Coming Together: Collaboration as a Tool for Change.

This booklet provides technical assistance for those interested in the collaboration process for early childhood programs and is based on the experiences of Collaborative Partnerships in Florida. Section 1 of the document describes the collaborative grant process in Florida with the goal of improving early childhood services and outlines eight key components of collaboration: (1) formalized partnership agreements; (2) collaborative staff development; (3) simplified system of entry; (4) outreach initiatives to increase family access to comprehensive services; (5) sharing of funding sources; (6) effective transitions; (7) inclusion of children with disabilities; and (8) use of validated information to enhance quality. Part 2 of the booklet presents a rationale for the collaboration process and discusses benefits and difficulties of collaboration. Part 3 examines the five factors critical to program success: the interagency council role, the partnership coordinator, quality, transition, and streamlined system of entry. Part 4 identifies lessons noted over the 6 years the collaboration grants have been in place. Areas of concern that interfere with the project coordinator's effective functioning relate to turf, time, and training. Transition issues relate to documentation and tracking, and bureaucracy and turf. Challenges presented by quality relate to monitoring and training. Impediments to producing an effective simplified system of entry include turf and bureaucratic issues. Concerns related to evaluation of the collaboration grant process center around planning and methods. Part 5 of the booklet asserts that collaboration has proved to be an effective tool for change and has improved resources for children and families in Florida. (Contains 10 references and suggested readings.) (KB)