Your have done the groundwork of mapping your organization’s social care goals and aligning them with Findhelp community engagement goals. Additionally, you have reviewed the learning opportunities that will equip you with information about how the site works for your staff and for CBOs. Now its time to take a look at how to select partners based on your goals.
Network Flexibility
As you may already know, Findhelp’s network is open and accessible across the country. We recognize many of our customers want to take this open network and customize it to meet the needs of their populations and communities. You have the ability to do this in many ways as illustrated below.
Tailoring the network to meet customer-specific needs requires engaging the right partners. This is why selecting partners is important in parallel to staff engagement and utilization.
Use data as a starting point
There are so many opportunities to identify the right partners. One resource we highly recommend is your Findhelp analytics. Within your suite, there are several key reports that can give you insights into what individuals in your community are searching and what CBOs within your service area are engaged. Using this data will ensure you are incorporating the top community needs.
Add your Organization’s Focus Areas
Now that you have a good understanding of what might be happening within your region and/or on your Findhelp site through the analytics, we want to factor in the groundwork you have completed. In the first two phases (Understanding CE and Goals), you should have gathered an understanding of your organization’s social care goals and subsequent needs to accomplish these goals. Adding in these factors while creating your initial partner list will ensure a well-rounded initial group of partners.
Take an iterative approach
In order to focus and make meaningful progress, we recommend starting small and iterating on your target partner list as you gain momentum. Beginning your outreach with 10-20 programs allows you to continue refining your process while establishing your CBO relationships.
Actions
1. Review your Findhelp analytics offerings- These reports can share insights into your site’s usage and search trends, top community needs, and which programs are active within your service area
- These reports can be accessed by logging into your Findhelp site
- We recommend you start with a list of 10-20 programs and iterate on the engagement work as you gain traction
3. Document your target partners and determine how you will track their progress
Resources
- Community Organization Analytics
- Partner Selection Strategies Overview
- Target Partner Tracking Template
- Trusted Network Flyer
FAQs
❓We have heard the term Trusted Network as part of partner selection. What is a trusted network and how can you enable one?
- Trusted Networks are a customizable subset of open network programs that are easily identifiable for referrers (through tools such as scoring, featuring, and/or favorites folders).
- Building a trusted network requires selection of partners (as outlined above, outreaching/engaging these partners, and making them visible to individuals who will be sending referrals)
❓Are there already programs engaged as part of Findhelp’s existing network?
- YES! We have programs that are already claimed, trained, and responsive to referrals as part of the network we have been building for over the last decade (see reports and breakdown above). That said, it is still important to engage your key partners directly to establish trust and a sustainable partnership
Up Next
Review Engaging Your Partners to continue building your community partnership strategy.