Creating community networks and collaboration
Networks have been established to provide resources, tools and methods that enable collaboration among human service providers, empowering them to take a transformative approach toward the delivery of services. As a result, the community will see:
o Expanded partnerships and strategic alliances
o Coordinated services and joint programming
o Shared resources and social impact
o Measurable client, organization, and community results
o Improved economic conditions for families
Community-based initiatives has been a principal in the national movement for collaborative practices and operations. This movement is rapidly expanding and the organizations that remain independent from the collaborative approach will suffer from the very fears that keep them working independently. By moving to a collaborative member of a other local initiative, an organization’s services, resources, and efficiencies will increase to better achieve your mission.
What is a Network's purpose?
The core purpose of the network is to support clients, funders, community leaders, government officials, program funders and human service providers that continually seek innovative human service delivery practices that reduce costs, maximize public dollars, break cycles of dependency, and create economic stability within the community.
How do the partners work together?
The partners mutually agree to work together through a memorandum of agreement and shared governance and service coordination models. Some groups establish by-laws to create a leadership and decision-making structure that provides stability and long-term sustainability.
Agencies agree to the following:
o Develop and implement an integrated interagency system
o Nurture and monitor shared system values and responsibilities
o Commitment by partners to ongoing communication, planning and oversight functions
o Measure and evaluate client, organizational and system level outcomes
o Establish and maintain a common framework for screening, assessment, data collection and information management
What return on investment can be expected from this initiative?
There is no doubt that strategic implementation of a collaborative network along with establishing a community-wide framework amongst service providers will provide substantial financial benefits to communities at large.There are conservative estimates of savings in select community initiatives and organizational efficiency and productivity. In one community, the local network has been able to leverage more than $150,000 to expand utility assistance over a three-year period. Another community has been able to return more than $1.3 million in Earned Income Tax Credits by creating a Financial Stability Coalition to coordinate Volunteer Income Tax Assistance programs throughout the county. Any one of these examples justifies the system and investment many times over. Collectively, they represent a potentially revolutionary impact on the community and in the lives of those for which we seek to provide assistance.
Who can I contact for more information?
Additional information about community networks is available through: Lisa Freeman of Progressive Concepts Consulting, 260-804-0587 or www.progressivenonprofits.com
o Expanded partnerships and strategic alliances
o Coordinated services and joint programming
o Shared resources and social impact
o Measurable client, organization, and community results
o Improved economic conditions for families
Community-based initiatives has been a principal in the national movement for collaborative practices and operations. This movement is rapidly expanding and the organizations that remain independent from the collaborative approach will suffer from the very fears that keep them working independently. By moving to a collaborative member of a other local initiative, an organization’s services, resources, and efficiencies will increase to better achieve your mission.
What is a Network's purpose?
The core purpose of the network is to support clients, funders, community leaders, government officials, program funders and human service providers that continually seek innovative human service delivery practices that reduce costs, maximize public dollars, break cycles of dependency, and create economic stability within the community.
How do the partners work together?
The partners mutually agree to work together through a memorandum of agreement and shared governance and service coordination models. Some groups establish by-laws to create a leadership and decision-making structure that provides stability and long-term sustainability.
Agencies agree to the following:
o Develop and implement an integrated interagency system
o Nurture and monitor shared system values and responsibilities
o Commitment by partners to ongoing communication, planning and oversight functions
o Measure and evaluate client, organizational and system level outcomes
o Establish and maintain a common framework for screening, assessment, data collection and information management
What return on investment can be expected from this initiative?
There is no doubt that strategic implementation of a collaborative network along with establishing a community-wide framework amongst service providers will provide substantial financial benefits to communities at large.There are conservative estimates of savings in select community initiatives and organizational efficiency and productivity. In one community, the local network has been able to leverage more than $150,000 to expand utility assistance over a three-year period. Another community has been able to return more than $1.3 million in Earned Income Tax Credits by creating a Financial Stability Coalition to coordinate Volunteer Income Tax Assistance programs throughout the county. Any one of these examples justifies the system and investment many times over. Collectively, they represent a potentially revolutionary impact on the community and in the lives of those for which we seek to provide assistance.
Who can I contact for more information?
Additional information about community networks is available through: Lisa Freeman of Progressive Concepts Consulting, 260-804-0587 or www.progressivenonprofits.com
