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Module 4 Contents

Introduction

  1. Ensuring Continuity of Care
  2. Sharing Confidential Treatment Information
  3. Sharing Criminal Records and Information with Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment Professionals
  4. Developing Interagency Agreements
  5. Interagency Communication
  6. Strategic Planning
  7. Developing Action Plans

Summary

Review
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Module 4: Coordinating and Integrating Systems

6. Strategic Planning

A basic principle of all systems is that every part of the system has an impact on the others. This impact occurs at the "line" level and the policy level. Prior to entering into a cooperative agreement with other agencies, an analysis of each individual agency's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT Analysis) can be helpful. Results of a SWOT analysis build a collaboration based on strengths and opportunities and prepares strategies to address weaknesses and threats (Schnoll & Reiner, 1996). An exercise is provided to help you begin the process of conducting a SWOT analysis.

In addition, the Argyris Model states the following five conditions must exist for effective intergroup relationships to occur across systems.

  • Members are concerned about their own group or system effectiveness
  • Members have confidence in their own group or system
  • Members believe in the interdependence of the other system and their system
  • Members are willing to accept or develop a surperordinate goal to link the systems
  • Members are willing to interact with other groups in other systems in coordinated joint ventures

If all these elements are in place and a superordinate goal is agreed upon, the interlinking groups can then develop processes to foster desired changes in their own systems.

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