Community Program Toolkits

The West Michigan region is rich with dynamic community organizations. These organizations form a network of service and impact for the region. Such a landscape offers a range of potential partnership opportunities for Hope College faculty and staff to complement and enrich their scholarship and program reach.

This toolkit provides example projects, guidelines for starting a partnership and resources on campus to make your project a success!

Faculty Community-Based Research

Several dynamic Hope faculty and staff have completed successful community-based research projects. Explore their frameworks through the articles below. 

• First Mellon Community-Based Partnership at Hope College
• More Mellon Foundation Community-Based Partnerships
• "There's no place like home"

Proposal Development Resources

Ready to get started?

Hope Resources

First, definitely connect with our relevant Hope offices. The Office of Sponsored Research will guide you through any funding proposals (follow their Getting Started links). The Frost Center is your go-to expert on social science research methods. When you work in the community and evaluate your program, you'll likely fall under the Human Subjects Review Board (HSRB). Review the HSRB site early to complete the training and understand the process before you start to develop your partnership.

Reference Articles

Next there's a lot of material out there to review, we've condensed a lot of it for you!

• Initial articles discuss how to approach a partner and determine if the partnership will be effective.
• Model programs and best practices for campus-community partnerships.
• Concluding articles are research based discussion of the impacts and best practices of community based partnerships.

Reference Articles

• 3 Questions for Collaborating PDF-  
  Provides guidelines for your initial conversation with a potential partner.
  
  
• The Collaborative Map
  Infographic outlining different styles of collaboration
  
  
• Model Guidelines for Nonprofits
  Further questions to ask yourself and your potential partner to determine if the project is a good fit for all involved.
  
  
• CausePlanet Blog-Which comes first, the partnership or the plan?
  Discussion of working with a potential partner to create an effective work plan.
  
  
• Governing a Collaborative Organization
  Article explores higher level issues for the leadership of an organization when considering a partnership.
  
  
• Campus Community Partnerships
  Part research article, part best practices discussion related to seeing campus community partnerships as opportunities to build stronger relationships.
  
  
• Making Community-Based Research Work
  Outline of community-based programs at a similar small, liberal arts college.
  
  
• Making Sense of Nonprofit Collaborations
  A non-profit study of what types of collaborations work and which tend to fail.
  
  
• Collaboration Toolkit
  Guidelines for writing an MOU between the partners.
  
  
• A Model for Understanding Community-University Partnerships
  In-depth look at a model for successful partnerships based on literature review and program implementation.
  
  
• Journal of Social Issues- An Approach to Scholarly Impact through Strategic Engagement in Community-Based Research
  Research discussion on how community partnerships can increase the impact of scholarly research. 
  
  Community Partners' Perspectives Article
• Research article exploring the impressions of community partners when working with college and universities.
  
  
• Framing Service Learning in Social Work
  Research based article looking at the impacts of adding a community relationship within course based projects with students. 

Similar Academic Offices

• Vanderbilt University
• Grand Valley State University
• Western Michigan University
• Central Michigan University
• University of Michigan
• Michigan State University
• University of South Florida
• University of North Carolina
• Syracuse University
• Ohio State University
• Stanford University
• Cornell University

Course-Based Community Learning

Embedding community-based work into courses is a powerful teaching tool. Instructors from multiple departments have successfully implemented community work with their students. 

• Course-based work with Holland Museum and Community Action House
• Nursing research
• MSU College of Nursing partners with Hope College
• Community Foundation grant enhances community nursing program
• Nicole Flinn receives national award for dance advocacy
• Concerts for children

On Campus Outreach Programs for Collaboration 

• ExploreHope
• PATH
• CASA
• Step Up
• Upward Bound

Area Organizations with Connection to Hope College

• 3-Sixty Community Development Organization
• Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies
•  Big Read Lakeshore
• Breastfeeding Advocates of Ottawa County
• Camp Sunshine
• Capernaum Young Life Committee
• City of Holland Public Art Advisory Committee
• Community Action House
• Gilda's LaughFest: LaughterRx Planning Committee
• Grand Rapids Community Media Center
• Habitat for Humanity Kent County
• Holland Area Arts Council
• Holland Chorale
• Holland Hospital
• Holland Museum
• Human Relations Commisson - City of Holland
• Kids Food Basket
• Kids Hope
• Lakeshore Coalition for Racial Justice
• Land Conservancy of West Michigan
• Macatawa Express (Holland's public bus system)
• Meals On Wheels
• National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI)
• Opportunity Thrive
• Our Better Angels
• Outdoor Discovery Center Macatawa Greenway
• Ready 4 School
• Ready for Life Academy
• Resthaven/Celebration of Caring Committee
• Scenic Shores Shoreline Protection Committee
• Suicide Prevention Coalition
• Templeton Foundation
• West Michigan Association of Behavior Analysis

Youth Protection Page

Any programs which include minors must consider the Hope College Youth Protection Policy. This policy contains a Code of Conduct for any faculty/staff/college students working with youth as well as a college liability form for those participating on campus. 

Note this policy is in place any time a college faculty, staff or student is responsible for a minor without a parent/guardian present. However, the Code of Conduct and other best practices are highly recommended any time a program involves minors.