United Way and University partnerships in community-wide human services planning and plan implementation: The case of Lincoln/Lancaster County, Nebraska.

Authors

• Alan Tomkins, University of NebraskaFollow
• Nancy C. Shank, University of NebraskaFollow
• Darcy Tromanhauser, University of Nebraska Public Policy Center
• Sandy Rupp, Washtenaw United Way, Ann Arbor, MI.
• Robin Mahoney, Fund Distribution and Community Planning, Lincoln/Lancaster County, NE

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

September 2005

Comments

Published in Journal of Community Practice, 13:3 (2005), pages 55-72. Copyright © 2005 Haworth Press http://www.HaworthPress.com . Used by permission.

Abstract

Given the similar interests of United Way organizations and universities in planning, implementation, and evaluation of human services, the two social institutions could be extensively and effectively partnering with one another. However, there is little documentation that such cooperative efforts are taking place. This article describes one such collaboration in Lincoln, Nebraska. The purpose of the article is to show the potential of such collaboration to improve community-wide coordination and outcomes by following the principles of a community-engagement model, to generate more effective use of evaluative tools that can assist in developing evidence-based practices in community planning, and to connect areas of study within the university to United Way efforts.