Getting Started

The process of starting a Shared Services Alliance can seem daunting. Potential Alliance sponsors often ask: What should I do first? How long does it take? Who should get involved? While every sponsor and every market is different, the work to develop an Alliance usually involves the following steps:

• Identification of Alliance goals
• Self assessment to determine likelihood of success as an Alliance sponsor
• Establishment of an Advisory Council of key ECE stakeholders
• Research to determine key issues facing child care providers, and which services potential Alliance participants would find most compelling
• Establishment of an Implementation Committee of knowledgeable, interested ECE providers
• Analysis of potential Alliance services and who might provide them, including organizations outside the ECE community
• Identification of an Alliance structure most likely to be effective
• Identification of funders who would be willing to fund startup and ongoing costs of the Alliance
• Determination of membership criteria, including quality measurement
• Development of a business plan and financial projections for the Alliance to provide services in a way that is financially sustainable with modest grant support

To learn more about the work involved in each of these steps, see Shared Services Starter Kit.