A synthesis of lessons from past efforts suggests that although such problems cannot be solved without money, money alone will not solve the problems. There is growing agreement that 'measures to make services more comprehensive, and better coordinated' are fundamental components of the structural agenda for the new community.

Table 1: Models of Partnerships

donation - one-time financial or non-financial contribution to support program or service. Donors expectations may include public recognition or tax credits. An example of this would be a service club donating $1000. to a local family literacy program, or donating a set of books or a computer.

sponsorship - providing financial support for a specific time period or cycle of program, or providing contribution in kind for the purpose of supporting a program or service. For example, the local college might provide office space or equipment, or the library might make meeting space available, or provide memberships for family literacy participants. Again, the sponsor might expect public recognition in return for the support.

cooperation - two or more agencies share general information about their mandates, objectives, and services. They may work together informally to achieve their organizations' day-to-day goals, for example, through support or referrals. It is a relatively superficial level of agency interaction, as in inter-agency meetings and informal networking.

Agency procedures, policies, and activities remain distinct and separate and are determined without reference to the procedures and policies of the other agencies. The agencies are autonomous, function independently in parallel fashion, and work toward the identified goals of their respective programs. It demonstrates a peaceful co-existence, but is neither genuinely interactive nor interdependent (Swan and Morgan [1993] in Government of Saskatchewan: 71)

coordination - a multi-disciplinary approach where professionals from different agencies confer, share decision making, and coordinate their service delivery for the purpose of achieving shared goals and improving interventions.

Coordination is characterized by deliberate joint and often formalized relations for achieving shared or compatible goals. It involves establishing a common understanding of the services committed to and provided by each agency and by determining each agency's accountability and responsibility to specific groups…. Interagency coordination differs slightly from cooperation, but represents a more sophisticated level of interagency interaction. It is a process of engaging in various efforts that alter or smooth the relationships of independent organizations, staffs, or resources (Swan and Morgan [1993] in Government of Saskatchewan). For example, public health, social services, mental health, and school staff might hold case conferences to coordinate services for at-risk school children.

collaboration - Unlike any of the other models of partnership, collaboration requires two or more agencies working together in all stages of program or service development; in other words, "joint planning, joint implementation, and joint evaluation" (New England Program in Teacher Education [1973] in Hord [1986]). There is a cooperative investment of resources, (time, funding, material) and therefore joint risk-taking, sharing of authority, and benefits for all partners (Government of Canada 1995).

The term collaboration has been used to describe integrations that result from blending provider disciplines and usually involves several organizations working together in a unified structure (Mawhinney 1993 37).