This is the first in a three-part series designed to assist communities in effectively planning, developing, and implementing community-based collaboration that will have a direct impact on the lives and well-being of Oregonians.
"Community-based collaboration," the focus of this paper, is the process by which citizens, agencies, organizations, and businesses make formal, sustained commitments to work together to accomplish a shared vision. Community-based collaboration requires a commitment to share decisionmaking and the allocation of human, physical, and financial resources. When communities do not develop a pattern of collaboration, they diminish community development potential. Without collaboration, lack of direction, win-lose behaviors, lack of commitment, and poor planning result. Effective collaboration results in win-win-win situations. Collaborating partners create flexible working environments where authority is shared, each person is challenged to do his/her best, and all are involved in the process of improving the outcome, the service, and the community condition. After outlining nine trends in society that support the growth of community-based collaborations, this paper reviews how collaborations enhance the community. The foundations of collaborations are explained under the topics of "vision," "commitment," "leadership," and "action." The elements of a good action plan are listed, along with the roles and responsibilities that characterize an effective collaboration. The paper concludes with discussions of a systems approach to service delivery, challenges for collaboration, and components of successful community-based collaborations. Sources for resources are suggested.