Building Alliances

Our work encourages the formation of Shared Service Alliances, with an initial focus on the early care and education (ECE) industry. We believe strongly in the value of collaboration, not only for those participating in a Shared Services Alliance, but also for those of us helping to build Alliances. While we are working with ECE practitioners to form Alliances, we are also working across the ECE system to build knowledge, expertise, policy support and funding to ensure the field’s growth.

Consulting with early care and education practitioners

We provide potential Alliance sponsors and child care providers with a growing set of Alliance implementation tools, to enable them to plan, start, and fund Alliances in a wide variety of settings.

Engaging funders

We communicate with current and potential funders, both private and public, in a variety of settings and formats, to help increase understanding of Shared Services, and to examine whether and how Shared Service Alliances can help achieve their program goals.

Facilitating a learning community

We bring together ECE stakeholders – practitioners, experts, and funders – to share progress, note challenges, and identify promising solutions and practices.

• Annual networking/technical assistance conference where existing and new Alliance sites gather with ECE funders and experts
• Series of webinars sharing information and best practices  (to add your name to the invitation list for future webinars, sign up for the Shared Services Learning Community)
• LinkedIn group encouraging conversation and resource-sharing
• “Community of Practice” to develop a cadre of consultants knowledgeable about ECE Shared Services.
  • Community of Practice Discussion Guide: “Alliances for Family Child Care Providers”, December 2, 2010
  • Community of Practice Discussion Guide: “Tools and Resources”, January 6, 2011
  • Community of Practice Tool: “Potential Concerns about Joining an Alliance”, January 6, 2011