Partnership Analysis & Enhancement Tool Kit Cindy S. Soloe Research Triangle Institute (RTI) April Y. Vance Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) P.O. Box · 3040 Cornwallis Road · Research Triangle Park, NC Phone: · Fax: · · RTI International is a trade name of Research Triangle Institute.

Background: Why A Partnership Tool Kit? Created in response to staff surveys and assessments on partnership and collaboration Developed to enhance TA provided by Program Consultants to cooperative agreement recipients Addresses the following Program Services Branch goals: Goal #4: Strengthen relationships with existing partners and build new coalitions and alliances with private and public sector organizations in order to eliminate disparities in health. Goal #5: Provide education, training, and technical support to staff and partners.

Purpose: What Is the Partnership Tool Kit? A guide to help Program Consultants ask questions that will prompt programs to structure their thinking about partnerships Can be used by the Program Consultant with any cooperative agreement recipient Not an exhaustive how-to-guide, but a starting point to begin a structured dialogue about partnerships Will include a list of references to assessment tools, articles, and other resources for programs

Purpose: What are the Benefits of Using the Partnership Tool Kit? Provide a framework to help Program Consultants to work with their programs to build capacity around partnership Help Program Consultants develop an understanding of their programs and their programs’ partnerships Help Program Consultants provide more targeted technical assistance

Pieces of the Toolkit Determining the Need for Partnership Developing Partnerships Evaluating Partnerships Sustaining Partnerships

Tool 1: Determine Need Purpose of this tool: To determine the need for partnership (s) by assessing what an organization can and cannot accomplish by itself Sample Questions: What specific outcomes or products do you hope to achieve through your partnerships? How would partnerships provide additional expertise vs. duplicating expertise in your program?

Tool 2: Developing Partnerships This Tool includes 5 steps: Assessing Potential Partners Determining the Appropriate Level of Partnership Determining the Goal of Partnering Assessing Resource Needs Based on Partnership Goal Initiating or Enhancing Partnerships

Tool 2: Developing Partnerships Step 1 of 5: Tool 2: Developing Partnerships Step 1 of 5: Assessing Potential Partners Purpose of this tool: To assess potential partners to determine those that will bring the qualities or capabilities that complement those already represented by the program seeking partnership Sample Questions: How will these potential partners complement and strengthen your program? Has your program actively sought out new and non-traditional partners to include in your partnerships?

Step 2 of 5: Tool 2: Developing Partnerships Step 2 of 5: Determining the Level of Partnership Networking : Exchanging information for mutual benefit Coordinating : Exchanging information and altering activities for mutual benefit and to achieve a common purpose Cooperating : Exchanging information, altering activities, and sharing resources for mutual benefit and to achieve a common purpose Collaborating : Exchanging information, altering activities, sharing resources and enhancing the capacity of another for mutual benefit and to achieve a common purpose

Tool 2: Developing Partnerships Step 3 of 5: Tool 2: Developing Partnerships Step 3 of 5: Determining the Goal of the Partnership Purpose of this tool: To work toward a shared definition of the problem or issue to be addressed so that one or more common goals can be determined Sample Questions: What does your program most want to accomplish through partnerships? Is there a shared understanding of, and commitment to agreed upon goals among your program and all partners?

Tool 2: Developing Partnerships Step 4 of 5: Assessing Resource Needs Based on Partnership Goal Purpose of this tool: To determine the resources necessary to meet the identified partnership goal (s). Sample Question: What resources are necessary to effectively engage in partnerships for this program?

Tool 2: Developing Partnerships Step 5 of 5: Initiating or Enhancing Partnerships Purpose of this tool: To negotiate, establish, and document partner organization roles within the partnership Sample Questions: What basic ground rules have been established to help guide partnership actions? Has your program established mechanisms to link specific individuals and/or organizations to specific partnership objectives to ensure that the objectives will be carried out in a timely manner?

Tool 3: Evaluating Partnerships Purpose of this tool: To improve partnership practice in progress, refine and test hypotheses regarding partnerships’ contribution to performance and outcomes, and suggest lessons for future partnership work Sample Questions: Are the resources your program has allocated for partnerships adequate (e.g., staff time, funding)? How have partnerships solved problems that emerged during implementation? What data are you collecting to determine whether the goals of your partnerships been met?

Tool 4: Sustaining Partnerships Purpose of this tool: To help programs initiate sustainability efforts early in their partnerships and revisit them frequently throughout the life of each partnership Sample Questions: To what extent has a shared definition of sustainability been developed (i.e. what does it mean to sustain)? How will you determine whether components of the partnerships need to be sustained? To what extent has your program identified a clear need and commitment for continuing the partnerships?

We need your help! The Tool Kit is still under construction. If you have comments or feedback please let us know. Thanks!