Community Partnerships for Adult Learning
Building Partnerships Partnership Profiles Self-assessment Tool Business Guide About Us Search Home
The ToolBoxCreating CommunitiesCurriculum and InstructionProfessional DevelopmentWorkforce DevelopmentTechnologyProgram ManagementMore Resources
Supported by the Office of Vocational and Adult Education
of the U.S. Department of Education
The North Idaho College Adult Education Center
Highlights
Introduction
Background
Adult Education In North Idaho
Partnerships With The Adult Education Center
Sharing Resources
Sharing Successes And Challenges
Conclusion
Complete Profile (PDF, 366kb)
Return to Summary

HIGHLIGHTS

Based at a community college, the North Idaho College Adult Education Center provides adult education services for five counties through a variety of partnerships.

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS IN THE IDAHO PANHANDLE. . .

  • North Idaho College, the local community college, is fiscal agent for—and major supporter of- the Adult Education Center.

  • Regional state offices for vocational rehabilitation, health and welfare, and labor all share clients with the Center and coordinate their services.

  • Head Start and Even Start work with the Center on family literacy activities.

  • The Workforce Investment Board involves the Center and other community organizations in their economic development and workforce preparation initiatives.

  • School districts collaborate with the Center to help failing high school students get their GED diplomas.

  • Correctional facilities bring instructors from the Center to prepare inmates to take the GED test.

AND WHY THEY WORK. . .

  • Necessity is the mother of partnerships. Idaho's population is sparse and widely dispersed; partnerships among agencies are virtually the only way to get services to people who need them.

  • The community college is an anchor. North Idaho College is a large, stable organization that provides various forms of reliable support to many of the partners.

  • Leadership is dynamic—and shared. A leader who is an "instigator" keeps things going, but leaders of all partner groups actively support partnership efforts.

  • Communication among partners is informal—and frequent. Partners will drop by each other's offices and use e-mail or phone calls to keep in touch; they often bring their services to the clients by doing their work in each other's facilities.

  • Cross-training of staff among partner agencies aids efficient delivery of service. Staff know each other's services, procedures, and expectations.

  • Resources are "intermingled" so that partners can focus maximum resources on their own primary missions. Partners share the costs of rent, staff, mailings, and professional development.

  • State and federal laws encourage partnership. Idaho provides most services on a regional basis, so partnerships are essential. The federal One-Stop grant helped create more formal partnerships in the region.