Collaboration in the nonprofit world is a common way of doing business. Whether it’s to create back-office efficiencies, consolidating similar programs and services at different agencies, or bringing together several organizations to create community-wide change, nonprofit collaboration is a working reality in the health and human care network.
For the Heart of Illinois United Way, collaboration is not only a key component in how we raise dollars, it’s vital to making an impact on the education, income and health needs of our community. Last year, we concluded the fifth year of our Vision: 2012 strategic plan. The number one strategic goal of this plan was to position the Heart of Illinois United Way as a leader in solving the health and human service needs of our community by identifying issues, establishing and funding outcomes, creating community initiatives, and driving collaborative efforts.
From our Success By 6 early childhood initiative to the Heart of Illinois 2-1-1 information and referral service, our United Way is building community-wide relationships that are the foundation for a stronger and healthier central Illinois. As we transition from Vision: 2012 to our new Community Vision plan, the Heart of Illinois United Way is in a unique position to leverage partnerships in order to gain momentum at making a positive impact on the areas of education, income and health.
Here are just a few ways the Heart of Illinois United Way is effectively utilizing collaboration:
- The Heart of Illinois 2-1-1 information and referral service is a collaboration between the United Way and Advanced Medical Transport of Central Illinois. Available for citizens in Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford, Marshall, Stark and Putnam counties, our partnership with AMT provides comprehensive information and referral services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is staffed by people from central Illinois—in central Illinois. The only 2-1-1 call center in the nation to be managed and operated from a medical transport company, this collaboration not only provides a state-of-the-art facility, but highly professional staff who are cross-trained to answer 2-1-1 and 911 emergency calls.
- The primary goal of Success By 6, the Heart of Illinois United Way’s early childhood initiative, is to ensure that all children, from birth to age six, are healthy, safe, nurtured and ready to succeed by the time they reach school. The United Way has partnered with community leaders, local health and human care agencies, and early education professionals to focus resources on helping our region’s at-risk children. Since the program was launched, more than 180,000 new books and Getting Ready for School calendars have been distributed to at-risk preschool children.
- S3, Supporting Student Success (formerly Community in Schools), is a collaboration between Peoria Public Schools and Heart of Illinois United Way partner agencies. S3 focuses on improving academic achievement by providing in-school counseling and group support for substance abuse, violence prevention and mental health.
- Quality Quest for Health of Central Illinois has refocused its efforts this past year and partnered with the Peoria City/County Health Department and Heart of Illinois United Way to concentrate on reducing and preventing unhealthy behaviors among residents in Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford, Marshall, Stark and Putnam counties. This collaboration will maximize resources and develop strategies that will improve central Illinois’ health.
In deciding which programs to support through our outcome-based grant process, Heart of Illinois United Way volunteers look for collaborative efforts between agencies. Collaboration not only leads to greater efficiency, it also helps people in need have better access to services. This year, two new programs, both collaborations, received funding. Prairie State Legal Services formed a new collaboration with Community Workshop and Training Center, EP!C and Tazewell County Resource Center to provide legal advocacy for persons with disabilities; and the Children’s Home is collaborating with Easter Seals to fund teacher training and accreditation for a new autism school focused on children ages four to nine.
Establishing new relationships and utilizing existing networks are not new concepts for business, and as more nonprofit organizations use these practices to form successful collaborations, the opportunities for community-wide change grow exponentially. As the United Way moves forward with its Community Vision plan, it positions the organization to build collaboratively governed, community-wide initiatives that offer several organizations the opportunity to have a significant impact on priority needs in the community and improve the overall quality of life in central Illinois. iBi
