CLOSING THE FRONT DOOR: RETOOLING THE CRISIS RESPONSE SYSTEM

ED BONILLA, MBA, MSMIDDLESEX UNITED WAY

Strengthening Local Partnerships

Effective Partnership

Basic Characteristics of a Partnership Coalitions, collaborations, associations, etc Relationship between two or more people or

organizations that are involved in the same activity

Characteristics of an Effective Partnership Cooperation between people or groups working

together; based on Mutual Trust Requires leadership at all levels of a system Need to influence/impact all levels of a system Must be managed/monitored

Local Partnerships - Relationships

MCCHH (Middlesex County’s TYP)

• Nonprofit providers: River Valley Services, St. Vincent DePaul Middletown, Kuhn, Connection, Community Renewal Team, Shoreline Soup Kitchen & Pantries, American Red Cross, CT Legal Services, Community Health Center, Mercy Housing & Shelter, Russell Library, CT Valley Hospital, YMCA, Gilead Community Services, United Labor Agency, Nehemiah Housing, Columbus House, etc

• Funders: Middlesex United Way, Liberty Bank, Middlesex County Community Foundation, Citizens Bank, TD Bank

• State of CT: Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Department of Labor, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Department of Social Services, Bureau of Rehabilitation Services

• Local Police and Fire Department

Local Partnerships - Relationships

MCCHH (Middlesex County’s TYP) (continued)

Elected officials Middlesex Hospital Housing Authority Middletown Adult Education Wesleyan University Middlesex Community College UCONN School of Social Work Middlesex Chamber of Commerce Real Estate & For-profit developers CCEH, CHC, Reaching Home, 2-1-1, etc Faith-based communities Youth Concerned residents, business owners, etc Consumers

Guiding Principles

The vision and goal of the Ten Year Action Plan requires bold action backed by strategic, thoughtful planning.

The following principles underlie the Plan’s goals and strategies, and will serve as the foundation for planning and implementation throughout the ten year process:

• No one should be homeless• Regional solutions to a regional problem• Utilization of evidence-based and promising

practices• Outcome-driven results• Galvanizing the community• Consumer-centered services• Cultural competence• Resilience and recovery

In a society that values the dignity and worth of individuals,

homelessness is unacceptable.

Leadership

Live & demonstrate the values everyday! Mutual trust – that each of us are engaging in this process

for the right reasons Willing to do what’s right in the best interest of the

community over what’s in the best interest of your own organization – some level of sacrifice; (e.g. Plan participation, Committee Chairs, in-kind services, Warming Center)

Willingness to try new things; (e.g. Local Prevention Fund)

System Impact

Committee structure must be designed to impact system at all levels; must be fluid & responsive

• Leadership Council• Steering Committee• Housing Committee• Employment & Training Committee• Prevention Committee• Communications & Advocacy Committee• Continuum of Care • LEADers in Homelessness Reality Committee

Partnership Management

Leadership is accountable to CoalitionAll committee’s accountable to

CoalitionCoalition is accountable to community

AnEndInTen.org

"Conversation is different in a community that works."

-- Dr. Judith Redwine, President, Blackhawk College

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes."

-- Marcel Proust, French novelist, critic, and essayist