Advantages of Collaboration
Stimulates excitement at local level
Collaboration has more credibility, influence, and ability to accomplish objectives than a single entity
Encourages a comprehensive approach, reduces duplication
Ensures all voices are heard
Creates sustained change
Effective collaborations can stimulate excitement at the local level, because the broader the collaboration the more likely it is that the project will be successful.
Effective collaborations have more credibility, influence, and ability to accomplish objectives than a single entity, because each agency or individual brings their own assets to the table.
Effective collaboration encourages a comprehensive approach and reduces duplication. For example in the Detroit Nursing Facility Transition project, Citizens for Better Care employees were already in nursing facilities on a regular basis. It was a natural for them to identify the people who wanted to leave the nursing facilities. So, the Detroit Area on Aging contracted with them for that purpose.
Effective collaborations can ensure that all voices are heard. The individuals and agencies that are part of the collaboration will be inspired to help, partly because they were part of the decision making process.
Effective collaboration creates sustained change. When the system needs changing, as it does for long term care, the broader the collaboration, the more likely the system will respond. For example, the Long Term Care Task Force Recommendations are being taken seriously, partly because of the broad collaboration that is represented by its members.