Presentation Materials: 

B5_BreakthroughCollaborations_presentation.pdf

A successful collaboration will be dissected from the macro and micro perspectives to teach what made it successful and how it was accomplished. Up for analysis will be the United Way funded initiative called THRIVE, a collaboration of a number of Houston-area organizations with a common goal of raising the level of financial education and financial freedom for individuals in the Greater Houston area. Attendees and presenters will chronicle the evolution of this challenging process, including the creation of an idea, the major players, writing the proposal, planning committee meetings, developing data systems, independent evaluation, and measurable outcomes.

Workshop objectives/takeaways:

• how to partner with the right people;


• effectively building a system;


• managing the process;


• establishing course corrections;


• conducting evaluations;


• using resources correctly; and


• working with stakeholders.

Presenters: Keith A. Rea, vice president of operations, and Joshua Reynolds, vice president of emerging programs and quality assurance, Family Services of Greater Houston

Workshop synopsis:

Collaborations are often the best method to align the strengths of multiple organizations into a “network” of care providers. And when done effectively, they can be the difference between serving a client and serving them well. It can be an interweaving of services from agencies with complimentary expertise striving for a common goal; at least that’s how you drew it up on paper.

What you thought you heard from the folks at the table when this idea was hammered out and the proposal was written. Now the award letter has arrived, the budget folks start working out who gets what, and everything seems to be moving in 10 different directions. This is where good ideas get turned into good collaborations.

This workshop is a case study/evaluation of a successful collaboration. What went well, what didn’t work, what got changed, what could have been done better, and what were the compromises. What it took to get the right people in the boat, and then get them to all row in the same direction with purpose and conviction will be covered.

This discussion will be both focused on resources and human needs and mindful of technology and systems requirements; how the pieces fell into place, and how the process was managed.