About the Collaborative

inside1: Parents and children reading

How we got started –  A community coming together to focus on reading

The idea for a "reading collaborative" grew out of the Greater Bakersfield Vision 2020 process which identified reading as fundamental to achieving the community's short and long term educational, economic, and quality of life goals. In 2001 a community -based team, consisting of leaders in education, business, and the non profit community, reviewed the dozens of strategies and action plans related to education. It became apparent that we needed to narrow the focus, to answer the question, “What should we do first?” We came to the conclusion that reading was the key and that our focus would be to “Target Reading First!”

In forming the collaborative, the community recognized that there are many “reading initiatives” in Kern, from the grassroots to the more formal, with little or no coordination. To be successful in helping the most people as effectively and efficiently as possible, it became clear that the community had to come together to coordinate reading efforts in Kern.

To bring a broad-based focus to reading, in 2002 a unique Reading Collaborative was formed which brings together dozens of organizations and individuals from local schools and universities, agencies working with children and families, and the broader non profit and business communities.

What is a "Collaborative"?

Kern County is a leader in solving community problems by bringing community stakeholders and resources together to solve problems. Local community collaboratives are designed to bring multiple agency partners together to provide services for children and families. They also provide a forum for community members to come together to plan services in partnership with service organizations.

In 1992 Kern County formed the Kern County Network for Children. Since then, 21 local community-based collaboratives have been developed throughout Kern County. The Target Reading First Collaborative was modeled on these successful partnerships.
A collaborative is defined as "a multi-agency group that has full knowledge and shared responsibility for outcomes". The role of a collaborative - and the Target Reading First Collaborative - is to:

  • Assess what needs to be done
  • Convene the experts
  • Identify best practices
  • Inventory what is currently being done
  • Identify the gaps
  • Set the strategy/action to achieve goals
  • Determine the outcome measures
  • Implement the strategies
  • Identify resource needs & available resources
  • Monitor progress

Kern classes back in session
Read an overview of the project by Larry E. Reider, Kern County Superintendent of Schools
Originally published Saturday August 09, 2003


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