Partnerships, Interagency

Historical and Societal Perspectives

The familial and societal structures of the twenty-first century are much less cohesive and connected than those of past centuries. Families are separated by space, and in the United States, over 50% end in divorce. Small towns and city neighborhoods in which neighbors were familiar with one another, often attending religious services together, and sometimes even belonging to social groups formed around ethnic and cultural similarities, have been replaced by suburban, sometimes gated communities, and inner cities in which violence and crime keep people inside their homes and apartments. Families that do exist are primarily nuclear, with very little support available from extended family members. Most parents work, meaning that children are either home alone before or after school or in care provided by private providers.

In addition, the expansion of educational accountability mandates focused on student performance on standardized tests has resulted in increased concern about the growing gap between minority and poor children and their more affluent counterparts. Along with this concern has come a growing recognition of the impact of poverty on learning and the need to ensure that all children have the physical, social, and educational support they need to succeed in school.

These factors have resulted in an increased need for educational, mental health, medical, and human services for large percentages of children and their families. The added costs of providing such services have risen steadily [Page 731]over the last few decades, causing local, state, federal, and privately funded agencies to seek new avenues to deliver services in the most economical way possible. Creating interagency partnerships is one strategy that is being used to achieve this goal.

Interagency partnerships involve networking services in simple or comprehensive systems to attempt to ensure that client needs are met in ways that are convenient and cost effective. Although such partnerships have been on the rise in the past two decades, they are grounded in notions developed by such educators as John Dewey and Jane Addams, who stressed making connections with the community and the schools. The current movement was begun in the early 1980s.

Current Status

Some partnerships have been mandated by states. Florida was one of the first states to mandate interagency cooperation. Since then, other states such as California and Missouri have instituted similar initiatives. Often state funding is linked to agencies having to work together. In these situations, funds are shared in some manner, and guidelines or regulations for the partnership are usually also mandated.

Other partnerships are voluntary relationships in which two or more agencies freely enter into collaborative arrangement to better serve their clients. Groups involved in these partnerships are varied. In addition to school, health, and human service providers, partners often include those involved in the criminal justice systems, faculty from universities and colleges, members of religious groups, and formal or informal advocacy groups.

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