Collaboration from the Perspective of the California Department of Education (CDE) and Lessons Learned

Description:
Advantages: Programmatic synergy results from a track record of collaboration and networking. New partnerships/opportunities for teacher training have emerged, for example, STD/HIV Update for Educators. Challenges: Silo funding tends to segregate programs. HIV education is required, but HIV prevalence is very low among school-age populations, and it has been difficult to expand school agendas to include sexual risk behaviors of students. Unanticipated Benefits: Using STD and teen birth data enables CDE to prioritize schools for enhanced interventions and compliance reviews. Lessons Learned: Initiate collaboration efforts with mid-level managers rather than top level administrators.