If we have heard it once we have heard it a hundred times – non-profits need to collaborate. Though this is true, it becomes an empty request from a funder when true partnership or collaboration is not feasible, possible, or the best solution, and frankly, it can run against what an agency is trying to achieve. Can agencies and youth service programs work in silos and be successful and sustain their services? Absolutely not. Here are some considerations to keep in mind:
- Define collaboration. Take the time to define what collaboration means to your agency overall, and your youth service program specifically. Also consider what collaborators you feel will support you in ensuring the sustainability of your services, whether or not you are still funded to do the work. Connect with others in your community doing good work, as natural partnerships (and future possible collaborators) will emerge.
- Look at non-traditional partners. Youth service work requires even more collaboration. Providers are expected to be involved with other systems such as justice, housing, health, and education. These systems have a direct impact on youth and young adults and have implications for practice. The youth with whom we work many times have contact with one or more of these systems. Epworth Children & Family Services in MO, and Auberle in PA, are two examples of agencies that have tapped into these partnerships for services (and funding). Understand that collaboration is an exchange and that you are bringing assets to the partnership. It is critical that we connect our work to these systems in order to ensure that youth in those systems have access to developmentally appropriate youth programming and that leaders of those systems have the resources to learn more about the youth being served. In this partnership, youth service providers emerge as the youth development experts that they are.
- Create pathways through barriers. In some communities, the youth service program is the only gig in town – and the one stop shop for everything. Think of rural communities and resource-deprived inner cities. In this case, how does one collaborate when there is no one else to share the work? For those communities with limited resources, this may be an opportunity to look at how programs with complementary services in different communities connect with one another to share resources and information and look at multi-community approaches to service provision. On the other end of the spectrum, think of large cities where there are many resources for youth, but no coordinated way to provide holistic services to the youth being served. How are youth best served when they often get bits and pieces versus a coordinated approach to service provision? All youth service providers should seek to learn from and replicate what works from disciplines that are building strong service coordination systems across the country where providers are working seamlessly to share referrals, information, and services to those in need, such as A Way Home Washington. This is a trend that will continue, and being informed and at the table will better position your agency to be proactive and responsive. There is a national effort around coordinated responses to youth homelessness, being spearheaded by United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, which provides a framework for communities to develop effective collaborations to end youth homelessness. Other unique collaboration models include statewide approaches to service provision and funding such as with Vermont Coalition of Runaway & Homeless Youth Programs and Wisconsin Association for Homeless and Runaway Services; and multi-community approaches such as with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Illinois.
- Celebrate our peers, partners, colleagues, and friends. Shining a spotlight on those with whom we work is a good thing, in both the short and long term, as the field is all lifted when we support and celebrate our individual and collective efforts. As one leader noted, “Because of lack of resources, there is a tendency to fight for them, which can lead to cutting each other down.” Operationally, meeting our financial goals is a reality and having a plan to keep resources flowing is crucial to the sustainability of services; the question lies in how we achieve these goals. “As a social sector, we are stronger when we prioritize clear, supportive alliances.”
Acknowledgements
Youth Collaboratory thanks the agency leaders that contributed for this paper their thoughts on what youth service agencies need in place to develop and maintain relevant and sustainable youth service programs: Patricia Balke, Executive Director Wisconsin Association for Homeless and Runaway Services; Lisa Goldblatt Grace, Co-Founder & Director My Life My Choice; Ella Holsinger, Vice President Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania; Carlos Lejnieks, Executive Director Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson & Union Counties; Mary Fraser Meints, Executive Director Youth Emergency Services; and Mack McGhee, Superintendent Department of Youth Rehabilitation Service, New Beginnings Youth Development Center.
