Creating a Shared Definition
What is a Collaboration?
Over the last few years, the CS3 Team has hosted Shared Learning convenings for community systems leaders, including both local early childhood collaboration leaders and Birth to Five Illinois Regional Managers. CS3 Consultants Jaclyn Vasquez and Dr. Rebecca Halperin facilitated the conversations, and together we have co-created the below working vision for collaborations.
Defining “collaboration” has been a challenge from the very beginning. Across Illinois, questions have continued to emerge: What makes a collaboration a collaboration? Is it defined by funding, geography, organizational structure, membership, activities, or focus? These conversations revealed that creating a single definition could unintentionally create boundaries around work that is inherently dynamic, locally driven, and deeply rooted in community context.
During our Shared Learning gatherings systems leaders have repeatedly returned to these questions. Through ongoing dialogue and reflection, participants collectively identified a desire to move away from creating a formal definition and instead embrace the concept of a co-designed vision of collaboration.
This approach recognizes that collaboration exists on a continuum. Communities organize differently, build partnerships in different ways, and respond to unique opportunities and challenges. A single definition cannot fully capture the breadth, creativity, and complexity of this work. Our goal has never been to determine who does or does not qualify as a collaboration.
Most importantly, this vision is not intended to establish boundaries, determine funding implications, or define the “right” way to collaborate. We recognize and celebrate the incredible work already happening in communities throughout Illinois. Our role is not to define that work, but rather to uplift, support, and learn from the leaders and partnerships that are advancing systems change and improving outcomes for children and families every day.
This vision is not static. We revisit it every six months, allowing it to evolve alongside the work itself and ensuring that it continues to reflect the experiences, perspectives, and expertise of communities across the state. Instead, this vision creates a shared understanding that allows communities across Illinois to see themselves in the work while honoring local knowledge, leadership, and decision-making. It serves as a reflection of the collective wisdom of practitioners rather than a prescribed set of requirements or expectations.
We choose to hold this vision as a living document, understanding that it remains a work in progress.
The current working vision is:
Early Childhood Community Collaborations bring together local, diverse, interested, and invested individuals which include families, to create a supportive, equitable, connected community network for young children and their families. Through relationship-building, these groups serve as trusted hubs that help families navigate the early childhood system, provide connections to critical resources, inform policies and program improvements. Their work is adaptive, ongoing, responsive to community needs, and evolves to work toward the goal of children having the support they need to thrive. Their work ensures parts of the early childhood system function together to promote positive results for families and communities.
Key elements of a successful collaboration include:
- A shared vision, goals, and definitions of success that guide the work and keep everyone focused on common outcomes.
- A jointly developed structure has roles, responsibilities, and decision-making processes, ensuring all voices are heard and valued, and are most impactful when families are part of the leadership structure.
- Shared decision-making and power, balancing input from all partners, including families, who are crucial in shaping the work.
- Shared responsibility and accountability for both process and outcomes, ensuring that everyone is invested in the success of the effort.
- Equitable sharing of resources, risks, and rewards to ensure that all partners benefit and contribute fairly; and are supportive of one another.
- Ongoing measurement of impact and outcomes, with a focus on making adjustments as needed to improve results, reduce duplication of efforts, and ensure that the work is truly making a difference.
This vision was last updated April 2026, cocreated during the Shared Learning convening between local early childhood collaboration leaders and Birth to Five Illinois Regional Mangers in Bloomington, Illinois.
