Now that you have a group of partners ready to work on a common goal, it’s time to create a shared vision for how to solve the toughest issues of children and youth. The “Connect the Dots” activity can help you to see how your team can create a unified plan out of the different priorities each partner brings. A strong sense of shared leadership and ownership will help your partnership succeed.

 

The next step is to agree on the rules and procedures that will help you work together effectively. These agreements might include forming an interagency management team to play an integral role in accomplishing the partnership’s goals. It is also a good idea to draw up a formal document with each partnering organization clearly stating the resources that partner will contribute. The tools and resources included here can guide you through these important processes.