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Partnerships

Ten months after Hurricane Katrina flooded New Orleans, many child care centers remain closed. Click on photos for larger view.

Mississippi’s experience in rebuilding child care facilities following Katrina demonstrates the value of combined public and private investments in the early childhood infrastructure (Mississippi State University Early Childhood Institute, 2006). A similar synergy is possible in Orleans Parish and Louisiana. A clear strategic plan with a concentrated, yet realistic, timetable and strong accountability can earn the support of corporate and philanthropic funders as well as governmental agencies.

The following should be considered in establishing public/private partnerships:

• What, if any, tax incentives businesses can receive for their role in the recovery effort

• The current interest of potential partners and funders (This should be ascertained through personal visits to executives of the potential partner organizations.)

• Each partner’s specific objectives and how the partners and the planning team will know if the objectives were achieved

• How each partner’s organizational goals and needs for recognition will be addressed in the recovery plan

• How partnerships will be sustained and recognized

Successful public-private partnerships are built on clear, honest, ongoing communication and an understanding of each partner’s role. The final reward for any partnering agency is to know that it made a unique contribution toward restoring and improving the early childhood infrastructure in the disaster area.

 

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