Partnering Activities
Guidelines for Partnering

Before entering into a partnership agreement a number of items need to be explained to the possible partner:

1. The LTAP/TTAP organization at the National or Local Level cannot endorse one organization over another.
2. The LTAP/TTAP organization provides assistance and training to local agencies and organizations and cannot promote a specific product over another.
3. Each LTAP/TTAP Center operates as an independent center and a partnership with one Center or the National LTAP Association (NLTAPA) is not an inclusive agreement with all of the centers.
4. A partnership with the NLTAPA should only be entered with organizations that have a national influence and will benefit a number of Centers.
5. Being that the Centers are independent organizations, all of the Centers are not required to endorse or support all partnership agreements, either Local or National agreements.
6. Entering into a partnership agreement is for the benefit of both organizations and those benefits must be spelled out in the agreement.

In developing a partnership agreement each organization should:

1. Have a list of goals, stating the objective of the agreement and how each partner will benefit.
2. Establish a liaison between the two organizations that will meet on a regularly scheduled basis to discuss both the agreement and additional opportunities. The liaison must be given the authority to address the topics discussed and make discussions according to the level of the agreement. If the liaison is placed on a National Partnership agreement, that person will need to be able to address the discussion on that level, with the same holding true on the local level.
3. Realize that some organizations will change Directors or management on an annual basis. Partnership agreements with such organizations will need to address those changes.
4. Establish a date by which the agreement will be reviewed by both parties, insuring that the needs of each are being met.

Partnership Agreement documents should be developed in the following format

1. Identify the partners and the organizations' missions.
2. Identify the liaison by position, title or name.
3. Identify when the liaisons will meet and the authority of those liaisons (i.e., conferences, annual meeting, and committee meeting).
4. Identify when the agreement needs to be reviewed, including the action items.
5. Signature line for both parties.
6. Cover letter should only be one page and should be general in nature.
7. Attachments:
   • Specific action items with proposed completion dates and responsible person.
   • Attachment pages can be updated as action items change or dates change.

Flow Chart for Partnerships

For additional examples of partnering agreement go to the following web link: www.ltapt2.org/nltapapartner.htm

Internal ACP Process

• Step 1 - Discovery - What are the current relationships individual Centers have with a potential national partner?
• Step 2 - Assessment - Collate Center replies and assess areas of potential interaction between the two entities.
• Step 3 - Prepare NLTAPA Statement of Expectations.
• Step 4 - Review Statement of Expectations FROM potential partner.
• Step 5 - Obtain Center feedback, keep Centers aware of the development status/progress and more accurately measure the extent of Center support prior to entering into formal negotiations.
• Step 6 - Submit final version of Statement of Expectation to potential partner.
• Step 7 - ACP assess partnership potential and areas of interest/agreement. At this point ACP and NLTAPA Executive Committee will make a determination as to whether or not to recommend formalization of an agreement.