Other lessons learned about collaboration are contributed by respondents to the System Change Survey. Be flexible, patient, and persistent. Communicate clearly and regularly. Be aware of and respect other agencies roles, structures, and abilities. Get key players from each agency on board early.
Leadership is especially important to have on board before attempting to pull in their staff.
Provide resistant agencies with an incentive to participate in collaborative endeavors. Working your way into a community requires persistence and patience. Conduct a needs assessment and involve community members at each step. Respondents working with Hispanic communities stressed the importance of service provider staff who are both bilingual and bicultural, establishing trust by forming relationships with victims, and recognizing the centrality of family in the Hispanic culture. You may need to change not only your approach but also your definition of success.