TOGETHERWe Really are Better!

How Collaborative

Efforts Support Each Child and

Family

Camille Catlett &Samtra Devard

We’re all in this together…

Ready?

Whose Child is it?

Collaboration

An unnatural act among consenting adults

Lily Tomlin

Models ofCollaboration: Silo Approach

Models ofCollaboration:

Limited Partnership

True CollaborationA commitment to work together across clearly recognizable sectors or subsystems to address problems and achieve goals that could not be accomplished by working individually

Mattesich et al, 2004

Principles of Highly Effective Collaboration

• Be proactive (take initiative & responsibility)• Begin with the end in mind (establish and live by your values)• Put first things first (prioritize)• Think win/win (find solutions that address multiple challenges)• Seek first to understand, then be understood• Synergize• Sharpen the saw (renew your physical, mental, emotional, and

spiritual selves)

Be Proactive

A Road Map for Facilitating

Collaborative Teams

Begin With the End in Mind

The essence of our effort to see that every child has a chance must be to assure each an equal opportunity, not to become equal, but to become different — to realize whatever unique potential of body, mind, and spirit he or she possesses.

John Fischer

Put First Things First

Minnesota Regional Centers of Excellence

Region 1 & 2Region 3Region 4Region 5 & 7Region 6 & 8Region 9Region 10Region 11 (East &

West)

• Higher preschool performance and promotion to next grade

• More positive engagement with peers, adults, and learning

• Buffers negative impact of poverty on academic and behavioral outcomes

(Family Engagement)

Think Win/Win: Engage Families to Help Children Succeed

Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood

Synergize: Hold each other accountable for the readiness of

each child in your community

Sharpen the Saw

Where do you go for good information?

identifying specific research-based practices that have been validated through a rigorous review process

Odom, Brantlinger, Gersten, Horner, Thompson, & Harris, 2005

Evidence-based practice decisions integrate the best available research evidence with family & professional wisdom & values

Buysse & Wesley, 2006; Buysse, Wesley, Snyder, & Winton, 2006

Last week

This week

ACTIVITY

COLLABORATIVE EFFORTSRequires A Philosophical Shift…From To

Visitors/Outsiders PartnersDeficits StrengthsControl CollaborationExpert Model Partnership

ModelInformation Gate Keeping TransparencyLack of Support Support OptionsRigidity FlexibilityPaternalistic Empowerment

Copyright 2010 Juliette Schlucter Bridgekeeper

Whose Child is it?

OURS

'Whose child is this? ' I asked one daySeeing a little one out at play'Mine', said the parent with a tender smile'Mine to keep a little whileTo bathe her hands and comb her hairTo tell her what she is to wearTo prepare her that she may always be goodAnd each day do the things she should'

'Whose child is this? ' I asked againAs the door opened and someone came in'Mine', said the teacher with the same tender smile'Mine, to keep just for a little whileTo teach her how to be gentle and kindTo train and direct her dear little mindTo help her live by every ruleAnd get the best she can from school'

'Whose child is this? ' I ask once moreJust as the little one entered the door'Ours' said the parent and the teacher as they smiledAnd each took the hand of the little child'Ours to love and train togetherOurs this blessed task forever.'

Jessie Girl Rivera

READY!!