Across the partnership models highlighted, organizations shared successful strategies they implemented to maintain sustainable, effective collaborations in rural areas. The table below summarizes major themes across these models that other organizations can replicate in their strategy.
| Theme | Description |
| Identify key partners | Identify key partners by reviewing the overall services landscape in your community and noting resource gaps. Reach out to possible collaborators to discuss how you can work together. Start by communicating the shared value of partnership to meet specific needs within the community. |
| Build trust | Take time to nurture relationships and build trust with community members and potential partners by having open and consistent dialogue. Discuss shared issues and develop solutions that leverage each partner’s strengths into a unified strategy. It takes time to seek out and foster relationships, so become a reliable partner that can be trusted to contribute to and maintain a successful collaboration. |
| Explore non-traditional partnerships | Reach out to faith-based organizations, health systems, and local school districts to explore opportunities for collaboration, referrals, and funding based on mutual benefit. |
| Establish clear roles to ensure efficiency |
Maintain open communication with partner organizations to ensure that all parties understand their roles and are not duplicating efforts, especially if funded by the same source.
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| Connect with volunteer organizations | Tap into local or national volunteer organizations to address gaps in needed services or supports. |
| Plan for funding sustainability | Recognize the limitations of certain funding and try to establish additional sources for items or activities not covered under primary funding sources. For example, Part C funds for CILs cannot be used to cover costs for obtaining housing such as security and rent deposits, yet most people supported by CILs lack the funds needed to cover these initial housing costs. CILs must rely on other funding sources to assist people with meeting this need. |
| Perform cost-benefit analysis | Perform cost-benefit analyses when considering smaller projects that are funded through short-term (~1 year) grants, estimating the work required and determining whether the work can be sustained once the funding expires. |