MN SSLC UPDATE, WINTER 2014
CALENDAR
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April 2, 2014 – Mini Collaborative meeting
April 3, 2014 – National Webinar sponsored by the Center for Sharing Public Health Services (www.phsharing.org)
NEW RESOURCES
In November, 2013, the Center for Sharing Public Health Services released a resource to help support the development and
implementation of cross-jurisdictional sharing (CJS) arrangements. A Roadmap to Develop Cross Jurisdictional Sharing
Initiatives outlines questions to be considered at different phases of project development, starting with an exploration phase
and then moving into a preparation and planning phase which is followed by an implementation and improvement phase.
At each stage there are key questions to consider, such as:
Exploring: What is the issue that needs to be addressed? Can the solutions to the issue be found through internal
management activities or reallocation of existing resources? Is CJS likely to help solve the issue being addressed?
Planning/Preparing: What is an organizational structure adequate to assure proper management? Does the plan achieve
a balance between increasing efficiency and effectiveness? Who will have the authority to make decisions? What
changes will occur as a result of the CJS arrangements? Who will be affected? How will changes be managed?
Implementing/Improving: Are the activities being implemented as planned? Are communications among all parties
affected flowing well? Are the results of the activities satisfactory?
Each jurisdiction that is considering cross-jurisdictional sharing will surely have local questions or concerns that will need to
be identified as well; the roadmap simply provides a starting point to guide jurisdictions through the process. Note that each
phase is meant to build on the previous—they are not intended to be addressed concurrently. To be successful, the authors
note, “it is important to start with a clear understanding of what is wanted and why it is wanted in a CJS arrangement before
considering the operational details.” All CJS arrangements should be built on shared values and goals.
In addition to the roadmap itself, the Center has also developed several supporting tools and resources:
 A self-assessment tool to determine where you are on the roadmap
http://www.phsharing.org/assessment_tools/progress-along-roadmap/
 An organizational assessment tool for use in the Exploration Phase
http://www.phsharing.org/assessment_tools/existing-services-tool/
 Resources that may help address legal issues that come up in the Planning/Preparation Phase:
http://www.phsharing.org/category/roadmap/phase2/legal_issues/
The roadmap can be found here: http://www.phsharing.org/roadmap/. A list of tools and resources for different steps along
the roadmap is located here: http://www.phsharing.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/RoadmapTableV1.2.pdf.
03.25.14 MDH, Office of Performance Improvement
Minnesota System-wide Shared Services Learning Collaborative (ID: 70612)
NATIONAL MEETING
A meeting of the national project partners was held in San Diego, CA in January, 2014. In addition to unveiling the Roadmap
(see above), there were presentations on involving tribes in cross-jurisdictional sharing (CJS) arrangements, utilizing
collaborative leadership strategies to support CJS, and analyzing the financial dimensions of sharing services across
jurisdictions. For a summary of the meeting and links to the presentation slides, visit: http://www.phsharing.org/technicalassistance/common-themes/ and http://www.phsharing.org/january-2014-sslc-meeting/.
ENGAGING POLICYMAKERS: RESOURCES FROM THE WISCONSIN NORTHWOODS PROJECT
Minnesota SSLC partners may recall a presentation by Chris Dobbe, project director of the Northwoods Wisconsin Shared
Services Project, at an early mini-collaborative meeting in 2013. The Northwoods project has an excellent website that
includes specific information for policymakers. Visit http://www.northwoodssharedservices.org and explore the information
available under the Resources tab.
LOCAL PROJECT SPOTLIGHT:
FILLMORE -HOUSTON (LEVEL 2)
The purpose of the Fillmore-Houston shared services project is to self-assess staffing, programming (public health
services/functions), and funding streams in order to identify unnecessary duplication, underused assets, or service gaps. In
addition, it is hoped that information about where the two counties are already working well together can be identified and
strengthened. Results of this project will include 1) a written document outlining the results and conclusions of the selfassessments and 2) a presentation of the results that can be easily communicated to others.
To date, Fillmore-Houston has conducted assessments in both counties, reviewed and analyzed the data, drawn conclusions and
identified areas for further exploration. A recent accomplishment was the preparation and presentation of the final results to
the Fillmore-Houston CHB Advisory Board. The presentation was well received.
Ongoing work includes redefining project goals now that phase one is complete. Questions that need to be asked and
answered include:
1) What do we want to accomplish over the second year of the grant?
2) Where do we want to go from here?
3) How should we continue to use the assessment information?
PROMOTING PEER LEARNING
Have tools or resources from your Shared Services project that others might be helpful? Please contact Becky Sechrist at
[email protected]. Your peers and colleagues thank you!
QUESTIONS?
Please contact Becky Sechrist at 651-201-3883 or [email protected].
03.25.14 MDH, Office of Performance Improvement
Minnesota System-wide Shared Services Learning Collaborative (ID: 70612)