Collective Impact

Define: Collective impact occurs when organizations from different sectors come together to accomplish a common goal. For collective impact to be applied properly, the organizations must have a common agenda, shared measurements of success, mutually reinforcing activities, continuous communication, and a strong backbone organization to handle administrative duties and keep organizations on task.

Source: http://collectiveimpactforum.org/what-collective-impact

Apply: An example of the Collective Impact Model can be seen in Washtenaw County with the Washtenaw Health Initiative. The “headquarters” of this coalition are housed within the Center for Healthcare Research and Transformation, which serves as the backbone organization. Common health needs in the community are identified and addressed through multi-sector collaboration, including health systems, the public health department, payers, educators, philanthropy organizations, clinics, public bodies (such as city councils and county administration), housing organizations, faith organizations, and so on. Employees of these services volunteer their time to community projects which address common health concerns; each project has specified goals to be accomplished, and the organizations from these sectors all contribute time, expertise, and community reach to accomplish these goals.

Adapt: Collective impact could – and should - be utilized within government frameworks to promote collaborative and informed approaches to problems faced within governed geographic regions. By working formally with non-profit groups, research organizations, health care providers, educators, and others, governing administrations receive more informed feedback and community buy-in when attempting change.