The parties involved in crafting a multiparty agreement need to be familiar with relevant mandates, policies, and procedures, which guide each organization's practices and may influence how the organizations can work together. Further, the organizations will benefit from developing a shared understanding of the historic context and rationale for the agreement and identifying and addressing potential obstacles.
Important considerations:
- What current multiparty agreements (e.g., interagency agreements, memoranda of understandings, memoranda of agreements) do partner organizations, including yours, have? Are there provisions you can borrow or build from? Will this agreement supersede or amend any previous agreements?
- Are there existing policies (e.g., Federal or State laws, internal policies) or established practices that may restrict or support the agreement?
- Are there any data—internal or external—or multiparty agreements in other locations that support your approach?
- How can a proposed agreement be mutually beneficial to the various organizations and the children and families they serve?
- What may partners need to give up as a result of the agreement? Is the tradeoff an acceptable one, or can it be adjusted to make it acceptable to all parties?
Resources
California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare
Congress.gov
Library of Congress
Information about Federal legislation.
Laws and Policies
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Laws and Policies
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau
Laws and Policies That Promote Systems of Care
Child Welfare Information Gateway
National Conference of State Legislatures
Provides information about State and Federal legislation and resources on a variety of issue areas.