Return-Path: <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id eARHi8919623; Mon, 27 Nov 2000 12:44:18 -0500 (EST) Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2000 12:44:18 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <3A2263C1.1D8565A5@ccsdistrict.org> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: Jane Meyer <meyer_j@ccsdistrict.org> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:3280] getting started with family literacy X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; x-mac-type="54455854"; x-mac-creator="4D4F5353" X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.05 (Macintosh; I; 68K) Status: O Content-Length: 2474 Lines: 37 Sylvan, One specific thing we did to build collaboration in our first year of Even Start was to apply for a grant (ours was a special demonstration grant from the state ABE office) to work on community collaboration. With the money we set up several meetings and invited all the agencies in town. We held the meetings at the end of the work day and served nice snacks. I thought because I was the new kid that everyone else pretty much knew each other, but most folks didn't know more than a few. Each meeting included plenty of time for socializing and informal networking. It was great to put faces and names together and I know I felt more comfortable calling people I had met. Often as we talked together ideas for collaboration came up even when we weren't looking for them. We also ended up putting together a notebook of community resources and distributing it to all the agencies. We no longer use the notebook approach as now this information is available on line in our community, but 8 years ago it was a start. Even after the grant ran out a group of us met monthly for several years for lunch, networking, and a short presentation that we took turns arranging. There has to be a balance of vision and day to day operations in any program. It is easy to get overwhelmed setting up and managing a family literacy program. Mostly I felt the first 2 years like there wasn't ever time for anything but day to day stuff, but I forced myself to find time (by delegating and letting some stuff go) to spend time building collaboration because I knew it would pay off in the long run. I estimate that I spent about 1/5 of my time building collaboration the first few years. Now that I've established relationships it doesn't take quite as much time. Also if you work too hard to set up the program and then try to bring in collaboration there isn't anything for the partners to do - you've already covered all the bases. Working with partners meant we set up systems that worked for both of us instead of us making the plans and the partner trying to fit in. And, of course it should be mentioned that initial collaboration should begin before or during the grant writing process. Those whose collaborative partners are really just on paper will find it difficult to proceed with the project. We probably should have first written the grant for building collaboration and then done Even Start. Live and learn! Jane Meyer Canton (Ohio) Even Start
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