The Kansas Collaborative is a joint effort between the State of Kansas, the Kansas Association of Counties and the League of Kansas Municipalities to foster collaboration and improve government efficiency. By promoting creative problem solving across jurisdictions, The Kansas Collaborative identifies potential cost savings through data analysis and strategic planning. Projects of The Kansas Collaborative are managed and facilitated by TeamTech Inc., founders of The Kansas Collaborative.

There were two simultaneous catalysts – Kansas Governor Sebelius’ BEST effort and the Kansas Association of Counties’ outreach to the state to build a stronger relationship. These two factors resulted in the first ever County/State Health and Human Services Summit in Fall 2003. Out of the summit was launched the County/State Prescription Drug for Incarcerated Populations Breakthrough Team. This team’s work, published in April 2005, led to over $7 million in savings by both state and county governments. This success was the catalyst for The Kansas Collaborative.

The Governor’s office and state agencies, the Kansas Association of Counties, the League of Kansas Municipalities, TeamTech, Inc. and a growing list of government officials and employees willing to come together to share their data, knowledge and experience to craft options and solutions together.

Our focus is on demonstrating the results that are possible when units of government work together collaboratively. Similar efforts often have a policy development emphasis rather than this implementation emphasis. Additionally, The Kansas Collaborative will focus on tackling some of the long-standing, systemic challenges that often require a “breakthrough” to reach success. Having Team Tech, whose collaboration skills were documented as critical to the success of the pilot prescription drug effort, manage and facilitate the projects of this effort allows for a constant focus of working on government while others focus on working in government.

To demonstrate through implementation-oriented Breakthrough Teams, the cost savings and effectiveness gains of working across governmental entities to improve administrative functions, service offerings and distribution systems.

To innovate with respect to the roles and interrelationships between county, municipal and state governments with the end result of more effective service delivery and cost savings.

Every cross-government Breakthrough Team will have process and results documentation. Measures include objective indicators such as dollars saved and subjective indicators such as collaborative leadership development, systems integration, and process simplification.

Sign up for one of the Breakthrough Teams.

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Yes. Most efforts like this are policy driven rather than implementation driven.

You can support The Kansas Collaborative in any (or all) of the following ways: