Definition: A document that outlines how two or more parties (such as government agencies and community-based nonprofits) will work together toward a common goal, which might include establishing or clarifying roles, responsibilities, procedures, and monitoring. Memoranda of understanding (MOUs), memoranda of agreement, and interagency agreements are types of multiparty agreements.
Example: An MOU among parties in Alamance County (NC), including representatives from social services, judicial, law enforcement, and education agencies, about collaborating to develop a system of care (PDF - 32 KB)
Why you may want to consider a multiparty agreement:
- Helps ensure the rules of the partnership, including roles and responsibilities, are clear, formalized, and, depending on how the document is written, legally binding
- Specifies a period of time for the agreement to be in place, which provides the option of making changes at the end or ceasing involvement, if needed
- Can be used as evidence of collaboration, which may assist with obtaining funding or showing stakeholders your progress on an issue
- May give you more control over the content and timeline than a policy approach such as legislation, for which the final decisions may be made outside your organization
Why you may not want to consider a multiparty agreement:
- Can become outdated as the work evolves, and changes may not be possible unless all parties agree or until the term of the agreement ends
- Is generally limited to a specific period of time (often 1 year) and, therefore, may not establish long-term change
- Directs the actions of only the participating parties and may not direct the actions of the child and family service system as a whole
Other points to consider:
- To determine how legally binding an agreement may be, parties should consult with legal professionals
- If you have a current multiparty agreement that has been renewed three times or more, you may want to consider having a longer term policy (such as legislation or an agency regulation) created to codify the mechanisms and structures in the agreement