Welcome to the Forest Service Partnership and Collaboration Training!

This suite of training modules has been created to inspire you and demonstrate the power of working in collaboration and partnership to achieve our agency’s mission. More specifically, the purpose of this training is to help you overcome the hurdles to collaboration and partnership activities and adopt effective strategies to achieve better outcomes for the people we serve and the land we care for.

Purpose of the Training

The purpose of this training is to address common questions that arise, such as:

• “How do I develop a working partnership?”
• “What are the benefits in working in partnership with others?”
• “What are some ways that others have been successful in collaborative projects?”
• “How do I put together an agreement?”

Audience

These training modules developed from an expressed need among National Forest employees. The concepts, theory and practice associated with these trainings, however, are broad enough in application to be meaningful to all Regions, Research Units, and State and Private Forestry Areas. In addition, the content is highly applicable to our partner organizations and may provide valuable insight into how the agency approaches, develops and maintains formal and informal relationships. With all of this in mind, a flexible framework has been created that allows the modules to be adapted and tailored to fit particular situations, scenarios and needs across the US.

About the Modules

There are a total of 10 modules available in a sequential format. Some modules provide overviews and can be completed in approximately 1 hour, while others are designed for longer sessions, such as Collaboration 200. See Suggested Agenda Options (PDF) for ideas on presenting modules in a classroom setting. In addition to the modules, supplementary resources have been developed to enhance training, including handouts, exercises, and video clips. To create student handbooks, see “Materials for Classroom Setting” to print out the necessary documents.

Internet- Modules are available on-line (see adjacent tool bar) and exist in MS PowerPoint (PPT) format.

DVD- A comprehensive DVD is available upon request that includes the entire package of modules and supplementary resources.

Forest Service Partnership and Collaboration Training Brochure (pdf)

For more information, please contact Andrea Loucks, National Partnership Office.

AGLEARN - Modules are now available on AGLEARN, offering Forest Service employees a way to certify their completion for inclusion in the training database. To locate these training modules, log into AgLearn via e-authentication. There is a search feature in the tool bar (upper right). Search for the modules using the following key words: "1500 National". All available modules should then appear in a the catalog space on the screen. Either launch or incorporate into your development plans accordingly.

Acknowledgements

• Pinchot Institute for Conservation
• National Forest Foundation
• National Park Service
• Bureau of Land Management
• USDA Office of General Counsel
• FS Grant Strategists Enterprise Team
• US Forest Service, including:
  • Regional Partnership Coordinators, National Partnership Office, National Forest System, Research and Development, State and Private Forestry

And of course, friends and family who graciously donated pictures of their loved ones!

Modules

100 Series

• Partnerships and Collaboration 101 – An overview of partnerships and collaboration in the Forest Service. This course provides some tools and discusses when to develop partnerships and collaborate.

200 Series

• Collaboration 200 - Template for a one-day training session with some group exercises and presentations. This course covers the basics of collaboration and some examples of how its being utilized in the Forest Service.

• Meeting Objectives Through Partnerships 201 - Describes the different kinds of partnerships available and how effective partnerships can help meet objectives. This course provides some tools for those who want to utilize partnerships in working with others to accomplish agency goals.

• Developing a Partnership 202 - An introduction to partnerships and how they can be developed in the Forest Service. This course provides some of the basics to consider as you develop partnerships.

• Partnership Authorities and Instruments 203 - A more detailed description of the authorities and instruments to consider when engaging in partnership activities.

• Partnership Conduct and Ethics 204 - Clarifies ethics guidance and how it applies to partnership activities. This course explores scenarios to provide thoughtful discussion and includes working with nonprofits within ethics rules.

• Understanding Nonprofits and the National Forest Foundation 205 - Provides an overview of nonprofit structure and operating philosophy. This course describes the National Forest Foundation programs and discusses how Forest Service employees can work with the Foundation.

300 Series

• Partnership Administration 301 - Includes how to avoid pitfalls and actions that could get you in trouble. This course describes roles and responsibilities of those involved in the administration of partnership agreements, including the program manager, g&a specialist, budget manager and the partner. UNDER DEVELOPMENT

• Step by Step Partnership Administration 302 - From work plans to IWEB for program managers. This course provides detailed information about using the procedures and processes required for successful partnerships with an emphasis on the financial aspects. UNDER DEVELOPMENT

• Partnership and Collaboration Tools 303 - Identifies tools available to assist in developing and managing partnerships. This course includes tools not listed in the individual training modules.