
or youth corps partnering with nursing homes, the potential for and productivity
of effective partnerships are limitless. However, there are a number of issues
related to creating effective partnerships and this Fact Sheet provides some resources
that will get you thinking about how to develop and sustain them. "Full collaboration, includes not only the exchange of information, altering activities and sharing resources, but also enhancing the capacity of other partners for mutual benefit and to achieve a common purpose." (Working Together for Youth) It is important to realize that da Vinci did not paint the Mona Lisa the first time he picked up a paintbrush. Since full collaboration is the most complex form of partnership, it may not be the best way to start partnerships among organizations that are unfamiliar with each other. For example, a school that has never worked with a community based organization may want to start a partnership by networking or coordination, which are simpler forms of partnership. Networking is simply sharing information for the benefit of both parties, while coordination includes a willingness to alter activities to achieve a common purpose. So our school may choose to work with a community organization by sharing relevant information about its curriculum; that is networking. If the school (or teachers at the school) decided to teach a unit at a different time during the school year because it fits in with a service opportunity, that would be coordination. A slightly more ambitious form of partnership is cooperation. It builds on coordination by involving shared resources. In our example, the community organization might provide brochures and background information for students and teachers. Establishing these partnerships and personal relationships can prepare people and organizations to enter into strong true collaborations for service-learning. Remember success is the best way to encourage continued partnership, so be sure to set goals that are concrete and obtainable, especially at the early stages of a partnership. Like a piece of art, true collaboration is a long-term process, often going through many revisions as our environment and relationships change. However, there are a few techniques that will ensure the final masterpiece is ready for the gallery. Here are a few simple guidelines, or techniques, to guide you as you form collaborations for service-learning:
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| Benefits of Service-Learning Partnerships | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Establishing Effective Relationships | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Discussion Starter Questions | |||||||||||||||||||||
The following questions can help you start conversations about partnering with
schools, agencies or campus. Remember it will also be important that you provide
answers to these questions to potential partners.
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| Sorting Out Agency/School Partnerships | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Steps to Successful Partnerships | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1. Identify Potential Partners | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 2. Identify Needs Which are of Mutual Concern | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Determine Individuals Who Will Serve as Primary Liaisons in the Planning and Implementation Process | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 3. Set Up a Local Advisory Board | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Negotiate and Agree Upon Desired Outcomes for: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 4. Negotiate and Agree Upon Expectations for: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5. Determine Best Method for On-Going Community and Evaluation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6. Periodically, Redesign Relationships Based on Changing Needs and Circumstances | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Select Bibliography & On-Line Resources | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Building Bridges: Across Schools and Communities; Across Streams of Funding Cross-City Campaign for Urban School Reform (1998) This report summarizes a 1997 conference that brought community activists, school reformers and community funders together to talk about how to organize for reform using local resources and strategies, and combining school and community efforts. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| The New Community Collaboration Manual National Collaboration for Youth (1997) Provides philosophical background of the seven keys to successful collaboration (shared vision, skilled-leadership, process orientation, cultural diversity, member driven agenda, multiple sectors and accountability). | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Coordinator's Handbook of The Thomas Jefferson Forum: A Comprehensive Guide
for Developing High School-Based Community Service Programs. Thomas Jefferson Forum, Inc. Boston, MA: 1991. This manual has an excellent section on forming partnership and gaining support from the community and schools. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A Pocket Guide to Building Partnerships for Service-Learning National Education Association (1996) This guide offers insight into starting partnerships between schools and agencies for strong Service-Learning Programs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service-Learning Educator PA Service-Learning Resource and Evaluation Network Describes practices that promote collaboration and demonstrates the value of collaboration between schools and community. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seven Tips to Building an Effective Partnership U.S. Department of Education (1998) Tips for building partnerships with schools, parents, community organizations, businesses and faith groups. This article was created by the Partnership for Family Involvement in Education to help strengthen communities and improve educational standards. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thinking Collaboratively: Ten Questions and Answers to Help Policy Makers Improve
Children's Services Charles Bruner (Education and Human Services Consortium) (1991) Provides some questions to ask in the planning stages of partnerships and addresses some of the limitations of collaborative partnerships. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Working Together for Youth RespecTeen (Lutheran Brotherhood) (1993) Pages 54-55 and 58-60 explain the different levels of collaboration and the six factors that contribute to effective partnerships. Find this item in the NSLC library. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| An Introductory Packet on Working Together: From School-Based Collaborative Teams
to School-Community-Higher
Education Connections Center for Mental Health in Schools (1997) This is a packet of materials on forming effective partnerships, including information on working together effectively and examples of model school-community collaborations. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Younger Voices, Stronger Choices: Promise Project's Guide to Forming Youth/Adult
Partnerships Michael McLarney, Loring Leifer (July 1, 1997) It's also important to partner with young people! This book shows how to create true partnerships between adults and youth for real community change. |
