Center for Civic Partnerships

Collaborative Functions

The 12 ‘C’s of a Collaborative

Collaborative Actions May Include:

Connection: Serving as the convener of its members to promote information sharing and networking.
Continuous Assessment & Planning: Coordinating needs and resource assessments to provide current information on service delivery gaps, existing needs and available community resources. Another collaborative function may be to convene and facilitate ongoing strategic planning activities.
Communication: Acting as a clearinghouse for information exchange and dissemination for its members and with the media.
Capacity Building: Building the knowledge and skills of individuals and organizations through trainings, providing information, etc.
Coordination of Services: Coordinating services in the community to improve service delivery and availability reduce duplication and address service gaps.
Collaboration: Participating in joint grant proposals and collaborative projects, pooled funding, shared resources and staff and co-located services. Organizations and community members share risks, responsibilities and rewards by working as partners. This requires a high level of trust and commitment to the collaborative process by decision makers and collaborative members.

Important Collaborative Attitudes Are:

Commitment: Collaboration requires an ongoing commitment from all members.
Consensus Building: Members agree upon a shared vision and participate in the development, implementation and achievement of the collaborative’s goals
Community Outreach and Involvement: A successful collaborative stays in frequent contact with the community it serves and involves community members in planning, decision making and other collaborative activities.
Conflict Resolution: Conflict is a natural occurrence in the collaborative process. Issues should be resolved immediately through a conflict resolution process developed and approved by collaborative members.
Cooperation: Collaborative activities promote a more cooperative approach in decision making and service delivery and enhance relationships between individual agencies and community. Information and expertise are shared, but agency resources and authority are usually separately maintained and risks are minimal.
Change: Change is a both a prerequisite and a result of successful collaboration! True collaboration requires organizations and the community to think differently about how they do business and usually requires change in their current systems to achieve collaborative goals.

Online Resources and Tools

The Alliance for Nonprofit Management
www.allianceonline.org
Provides management and governance information and support services to nonprofit organizations.

Association for Community Health Improvement
www.communityhlth.org
Develops and provides resources, networking, and models for healthy community movements.

Building Better Communities Network
www.bettercommunities.org
Supports community-building efforts to achieve social and economic equity by providing advocacy, conferences, information and technical assistance.

California Healthy Start
www.cde.ca.gov/ls/pf/hs
Brings schools, businesses, non-profits and governmental agencies together to develop school-linked services.

Center for the Advancement of Collaborative Strategies in Health
www.cacsh.org
Web-based tool that gives partnerships an exciting new way to assess how well their colloborative process is working and to identify specific areas they can focus on to make the process work better. There is no charge for this tool.

Civic Practices Network
www.cpn.org
Brings individuals, community based organizations, businesses, and institutions together. Provides tools, tips and positive examples of civic engagement.

Chandler Center for Community Leadership
www.cascadeccg.com
Focuses on the practical application of research, proven success and action to solve community problems.

Community Tool Box
www.ctb.ku.edu
Provides tips, tools and resources on all aspects of community building including: visioning, facilitation, collaboration, media and communication, participation, planning and evaluation.

Institute for Community Collaborative Studies
www.hhspp.csumb.edu/community
The Institute examines how human service delivery systems can function collaboratively; site provides information on class coursework and partner projects.

National Civic League
www.ncl.org
Advocates for and provides resources and support to civic engagement and community improvement efforts across the country.

Neighborhoods Online
www.neighborhoodsonline.net
Promotes neighborhood empowerment.

Pathways to School Improvement
www.ncrel.org
Research-based information on school improvement.

Pew Partnership
www.pew-partnership.org
Civic research organization with information on successful community solutions and civic practices.

Together We Can Initiative
www.togetherwecan.org
Leadership development and training support for collaboratives.

Suggested Reading

Adams, Bruce. Building Healthy Communities (from Leadership Collaboration Series). Report commissioned by the Pew Partnership for Civic Change. For more information about the Pew Partnership, write Pew Partnership for Civic Change, 145-C Ednam Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22903, call 804-971-2073.

Blank, Martin J. and Danzberger, Jacqueline 1996. Creating and Nurturing Collaboration in Communities. Details five cities working for collaborative change. To order, call 202-822-8405.

Gray, Barbara 1989. Collaborating: Finding Common Ground for Multiparty Problems Contact Jossey-Bass online at www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-1555421598.html or call 415-433-1740.

Healthy Start Clearinghouse Catalog. Provides planning and collaboration tools, publications and successful models. For more information or to order, click on link: www.hsfo.ucdavis.edu/download/catalog.pdf

Himmelman, Arthur T. 1992. Communities Working Collaboratively For a Change. To order, call 612-824-5507.

Kaye, Gillian and Wolff, Tom Ph.D. 1997. From the Ground Up! A Workbook on Coalition Building & Community Development. To order, call AHEC/Community Partners at 413-253-4283.

Kretzmann, John P. and McKnight, John L. 1993. Building Communities from the Inside Out; A Path Toward Finding and Mobilizing a Community’s Assets. To order, call ACTA Publications at 800-397-2282.

Mattessich, Paul and Monsey, Barbara R., Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, 1992. Collaboration: What Makes It Work. Detailed descriptions of the 19 key elements of collaboration. To order, call 800-274-6024.

Melaville, Atelia I., with Blank, Martin J. 1991. What It Takes: Structuring Interagency Partnerships To Connect Children and Families With Comprehensive Services.

Morse, Suzanne W., 1996. Building Collaborative Communities (from Leadership Collaboration Series). Report commissioned by the Pew Partnership for Civic Change. For more information about the Pew Partnership, call 804-971-2073.

National Assembly of National Voluntary Health and Social Welfare Organizations, 1997. The New Community Collaboration Manual. How to start and maintain collaborations; includes dealing with pitfalls and barriers and a step-by-step guide for organizing a town meeting or summit. For more info or to order, call 1-800-395-9800.

Winer, Michael and Ray, Karen, Amherst H. Wilder Foundation. 1994. Collaboration Handbook: Creating, Sustaining, and Enjoying the Journey. To order, call 1-800-274-6024.