Factors of Successful Collaboration
Diverse Membership and Shared Leadership
- The team has a core group that regularly attends meetings.
- The team has a balanced representation of the partners and community.
- Team members feel they are a part of the team and they contribute.
- The team uses a consensus method to make decisions and set direction.
- Team members participate in a variety of roles at meetings.
- The team shares responsibility for accomplishing its work.
Shared Vision
- The team has a written description of its vision and desired outcomes.
- The team has/is developing a work plan that describes its goals and strategies.
- The team’s strategies demonstrate a collaborative approach.
Effective Communication
- Meetings are held/communication occurs regularly.
- The team has a plan it uses to share information.
- The team addresses conflicts in ways that strengthen rather than divide the team.
- The team regularly reviews its progress.
Support
- The community is aware of the team’s work, including the decision-makers.
- The team makes efforts to raise public awareness of the needs of children and families.
- Each member of the team contributes resources, directly or in-kind, to support the collaboration.
- The team shares its progress regularly with policy makers to advocate for children and families.
Adapted from Molloy, Fleming, Rodriguez, Saavedra, Tucker, and Williams (1995).
