Illinois Head Start State Collaboration What is it? Why should we do it? How do we do it? Together we can do what none of us could do alone …

Collaboration: What is it? We must all hang together or assuredly, we shall all hang separately. --Benjamin Franklin _______________________________________________ Collaboration is the most intense level of working together. It is a structure & a process for creating CHANGE. A collaborative effort is driven by partners who agree to share information, activities, resources, influence, power & decision-making authority to achieve common goals – goals that no single partner or program could achieve by acting alone. From Community Partnerships Working Together, US DHHS

Collaboration: What? Working together toward a common vision Keeping the focus on the children & families and quality services Asking & answering “What’s in it for me?” Trying new ways Negotiating conflict and differences Communicating, committing, evaluating Giving up turf & some control, but maintaining uniqueness & strength Achieving greater results

Collaboration: What? It is because modern education is so seldom inspired by great hope that it so seldom achieves great results. The wish to preserve the past rather than the hope of creating the future dominates the minds of those who control the teaching of the young. --Bertrand Russell _______________________________________ Hard work, pooling resources ($ & human) – WORTH IT!

Collaboration: Why should we do it? Because fragmentation in the early care & education community is a serious issue … it causes turf-ism, unresolved conflict, lack of communication & leadership, etc., etc. = diminished services Because the children & families deserve the best system we can offer them!

Collaboration: Why? Current early care & education system… PreK Child Care Head Start Families???

Collaboration: Why? Additional services, e.g., full day/year, health, family support Continuity of care Cost effective Improved quality More flexibility Strengthened community

Collaboration: Why? What’s in it for me? Head Start Strategy for becoming fully enrolled; reducing waiting list Meets ACF goal of collaboration/coordination Expanded services for families who need it, e.g., full day/year Greater community understanding of Head Start Stronger community Good business sense Focus on the child & family!!

Collaboration: Why? What’s in it for me? Child Care Additional curricular resources, materials, equipment Increased training & staff development resources Greater customer service, e.g., health, dental, parent involvement Stronger community Good business sense Focus on the child & family!!

Collaboration: Why? What’s in it for me? PreK Expanded services for families, e.g., full day/year, health, dental, greater parent involvement Engage earlier as partner with community in preparing children for school More children enter school ready Stronger community Good business sense Focus on the child & family!!

Collaboration: Why? The Vision Community coordinates to determine what program is best suited each family’s needs & desires Child/family needs & eligibility and parent choice drive collaboration What needs to happen in the community? 1. Community-wide child screenings 2. Good community assessment coordinated among programs – where are children & what is unserved population? 3. Children enrolled based on eligibility tiers

Collaboration: Why? The Vision Level 3: PreK (at risk) Least Restrictive Level 2: Child Care (income/service) Level 1: Head Start (income/age) Most Restrictive

Collaboration: How do we do it? Get Together: Decide to act, select key players/partners, meet and set ground rules Build Trust/Ownership: Common knowledge base about each other, shared vision, revise ground rules, ID planning resources Develop Plan: Mission, environmental & capacity assessment, goals & strategies Take Action: Written agreement, implement plan, monitor & evaluate, revise At each stage, evaluate & celebrate!!

Collaboration: How? Key Partners Head Start Child Care Centers & Homes ECBG providers Child Care Resource & Referral and Community Action Agencies Parents Others, by community

Collaboration: How? Key Plan Components Staffing Parent Participation Community Participation Program Components Regulations & How bridged/implemented Funding Allocations/Budget Documentation Evaluation

Collaboration: How? Models A single program or agency blends/braids funds and program requirements from multiple sources at a single site. Two or more agencies, which are separate legal entities, partner to serve children at a single site. These collaborations generally include two types: those that co-locate, or share only space, and those that actually share programming & funding. A program or agency partners with family child care home providers. Adapted from QUILT materials.

Collaboration: How? Working Together For information on specific models and contacts, visit the Illinois collaboration web site at

Collaboration: How? Operational Checklist Is a Written Agreement in place? Has the case management system & record keeping been revised? Is there a system for access to needed records & information? Are confidentiality protocols in place & understood? Does the database include the collaboration?

Collaboration: How? Operational Checklist Does the collaboration team meet regularly? Are communication systems used effectively? Is conflict appropriately addressed? Have job descriptions been revised? Is there a collaboration manager with appropriate support/authority? Are we doing cross training?

Collaboration: How? Operational Checklist Have the goals been communi- cated effectively? Is the team regularly assessing progress on the plan? Is data being collected & analyzed? Are team members following through? Is the community aware of the collaboration? Are you evaluating for outcomes?

Collaboration: How? Possible Resources Partners’ training and other funds Child Care Quality Funding Head Start State Collaboration Office Training/Technical Assistance Providers (BAH, StartNet, CCR&R, etc.)

Remember!!! Focus on children & families! Every partner is valuable – respect & value each other! It is good business for us to work together! Hold to the vision! Honor agreements! Persist!!! Coach Dean Smith to Michael Jordan in his freshman year at UNC: “Michael, if you can’t pass, you can’t play.”