Transforming Together: Implementation Guide
*Note: Roles listed are sample positions meant to illustrate levels of authority, not to imply duplication or role-splitting. Counties without a Health and Human Services Agency structure i.e., wherein public health, behavioral health, and child welfare all report a single Agency Director) should adjust by placing system directors in the ILT and deputies/managers in the EAC.
Equally important is recognizing that shared ownership takes time to develop. Early on, momentum often relies on a single host agency to organize and catalyze action. But over time, as trust builds and roles clarify, the shift toward collective responsibility becomes a critical milestone in the maturation of an Ecosystem of Care. Only when ownership is genuinely shared across ILT members can the system fully realize its potential for sustained, cross-sector transformation. Key Consideration: From Host to Shared Ownership • A host agency is often needed to initiate the work. • Shared ownership across ILT members is essential for long-term sustainability. • The transition from a single “spark” to collective responsibility marks an important stage in the ecosystem’s development. Create a Shared Vision and Clarify Roles Moving beyond collaboration to a genuinely integrated and sustained system of care requires awareness and vision. It demands changed mindsets and a willingness on the part of all partner agencies to behave differently. Leaders are positioned to understand that although authority and resource allocations often attach to a particular role or department, they can and must share the power and resources accompanying the position.
From Host Agency to Shared Ownership A common early question is: who convenes and sustains this work? In practice, counties have taken different approaches. Often, a “host agency”—such as the County Office of Education, the Health and Human Services Agency, or the Presiding Juvenile Judge— provides the initial spark by convening partners and coordinating early logistics. Framing this role as a host, rather than a lead, emphasizes that the host’s responsibility is to create space for collaboration, not to dominate decision-making.
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