No one is in charge, and no agenda has been set. That will be the task of the collaborative. Recruiting key partners and incorporating them into the collaborative will take time. While working to develop a broad-based membership, partners also should work to make allies out of potential enemies. When recruiting members, organizers should look for people who will bring clout , commitment , and diversity to the table.
Clout refers to the ability to act for and allocate resources on behalf of one's organization.
Partners with clout will usually be the heads of organizations or those clearly authorized to speak for them. Commitment concerns a partner's willingness to put what is good for children and families before what is expedient for his or her own organization, constituency, or personal interest. Commitment relies not only on intentions but actions. It means that partners are willing to foster change in systems in which entrenched interests resist such efforts. Being committed also includes helping people in the partner's own group or organization see the need for and benefits of change and providing them with opportunities to contribute to the collaborative's planning and decisionmaking.