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Effective Strategies for Interagency Collaboration: What Works from Districts that are Doing It!

Effective Strategies for Interagency Collaboration: What Works from Districts that are Doing It!. Why Focus on Interagency Collaboration?. Adolescents with disabilities in transition have complex support needs Inability of different systems to work together

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Effective Strategies for Interagency Collaboration: What Works from Districts that are Doing It!

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  1. Effective Strategies for Interagency Collaboration: What Works from Districts that are Doing It!

  2. Why Focus on Interagency Collaboration? Adolescents with disabilities in transition have complex support needs Inability of different systems to work together 88% of all states have failed to establish interagency linkages under IDEA No agency has all that is needed to plan & provide comprehensive transition services

  3. What does Interagency Collaboration Mean? Collaboration Service Coordination Cooperation Networking (deFur, et al., 1997; Dunst & Bruder, 2002) Independent agencies function as one entity with problem-solving, sharing and merging of resources Agencies interact on regular basis for shared decision-making, accountability & trust. Jointly scheduled activities & planning time exist Assisting youth to gain access to services; IEP team coordinates supports and resources IEP teams identify range of services available in community and can make referrals to other agencies

  4. Barriers to Interagency Collaboration “an unnatural act between two non-consenting adults” (Agran, et al., 2002) Poor & inaccurate perceptions of outside agencies by school staff, students and parents Nonexistent or ineffective procedures for collaborating among agencies The way schools operate The way agencies operate Shifting roles of teachers and school staff

  5. LEA Capacities & Strategies Scheduling and staffing Early planning Flexibility in location of services Follow-up after transition Administrative support Funding State support Collaboration with adult agencies • Meeting with students and families • Training students and families • Joint training of staff • Meeting with agency staff and transition councils • Transition portfolios • Disseminating information widely

  6. LEA and SEA Attitudes Clear value of relationship building Relationship Building Capacity: Positive Attitudes Relationship-Building Strategies: Advocacy Ongoing meetings Transition councils

  7. How Interagency Teams Develop • Several years to achieve • Team that is highly proactive & committed to community vision. • Trust is extended & team has developed flexibility and is able to adapt to changes. • Involvement in the team is constant & self-initiated • Teams reinforced by the smaller successes & committed to major systems-level changes that requires high levels of collaboration for: policies, funding, procedures, and staffing. • 1 year - team accepts diversity in personal styles & have learned to trust one another • Systematic problem-solving is well established & most feel comfortable with their roles • Communication is task-oriented • Members have developed relationships as a support outside of the team meetings. • Excitement & newness • Teams focus on specific tasks that are do-able to gain confidence & trust • Time on training, networking, & information sharing • Interpersonal skills, problem-solving approaches, conflict resolution, dialogue skills all critical • 4-6 months - sense of letdown & stress about shifting roles • Need to review vision/mission & compare performance to goals. • Discuss what has been learned & decide on how to operate better as a team. Step 1: Getting Started Step 2: Going in Circles Step 3: Getting on Course Step 4: Full Speed Ahead

  8. Community Resource Mapping to Enhance Collaboration Step 1: Pre-Mapping Vision Goal-Setting Partnership-building Step 2: Mapping Identify a process Collect Data Develop Products Step 3: Implement Map Results Strategic Planning Communicating Supporting Community Action Step 4: Evaluation/ Mid-Course Corrections Keeping Current Continue to Measure Maintain Momentum From: Crane, K. & Skinner, B. (2003). Community Resource Mapping: A Strategy for Promoting Successful Transition for Youth with Disabilities. NECSET Information Brief

  9. Map IT! What agencies would you contact to work with Heather or James? Think about their postsecondary goals and what you know about community agencies/organizations.

  10. What is Most Critical for Interagency Collaboration? Role of the Transition Coordinator Leadership Systems Change • What does it mean for you? • What strategies and capacities can you start now? • What will take more time?

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