Candidate: Cheryl Sibilsky-Soule

Degree of: Doctor of Philosophy

Department: School of Public Affairs and Administration

Title: Collaboration through Partnerships: A Review of Six Michigan Communities

Committee: Dr. Peter Kobrak, Chair
Dr. Matthew Mingus
Dr. Robert Lovell

Date: Friday, March 4, 2005 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
SPAA Conference Room

Abstract: The Federal Government supports the use of collaborative service planning for many federally funded programs. While there are anecdotal studies supporting community collaboration, its use has not been adequately evaluated. This study provides exploratory information regarding the relationship between successful collaboration and outcomes for children and families.
Data was collected from six Michigan communities using a survey tool sent to all members of the six community family coordinating councils. The tool was designed to measure eight factors seen in successful collaboration. The respondents evaluated their own collaborative council on these eight factors.
Three of the communities were thought to be associated with meeting all state-developed outcomes while three were thought to be associated with not meeting all state-developed outcomes. Comparisons were made using the student t-test and chi square.
The findings indicate that two characteristics were significantly related, in the expected direction, to state-developed outcomes, namely, the history of collaboration and adequate funding. For small communities studied, four of the eight factors were related, but not in the expected direction to state-developed outcomes. More collaborative bodies need to be studied before these results can be generalized.

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