Creating Viable Partnerships
Developing and implementing a successful education program cannot be achieved by any one organization or agency—it takes a team effort. The benefits of effective partnerships and collaboration include:
- Strength in numbers
- Additional resources, expertise, and funding
- Well-coordinated and more efficient use of resources
- Better anticipation of program obstacles and potential solutions
Identifying all interested or potentially affected parties will help ensure success. A successful partnership will include:
- Policy and decision makers
- Engineers and transportation planners
- Educators (including teachers, principles, school board members etc.)
- Law enforcement officers and judges
- Advocates
- Health and safety professionals
Some strategies for building effective partnerships include:
- Understand the issues and the purpose of the partnership
- Seek to interest agencies and encourage cooperation
- Establish agreed-upon, long-term goals, strategies, and responsibilities
- Provide win/win situations
The National Center for Safe Routes to School Online Guide has a section that discusses strategies to develop partnerships and coalitions for SRTS programs. Chapter 2 of the How to Develop a Pedestrian Safety Action Plan guide also discusses ways to work with stakeholders to develop partnerships for pedestrian safety programs.
