Purpose
Gads Hill Center acknowledges the need for cohesion and continuity across its directly operated children's services programs (HS/EHS/EHS-CCP/PI/PFA) and Partner delegate agency-partner model and has developed this implementation guide to continue to encourage successful partnerships with regard to its current grantee agencies DFSS and Chicago Commons system. Partner Site agencies contracting with GHC allows the CSD network to extend services to a target population of children and families that is characteristically very mobile without needing to invest in large-scale capital projects. Partnerships also allow GHC to maximize community resources since early learning partners are valuable assets. Partners have experienced peer service providers, strongly grounded in the cultural, linguistic, and social needs of the families and their local communities and dedicated to the children and families they serve.
Introduction
This manual is designed to assist GHC directly operated programs and community-based partner sites to execute successful partnership agreements that provide high-quality and consistent services to children and families. At the foundation of this manual is the understanding that establishing mutually beneficial relationships is vital to any successful partner arrangement. GHC acknowledges that relationships rooted in strengths-based approaches encourage open dialog, consistent communication, and collaborative agreements that lead to successful outcomes.
Gads Hill Center
Directly Operated refers to GHC nonprofit organization community-based organization to which a grantee (DFSS and Chicago Commons) has delegated all or part of the responsibility for operating an early learning/child development program. In the federal Uniform Administrative Requirements, a delegate agency is also referred to as a sub-recipient that receives a sub-award from a grantee or recipient to carry out a part of a federal/state program.
Partner Sites
Partners are defined as contractors. A contractor is a legally recognized entity that receives a contract for the purpose of providing goods and services, as specified in a written and signed contractual agreement. The contract creates a procurement relationship with the contractor. In the GHC system, the delegate agency contracts with the partner organization to provide early learning services under the delegate agency’s oversight and within its responsibility to the grantee.
Collaboration and Values
GHC, and its partner agencies, engage in a formal, hierarchical relationship that is contractually bound, with accountability for results flowing from grantee to delegate agencies and from delegate agencies to its partner. GHC acknowledges and values, its partnerships with regard to its directly operated program, partner affiliation and Grantors is the respect and recognition of the vital role of partners in the expanded services across the west and southwest sides of Chicago.