Collaboration refers to a voluntary, strategic association of individuals and/or organizations joined together to enhance each other’s capacity to achieve a common purpose by sharing risks, responsibilities, and rewards.

It is not enough to announce to the community that you are there, ready to provide services.  You and your organization must build relationships with families, traditional helpers, individual professionals, and/or community-based organizations.

Consider the following questions:

▶  What benefits might you and your patient/clients realize if you were to collaborate (or collaborate more, or more effectively) in your target communities?

▶ What are you already doing in the community you serve that could be considered collaboration?

▶ What concerns or fears do you have about initiating a collaborative relationship?

What concerns or fears do you think members of your target community might have about collaborating with you?