DEVELOPING EFFECTIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIPS TO SUPPORT THE INTEGRATION OF COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

PHASE I OBJECTIVES ARE TO RESEARCH EXISTING SERVICE INTEGRATION FINDINGS AND INITIATIVES TO DETERMINE THE ORGANIZATIONAL AND KEY INDIVIDUAL FACTORS RELATING TO SPECIFIC KNOWLEGE, INTERPERSONAL AND PROBLEM-SOLVING/DECISION-MAKING SKILLS, AND COMPETENCIES ALONG WITH PRACTICES AND BEHAVIOURS USED BY SUCCESSFUL SERVICE INTEGRATORS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. THE OFFEROR WILL ALSO EXPLORE WITH PUBLISHERS THE PRINTING AND MARKETING OF THREE PRODUCTS TO REPLICATE SERVICE INTEGRATION INITIATIVES IN COMMUNITIES. METHODOLOGY WILL INCLUDE A LITERATURE SEARCH AND ON-SITE INTERVIEWS WITH KEY INFORMANTS INVOLVED IN SERVICE INTEGRATION. THE RESULTS OF PHASE I WILL BE A COMPENDIUM OF ORGANIZATIONAL FACTORS AND INDIVIDUALS SKILLS, COMPETENCIES, PRACTICES AND BEHAVIOURS REQUIRED FOR SUCCESSFUL SERVICES INTEGRATION. THESSE RESULTS WILL BE PUBLISHED DURING PHASE II IN THE FORM OF THREE PRODUCTS: 1) A "HOW TO" TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE MANUAL FOR LOCAL SERVICE INTEGRATION EFFORTS, 2) A STRUCTURED TRAINING PACKAGE 3) A COLLABORATIVE PRACTICES AND BEHAVIORS OF SUCCESSFUL LEADERS OF COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS. ALL THREE OF THESE PRODUCTS WILL BE MARKETABLE IN RURAL AND URBAN COUNTIES AND CITIES OF ALL SIZES, INTERESTED IN REPLICATING SERVICES INTEGRATION INITIATIVES.