ACPA Organizational Alliances
Introduction
The mission of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association is to optimize the interdisciplinary care of
persons affected by cleft lip, cleft palate and other craniofacial anomalies. ACPA believes that a crucial step in
achieving this mission is to form alliances with other organizations with compatible missions, visions and
values.
In 2007, the ACPA Executive Council established the Task Force on Organizational Alliances and charged it with
the development of a policy on organizational alliances. The task force was also asked to identify
organizations with whom ACPA should partner and the benefits of such partnerships.
After comparing a review of the literature on organizational alliances to ACPA’s mission, values, and goals, the
following policy has been developed.
Potential Partners
Organization Types:
ACPA will pursue alliances with professional associations and organizations, both domestic and international,
when these organizations meet one or more of the criteria listed below.
Organizational Criteria:
ACPA wishes to partner with an established, recognized organization that has
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a compatible mission, vision, goals, or functions
interests in clinical care, education, or research
contact with the population of individuals with cleft lip/palate or craniofacial conditions
members in ACPA
members that would be potential ACPA members
Alliance Benefits:
ACPA will enter an alliance with an organization, provided both organizations will realize a benefit in at least
one of the domains of clinical, educational, research, humanitarian work, advocacy, membership,
communication or quality improvement.
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Clinical
Examples: Create universal standards of care and best practices for patients with clefts/craniofacial
anomalies; develop consortiums; raise overall quality of care for patients with clefts/craniofacial
anomalies.
Educational
Examples: Conduct joint conferences; provide joint educational symposia; develop educational
products for the public; share information on websites; and advertise conferences in respective
newsletters.
Research
Examples: Encourage development of joint cleft databases and collaboration for interdisciplinary
research; share relevant research findings at respective annual meetings.
Humanitarian opportunities
Approved by ACPA Executive Council July 2008
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Examples: Develop standards for international medical missions; share information about potential
volunteers; combine volunteer pools.
Advocacy
Examples: Support legislation for increased access and third party coverage; increase fundraising;
increase public awareness of cleft lip/ palate; organize community support; and influence public policy.
Membership
Examples: Increase members’ awareness of each organization; increase membership in both
organizations.
Communication
Examples: Disseminate information (announcements of conferences, research grants, surveys, etc.)
through respective newsletters, journals, list serves, and meetings; add reciprocal links on respective
websites.
Continuous improvement
Examples: Benchmark best practices against each other in areas of patient care and organizational
management.
Responsibility
ACPA Organizational Alliances Committee (Committee)
It is the responsibility of the Committee to manage the process outlined below. The committee will be
comprised of a core group of members representing different disciplines and each Alliance Liaison.
ACPA Organizational Alliances Subcommittees (Subcommittee)
For each organizational alliance, there will be an Alliance Liaison and a subcommittee of at least two other
ACPA members who also belong to that allied organization. It is the responsibility of the subcommittee
members to assist and support the Alliance Liaison, and to help to identify and implement inter-organizational
activities for mutual benefit.
ACPA National Office (National Office)
It is the responsibility of the National Office to provide the Committee with historical perspective on ACPA and
the proposed partner.
ACPA Executive Council (Council)
It is the responsibility of Council to approve alliances and alliance agreements.
Alliance Liaison (Liaison)
It is the Liaison’s responsibility to identify and communicate with a counterpart within the partner
organization. The Liaison will also lead the alliance review process outlined below. Finally, the Liaison will
chair the subcommittee for that organization.
Process
Step 1 - Identifying potential partners:
Organizations wishing to partner with ACPA will contact ACPA with a request. Also, ACPA members and staff
who identify organizations that a) meet the type/criteria test, b) can offer one or more of the benefits listed
and, c) appear suitable for a formal alliance should submit a written suggestion and rationale for developing
an alliance to the Committee.
Approved by ACPA Executive Council July 2008
Step 2 - Evaluation:
For each potential partner brought to the attention of the Committee, the Committee will consult with the
National Office to obtain a historical perspective on the organization in question. The Committee will evaluate
potential partners on the type/criteria/benefits listed above.
If, after evaluation, the Committee does not recommend an alliance, the report will include a drafted response
to the person or organization making the original alliance request. When appropriate, the ACPA President will
review, edit, and send the response.
Step 3 – Recommendation:
After completing the evaluation of an organization, the Committee will submit a report to the ACPA Executive
Council.
If the committee recommends an alliance, the report will include the results of the evaluation, and propose an
ACPA or Staff Member (for approval by the ACPA president) to serve as the Liaison to the organization in
question. Upon Council approval of an alliance, the Liaison will select two or more other ACPA members who
also belong to that organization to serve as Subcommittee members. The Liaison will complete Step 4 of the
process.
If Council does not approve of the alliance, the ACPA President will send a response to the person or
organization making the original request. A copy of this response will be sent to the Committee.
Step 4 – Formal Contact:
The Liaison will solicit an organization which meets the criteria to determine the organization’s interest in an
alliance with ACPA. When appropriate, the organizations (ACPA and partner) will share their policies on
organizational alliances. The organizations will exchange information so that each organization has a clear
understanding of the other organization’s structure, policies and procedures, and mission and values
statements.
Step 5 - Agreement:
Once both organizations approve the alliance, a standard Memorandum of Understanding is signed by the
Executive Director and/or the President of each organization.
Step 6 - Reviews:
The Committee will report its reviews of ACPA’s organizational alliances annually to Council, monitoring the
expenditure of effort and resources. Indicators of success will be defined and evaluated on a regular basis. An
organizational alliance will be modified or discontinued if one or both parties believe that the expenditure of
time and resources exceeds the perceived value of the relationship. Changes and revisions of organizational
mission may also result in modification or discontinuation of the alliance.
Approved by ACPA Executive Council July 2008
SAMPLE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING LANGUAGE
Because [Organization] and the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA) share common
members and because each group is concerned about similar issues, we agree to a formal organizational
alliance. The purpose of this alliance is to enhance the exchange of information between our organizations,
increase educational opportunities for our members, provide better service for our patients and consumers,
and coordinate advocacy efforts related to issues of mutual concern.
This alliance is made in the spirit of cooperation and collaboration for the mutual benefit of each organization,
its members and those we serve. It does not include any financial responsibilities or legal liabilities for either
organization.
This alliance can be terminated at any time with a written notice by either organization to the other.
Approved by ACPA Executive Council July 2008