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EMPLOYMENT ONTARIO |
Types of partnershipsThe degree to which two or more agencies work together can fall into three main categories: cooperation, coordination or collaboration. These three types or categories of partnership are seen by some as a continuum, with cooperation being the starting point for working together, coordination being the next stage where a common vision is introduced and collaboration being the most complex and advanced type of partnership. Sometimes, a partnership starts out as an informal arrangement between two agencies and then develops into a more formal, structured agreement. Cooperation: Two or more agencies share information and may work together (usually informally) either for a short term project or on a permanent basis. Although there is a purpose for the partnership, there may not be a common vision or desired outcome. For example, a literacy agency partners with the Employment Ontario Resource Centre to ensure that resources that may be of interest to literacy learners and tutors are available in the community. In this type of partnership, each agency retains and makes decisions about its own financial resources. Coordination: Two or more agencies work together to share knowledge, decision-making and coordination of service delivery in the best interests of the participants. Coordination is more formal than cooperation. It can bring together organizations with different goals or visions to work on a shared or common goal. Each organization has its own role to play, but there is a common objective. For example, a community literacy agency works with a college academic upgrading program through an Academic Upgrading Partnership. In this type of partnership, agencies may make requests about how resources will be allocated, e.g. one agency may fund childcare, another transportation, and another may provide additional computer training. (For more information about Academic Upgrading Partnerships, see CLO's newsletter at www.nald.ca/clo/NEWSLET/07april/april07.pdf). Collaboration: Two or more agencies with common goals work together to plan, carry out and evaluate an outcome, a process or an event. Collaboration can include joint risk-taking and the sharing of authority and benefits for all partners. It is important to find the right group of organizations that share common goals and a commitment to achieving results. It is also important to develop an atmosphere of trust so that these organizations can work together effectively. For example, a literacy agency works with a Job Connect agency and an Apprenticeship program to help a learner develop and work through a goal path that provides basic and essential skills with job placement and eventual certification in an apprenticed trade. Or, a literacy agency works with an Adjustment Advisory Committee to address the literacy needs of laid-off workers. This type of partnership includes allocating resources towards a joint purpose or goal. Success ScenarioOttawa-Carleton District School Board For a number of years the Literacy and Basic Skills Program at the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) and the Neil Squire Foundation have worked together to deliver a literacy program to adults with severe physical disabilities. The Neil Squire Foundation is a Canadian national non-profit organization committed to providing education, technology and career development for people with physical disabilities. The program is delivered by a literacy instructor in a small classroom with the use of computer equipment adapted to the needs of the learners. The OCDSB receives funding from MTCU to deliver the program at the Neil Squire site, which is very accessible. The OCDSB takes full responsibility for the delivery of the program, including instructor salary and classroom supplies, and contributes to the Neil Squire Foundation the rental cost of the classroom and a small fee for administrative services. Neil Squire staff, in cooperation with the literacy instructor, screen potential learners and refer them to the program. The presence of the instructor on-site ensures ongoing communication with the Foundation although meetings are scheduled when necessary between the school board and the Neil Squire Foundation management. Good ResourcesFor a chart that compares the features of cooperation, coordination and collaboration and highlights the differences between these partnership approaches, see Dave Pollard's blog at http://blogs.salon.com/0002007/2005/03/25.html. Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada's Partnerships in Research provides an excellent overview of the collaborative process including strategies and challenges. |
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CLO gratefully acknowledges the financial support provided by the Ontario Government under Employment Ontario and the Office of Literacy and Essential Skills (OLES) and the technical support provided by the National Adult Literacy Database in developing this web site.
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