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In this issue:

Integrated Service Delivery

Minnesota Achieving Integrated Service Delivery

FACT FIND has researched collaborative/cooperative service delivery efforts to children and families in many states across the nation.

FACT FIND concludes that:

• There is no one recommended, proven effective model for a state-level umbrella agency to coordinate service integration.
• Most successful collaboration is initiated at the local level with the support of strong state-level interagency agreements.

FACT FIND recommends that:

• Minnesota adopt a position of supporting and facilitating cooperation and collaboration at all levels, rather than create a new state-level agency to govern provision of services.

Fact Find Suggests . . .

Goals for Service Delivery

To develop a flexible system that:

• has comprehensive, unified, effective, and efficient program administration;
• avoids fragmentation and duplication;
• facilitates and promotes cooperation among state agencies; and
• supports regional, local, and private collaborative efforts.

To assure a service delivery system that uses state-level supports, but at the same time reflects local community characteristics and resources, allows for local input, and focuses on prevention.

Need for Legislation

To provide funding for community collaborative efforts at the design, the implementation, and the evaluation stages.

To provide incentives which will encourage communities in collaborative efforts appropriate to their locale and population. Reward success with such things as cash prizes, trips, recognition/awards, or increased funding.

To allow flexibility in funding for services to children and families.

To provide ongoing technical assistance and training on collaboration to state and local groups.

To require and fund evaluation of program development and service delivery.

Need for Legislative Oversight to
Assure Coordinated Service Delivery

Suggested Strategies

• Provide information to help communities expand existing models or to design and implement new collaborative service delivery plans.
• Provide technical assistance at state, county, and local levels regarding consolidating and sharing information, working within existing data privacy laws.
• Assist local efforts to access monies through corporations, foundations, and state and federal agencies.
• Work with the University of Minnesota, State Department of Education, and other appropriate institutions to design a collaborative education and training program at the pre-service and inservice stage.
• Examine current data privacy practices to assure state and county agencies are allowing flexibility in information sharing, as current laws permit.
• Assist collaboratives in identifying and implementing systematic evaluation strategies to assess program development as well as the quality of service delivery.
• Set realistic expectations, allowing counties, school districts, and local private service agencies necessary time to develop a coordinated service delivery plan appropriate to their individual communities.

Fact Find is published by the Center for Early Education and Development (CEED), University of Minnesota, 1954 Buford Avenue, Suite 425, St. Paul, MN, 55108

ceed@umn.edu (email)
http://cehd.umn.edu/ceed (Web)

CEED provides information regarding young children (birth to age eight), including children with special needs, in the areas of education, child care, child development, and family education. CEED activities include research, training, and publications geared toward improving professional practices, supporting parents, and informing policy development.

The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity employer and educator. The College of Education and Human Development is committed to recruiting, enrolling, and education a diverse population of students who represent the overall composition of our society. This publication is available in alternate formats upon request.

Copyright © 2004 by Center for Early Education and Development

These materials may be freely reproduced for education/training or related activities. There is no requirement to obtain special permission for such uses. We do, however, ask that the following citation appear on all reproductions:

Reprinted with permission of the Center for Early Education and Development (CEED), College of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota, 1954 Buford Avenue, Suite 425, St. Paul, MN, 55108; phone: 612-625-2898; fax: 612-625-6619; e-mail: ceed@umn.edu, web site: http://cehd.umn.edu/ceed.