Collaboration Assessment Guide and Tool

Abstract

This guide was developed to help multi-sectoral community collaborations associated with United Ways – Centraides to assess their “well-being”. Such collaborations address complex issues that require a comprehensive approach. Member organizations and participants develop a common vision, and share leadership and resources to work towards outcomes focused on long-term, systemic changes in the community. The tool is designed to assess the effectiveness of the collaboration’s internal structures and processes. It can assist participants in the collaboration to share their perceptions about the effectiveness of current and past processes, and the appropriateness of mechanisms and structures used by the collaboration to accomplish its work. It may be used to facilitate a group discussion or may be adapted for use as a survey or to interview key informants. The tool is intended to help you to develop, sustain and renew your collaborative initiative. However, it is not designed to help you assess the effectiveness of specific strategies that your collaboration may implement, such as public education or public policy advocacy, etc. While this tool refers to collaborations that work to improve outcomes for children and families, it can be easily adapted to a different focus. The tool was developed based on: a review of tools developed by other organizations; a review of literature on success factors in collaborations, and improving the sustainability of community collaborations; the UW-C Movement’s Standards of Excellence; and the experiences of children’s initiatives associated with United Ways – Centraides in Canada.

Description

Keywords

assessment, well-being, effectiveness, community collaboration

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