A tale of two states? A comparative study of cross-sector collaboration in children's services and flood risk management (original) (raw)
Related papers
2017
Collaboration between the UK’s voluntary organisations (VOs) and public agencies is often viewed through the lens of the state’s changing role in service delivery, and the outsourcing of the ‘welfare state’. However the engagement of VOs with the ‘environmental state’ has a very different history. In this comparative study, we contrast cross-sector collaboration in children’s services (‘welfare state’) with the more recent collaboration in flood management (‘environmental state’). We ask whether, and if so how, these different inter-organizational domains set up different expectations for cross-sector collaboration. We argue that the different histories of state involvement in these domains have implications for understanding how collaborative partnerships develop, which partners are engaged, how local communities become involved, and how power dynamics play out between actors from different sectors. Understanding the implications of these different state contexts may enable VOs eng...
Cross sector collaboration for child and youth services
2007
Collaboration provides the opportunity for learning and creative problem solving. Bringing people from diverse backgrounds together provides a positive environment for transferring knowledge between sectors or organisations, and for generating new ideas and practices. In this context, collaboration across the research, policy and practice sectors can help to solve complex problems and meet specific needs in the child and youth services area. The benefits of this collaboration—benefits that would not have been possible in collaboration across just one or two of these sectors—include generating increased knowledge for all three sectors and influencing policy in a way that otherwise would not have been possible. Collaboration across the three sectors is more resilient to social and political change, but is not widely used in Australia due to the difficulty in obtaining the necessary funding; the time required to make the collaboration work; and the different objectives, needs and cultu...
A literature review of inter-agency work with a particular focus on children's services
2009
Following establishment in 2007 the Children Acts Advisory Board (CAAB) was charged with 'the promotion of inter-agency cooperation including the sharing of information'. From our earliest ventures into this complex domain it was evident that there was little or no direction or guidance available for agencies and individual practitioners who wished to work in this way. With the ultimate objective of developing such guidance the CAAB engaged in a number of processes to inform our deliberations. The purpose of this study was to produce a summary analysis of research literature on inter-agency cooperation in public services, with a particular focus on inter-agency cooperation in children's services. I hope the many policy makers, managers and practitioners who struggle with inter-agency working will find the conclusions of this process helpful in their work with the ultimate aim of improving the lives of children and their families. I believe the report will also be particularly useful to the research community and to the academic institutions who prepare professionals and other practitioners to work in this field. I want to thank Dr. Carmel Duggan and Ms. Carmel Corrigan of WRC Social and Economic Consultants Ltd. for the excellent work they have produced. I also want to thank Robert Murphy, Head of Research and Information, who along with Ciarán Ó Searcaigh, Advisory Officer, skilfully directed and supported this project.
Environmental Science & Policy, 2018
Highlights • The impact of historical technocratic constructions of flood defence on contemporary flood risk management. • How one size fits all engagement processes fail to appreciate the heterogenous nature of flood communities, where 'collaborative', 'contractual' and 'hybrid' constructions of community exist. • The importance of equitable ways of working in the establishment of partnerships within flood risk management. • How knowledge hierarchies negatively affect partnership working and flood communities.
From victims to actors: The role of children and young people in flood recovery and resilience
Environment and Planning C: Politics and Space
Following a series of recent devastating storms across England with large numbers of homes and businesses evacuated, and despite widespread consensus that further severe flooding is expected, a large section of the population continues to be excluded from developments in flood risk management. We argue that the absence of children and young people from assessments of both the effects of flooding and ways in which it can be mitigated, undermines the effectiveness and legitimacy of policy making. Drawing on in-depth participative research with two groups of flood-affected children and young people we show the range of ways in which they are affected by flooding, some ways they can be better supported, and then how their valuable experience can help shape positive change in policy and practice before, during and after floods. Children developed Flood Manifestos for Change in a direct challenge to their omission from flood governance. The Manifestos and the steps children took to advocate for them can be seen as acts of citizenship, highlighting the capacities of children and young people as flood actors, rather than flood victims.
2013
Based on qualitative data, this paper examines the various roles of government organizations tasked with responding to and guiding recovery from flood disasters in southern Illinois. Interviews and reports provided the data to conduct a need assessment of the interagency relationships at work in southern Illinois. The paper specifically examines the effects of climate change on the region and the need to incorporate more sustainable practices in flood prevention and response. ii DEDICATION This research paper is dedicated to my son, Robert Thomas Upson McPherron. He is my motivation to always do the best that I can do. Because of him, this is about a year and a half past due. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I gratefully acknowledge the help, guidance, and support I received from several people throughout this process. Dr. John Hamman offered insightful feedback, Dr. Randolph Burnside provided thoughtful comments and history about the subject of flooding, and Dr. Roberto Barrios encouraged me to...
Frontiers in Sustainable Cities, 2023
Current approaches to flood management are increasingly insufficient to deal with intensifying flood trends. In this paper, we define and map out the responsibilities and relationships of local, state, and federal governing entities at various levels. We use these relationships to identify gaps in governance needed to address the high financial, human, and infrastructure costs of flooding. This paper offers a description of current flood policies and provides recommendations for innovations in policy solutions to improve governance gaps. We identify three themes from the literature on intergovernmental relations and flood governance: (1) intergovernmental relations (interlinkages and gaps) for flood governance; (2) risks inherent to flood governance (financial, physical, social and individual, and perception of risk); (3) data adequacy and interoperability.
Enabling Child-Centred Agency in Disaster Risk Reduction
2010
Child-centred approaches to disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) reflect the understanding that efforts to reduce risk and adapt to climate change cannot properly account for children"s needs or secure their rights unless specific attention is paid to this during the design and implementation of any policy or programmatic intervention . From a child rights perspective disaster impacts affect not only a child"s basic right to survival and development, but cut across their right to participate and for decisions to be made in their best interests. Childcentred approaches recognise the role and rights of children as citizens and agents of change, seeking to engage them in DRR/CCA decision-making and accountability processes and supporting child-centred community-based programmes of action.
Cross-sectoral collaboration: comparing complex child service delivery systems
Journal of Health Organization and Management, 2022
PurposeTo help ensure that children with social and behavioral health problems get the support services they need, organizations collaborate in cross-sectoral networks. In this article, the authors explore and compare the structure of these complex child service delivery networks in terms of differentiation (composition) and integration (interconnection). In particular, the authors investigate the structure of client referral and identify which organizations are most prominent within that network structure and could therefore fulfill a coordinating role.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used a comparative case study approach and social network analysis on three interorganizational networks consisting of 65 to 135 organizations within the Dutch child service delivery system. Semi-structured interviews with the network managers were conducted, and an online questionnaire was sent out to the representatives of all network members.FindingsThe networks are similarly differentiated i...
2019
This article synthesizes the literature on Dutch flood risk governance to analyze how external conditions shaped past and present dynamics of cross-sector collaboration for integrated flood risk management in the Netherlands. It traces the extent to which policy and legal frameworks, socio-economic circumstances, political realities, power relations and conflict situations have influenced attempts at collaboration between flood safety, spatial planning, environmental protection and other sectors. Despite the growing interdependences, existing power relations between the sectors are characterized by the dominance of the water sector. Hence, crosssector collaboration can develop as long as it does not compromise flood safety.