The collaborative is responsible for the development and implementation of a plan for the delivery of services to target populations and for the attainment of interagency coordination. The success of the CETO initiative raises questions about effective, comprehensive service delivery strategies that move beyond cooperation. Cooperative initiatives usually improve the coordination of existing services but do not require commitment to a reallocation of resources toward mutually agreed upon community agencies. Cooperative ventures engage in networking and information sharing to better match needs with resources. Collaborations by contrast, establish common goals and mutual agreement for resource allocation.
Collaborations jointly plan, implement, and evaluate the joint effort.
Linking services to schools is a frequently discussed model of collaboration. Although the model is recognized as a successful strategy, researchers have raised questions about building a governance structure that favors a single institution. They contend that multiple access points are necessary to meet the varied needs of children and their families. Another model of collaboration is the New Futures Initiative in Savannah, Georgia. This initiative, one of four to receive a grant from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, seeks to reduce the overlapping problems of disadvantaged youth, school failure, unemployment, and teen pregnancy through substantive changes in the design and delivery of services.