Building Relationships

1. Building Relationships The impact partnerships can have on data quality.

2. Topics of Discussion • How the relationships you nurture with key agencies in your community can affect your data quality and your agency’s reputation • Positively • Negatively • How/when to build these relationships • What “intellectual capital” you have to leverage in an effort to increase buy-in • What “intellectual capital” agencies may have that you can use to your benefit

3. What we do in Windsor • In an effort to foster an ongoing open and honest dialogue with agencies we: • Participate in initiatives which span several agencies as participants to which we feel we can add value • Provide the tools at our disposal which are otherwise not available to the non-profit sector to assist them – at no charge • Contact agencies even when we don’t need an update, just to “catch-up” • Encourage agencies to “take advantage of us” – Not like that!

4. What we do in Windsor • In an effort to ensure we aren’t just waiting around for updates we: • Scan ALL local news publications and media outlets for information changes • Send out a quarterly newsletter to ensure that agencies remember us when they want to get the word out about changes • Make contact with top-level agency representatives to request a meeting with their front line staff • Attend as many special events, information fairs, and AGMs as possible

5. Why do we do this? • We have found that major agencies are much more inclined to remember us when there is significant change as we make it easier for them to disseminate their information through one resource • We have found we get much faster turnaround with annual update requests • Agencies feel more connected to us so they are more receptive to “spreading the word” or ensuring we are brought to the table when we have a place there

6. Positive Effects of Building Strong Relationships • Update response times reduced or in some cases non-existent as the agency becomes proactive and engaged in their data • Reduces confusion in update process • Inclusion in key community initiatives • Local youth mental health website • Homeless Coalition Pocket Guide • Poverty Reduction Strategy • Increased agency awareness • Increased awareness amongst clients

7. Negative Effects of Building Strong Relationships • There is only so much of you to go around, so wise choices must be made and polite declinations given • Expectation that you will always be able to accommodate agency needs • Some agencies may begin to expect “special treatment” if boundaries are not set clearly

8. How to build relationships • Participate openly in initiatives that help the community or a comprehensive sampling from a sector • Encourage those doing similar things to work together • Make connections for agencies with potential partners • Show them just what you can do for them

9. YOUR Intellectual Capital • Printed lists/brochures • Mailing labels • E-mail distribution • Broadcast Faxing • GIS data • Statistics • General systemic knowledge • Connections

10. THEIR Intellectual Capital • Their internal affairs, plans and changes • The function of their sector as a whole • The needs of their sector • How you can help their sector (once you’ve shown them what you can do) • Grant $ • Years of valuable experience and knowledge

11. What do you do to open the door for agencies?