School-Linked Collaborative Services and Systems Change

Abstract

Eilers / SCHOOL-LINKED COLLABORATIVE SERVICESThis study examines whether the alternative policy instrument, systems change, fits the problem of efficient and effective local services. An initiative known as school-linked collaborative services, implemented by a team of county-level policy makers and community-based teams, is the focus. The findings reveal that the policy instrument of systems change devolved authority to the street-level bureaucrats but not responsibility for meeting objectives. As well, the effort to minimize duplication of services through collaboration inadvertently created new layers of bureaucratic control. Implications suggest that systems change alone is not an adequate policy instrument. Suggestions for combining policy instruments of systems change and capacity building are discussed.

Collaborative dynamics in street level work: Working in and with communities to improve relationships and reduce deprivation

“…Adopting the BPT approach triggered a range of unanticipated challenges to emerge in the relational dynamics of the youth workers, youngsters, team leaders, line managers, agency directors, civil servants, researcher and other stakeholders. And even though productive dynamics eventually emerged, innovative approaches like community-centred working prove difficult to institutionalise (Eilers, 2002;Vos and Wagenaar, 2014: 424-425, 433-434). Stakeholders who lack relational grounding in the community might verbally support community-centred working but are unlikely to "get" what it requires of them (Bartels, 2017).…”

“…Again, the aim is to learn how the dynamics and roles of multiple actors sustain and could improve the quality of relationships in the collaborative network (Eilers, 2002) as well as the quality of their societal outcomes (Hastings, 2007;Lipsky, 1971;Maynard-Moody and Musheno, 2012).…”

“…This leaves unclear how to assess and improve collaborative dynamics in street level work; that is, how the actualisation of collaboration in interactions between street level workers has the potential to bring about changes in their situated practices which can mitigate societal outcomes such as socio-spatial deprivation. Indeed, some studies have engaged in cross-fertilisation of both literatures to start addressing this significant lacuna (Eilers, 2002; Gil de Gibaja, 2001; Kruiter et al., 2008; Marinetto, 2011; Romzek et al., 2014; Sousa and Costa, 2010; Vos and Wagenaar, 2014). This article contributes to these efforts at deepening understanding of the nature and impact of collaborative dynamics in street level work.…”

“…Next, formal structures and conducive antecedent conditions are understood as necessary but insufficient for fostering authentic and effective collaborative dynamics (Eilers, 2002; Hagedorn, 1996; Hastings, 1996; Marinetto, 2011; Romzek et al., 2014; Thomas, 1997; Vos and Wagenaar, 2014). Street level collaboration cannot be pre-structured but is an emergent process of interacting in unfolding situations.…”

Why Has Public Administration Ignored Public Education, and Does It Matter?

“… 22. Under the rubric of the collaborative services model, researchers have examined cooperative efforts among school districts and service providers (see Eilers 2002). …”