NCJ Number
229634
Date Published
2010
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This chapter assesses the theory and practice of the use of partnerships among agencies concerned with serving youth in Great Britain, including the youth justice system.
Abstract
Social welfare research on partnerships is based in two schools of thought. One school, termed the "systematic thesis," suggests that partnerships and the resulting coordination of services are needed to fill gaps in welfare service provision that have been caused by a lack of coordination between organizations and the failure develop strategic partnerships at the governmental level. The second school of thought, the "epistemological move thesis," reasons that partnerships are needed to overcome deficiencies in the institutional division and distribution of welfare knowledge. In practice, however, independent assessments of partnerships in Great Britain have not been favorable. Partnership arrangements in the youth justice system were analyzed after 10 years of reform (Solomon and Garside, 2008). The study concluded that after a decade of intensive reconfiguration and massive funding, the youth justice system in England and Wales was still struggling to meet the needs of some of Britain's most vulnerable and challenging children and youth. This chapter lists a number of key themes for effective practice in partnership networks, which, if implemented, should provide better outcomes. The key themes for partnership participants are to be trustworthy; communicate effectively with one another; have the right representation (people who have the authority to make decisions and represent their organization effectively); provide motivation toward a common vision; have mechanisms for dealing with conflict resolution; have clarity of objectives and responsibility; and provide for flexibility. 16 references