K-H SERVICE-LEARNING PARTNESHIPS: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

K-H SERVICE-LEARNING PARTNESHIPS:The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Paula W. Flaherty, MS Rudy Pauley, Ed.D. Marshall University South Charleston, West Virginia

PURPOSE • To examine service-learning partnerships, especially over time • To examine benefits and challenges for all partners

AGENDA • Definitions of service-learning • Definitions of a service-learning partnership • West Virginia example of a long-standing partnership • Polvika’s model – S-L partnership • Application of model

What are we really talking about? Service-learning Service-learning Serviceandlearning

Service-Learning Partnership Placement site for students? Collaborative program?

West VirginiaService-Learning Consortium Kanawha County Schools University of Charleston United Way of Central West Virginia

What are your experiences with service-learning partnerships?

Polivka Model • “A conceptual model for community interagency collaboration”Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 1995; 27(2), 110-115. Dr. Barbara Polivka Associate Professor Ohio State University

Environmental Factors • Political – ”the will or need for a particular service”; “local political climate” • Demographic – “population characteristics” • Social - “local social priorities” • Economic – “available funding sources”;

Situational Factors • Awareness – “awareness of other organizations – agencies”; knowledge of goals, resources, capacity” • Resource dependency – “awareness of available resources (funds, clients & personnel)” • Domain similarity – “service is enhanced when complimentary resources are pooled to achieve mutual goals” • Consensus- “the greater the concordance between the organizations, the greater the potential for successful collaboration”

Task Characteristics • Scope • Complexity • Time • Volume • Duration • Uncertainty

Transactional factors • Intensity – “the strength of the interagency relationships” • Resource flows • Conflict • Formation – “formal or informal relationship” • Joint Decision Making • Mutual adjustment – Few common goals – case specific • Corporate – Umbrella authority, formal rules & policies • Alliance – Blending of mutual adjustment and alliance • Structure • Size • Centralization • Pattern

Foss, Bonaiuto, Johnson & Moreland adaptation of Polivka Model • “Using Polivka’s model to create a service-learning partnership” Journal of School Health, 2003, 73(8), 305-310. Dr. Gwendolyn Foss Maria Bonaiuto Sue Johnson Dee Moreland

Principles of Effective Partnerships • Principles foster equality among partners • Share mission, values, goal and outcomes • Mutual trust, respect and commitment • Builds on strengths and assets and addresses areas that need improvement • Power is balanced • Communication is clear and open and stress listening

Principles of Effective Partnerships cont… • Roles, norms and processes are jointly developed • Partners constantly interact to improve partnership • All share the credit for accomplishments • Partnerships evolve over time

West Virginia Service-Learning Consortium over 11 years Kanawha Service-Learning Consortium

Kanawha Service-Learning Consortium How does it stack up?

Small Group Activity • Discuss critical changes you identified • Look at all nine principals • Discuss impact on WV S-L partnership • Share with large group

Outcomes • Organization – “strengthening of partnerships” • Inter-organizational – “builds foundation for future collaborative efforts” • Client – “provides service for the client” • Community – “fosters community collaboration”; “showcases positive models for future projects”

Recommended Resources • Alter, C., & Hage, J.(1993). Organizations working together. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications • Mettetal, G. & Bryant, D. (1996). Service learning research projects. College Teaching, 44(1). • Peacock, J., Bradley, D. & Shenk, D.(2001). Incorporating field sites into service learning as collaborative partners. Educational Gerontology, 27(23), 23-35. • Tai-Seale, T. (2001). Liberating service learning and applying the new practice. College Teaching, 49(1).

Paula W. Flaherty, Ed.D. Director, West Virginia Service-Learning Institute Instructor, Teacher Education Program University of Charleston 2300 MacCorkle Avenue, SE Charleston, WV paulaflaherty@ucwv.edu Rudy Pauley, Ed.D. Marshall University School of Education & Professional Development 100 Angus E. Peyton Drive South Charleston, WV 25303 rpauley@marshall.edu

K-H SERVICE-LEARNING PARTNESHIPS: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly