The Reputational Dividends of Collaborating with a Highly Reputable Agency: The Case of the FDA and Its Domestic Partner Agencies

What, if any, dividends do agencies reap from collaboration with a highly reputable agency, such as the FDA? Utilizing a dataset covering 30 U.S. federal agencies over a period of 34 years (1980–2013), we estimate the short and long-term reputational effects of interagency collaboration. Collaboration is measured by the number of memorandums of understanding (MOUs) in effect between each agency and the FDA, while agency reputation is assessed using an automated measure of media-coverage valence (positive/negative tone) for each agency-year. To account for potential reverse and reciprocal causality, we utilize cross-lagged fixed-effects models. We find evidence of moderate rises in reputation due to increased collaboration with the FDA. These effects persist significantly for two years, before decaying to null after four years. Employing similar analyses, we furthermore estimate reversed causality – of reputation on the level of consequent collaboration – finding no evidence of such effects.Research SupportMoshe Maor and Raanan Sulitzeanu-Kenan gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Israel Science Foundation under grant 1002/11.

The significance of interprofessional and interagency collaboration in reintegration after prison

The Norwegian Correctional Service is well known for its focus on rehabilitation and the humane treatment of offenders. However, welfare issues and comorbidity are overrepresented among offenders, and recidivism rates remain unacceptably high. Mental health problems, substance abuse and a lack of housing suggest that offenders need support from a range of services in their reintegration processes. This calls for collaboration between frontline workers, welfare agencies and non-governmental organizations, especially in the transition from prison back into society. In the present study, we aim to explore frontline workers’ views of interprofessional and interagency collaboration among frontline workers working with offenders suffering from substance abuse issues in their reintegration after prison. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine frontline workers employed in welfare agencies and the correctional service, with workers directly engaged in supporting offenders´ reintegration after prison. Findings suggest that interprofessional collaboration is perceived as multifaceted. The participants in the study perceived the welfare needs of offenders as complex, and the transition phase from prison as particularly vulnerable. Finally, findings suggest that frontline workers’ individual values and engagement in the work, as well as a lack of shared knowledge and shared information among frontline workers, are perceived as important factors in how collaboration processes unfold. We further argue that there is a need for additional knowledge, such as theoretical frameworks and conceptual models, to increase the understanding of interprofessional collaboration in the interface between prison and welfare services. We discuss substance abusers’ transition from prison into society and interprofessional collaboration in this context, using relational coordination as a theoretical framework. This study shows that relational coordination contributes to a greater understanding of interprofessional collaboration in the prison-welfare context, but an understanding of this phenomenon may be further developed by expanding the theory of relational collaboration, and by using other relevant theories and models. New insights are presented and illustrated, combining the theoretical and practical aspects of interprofessional collaboration.

Lessons Learnt from Interregional and Interagency Collaboration in Polio Outbreak Response in the Horn of Africa

Following the outbreak of poliovirus in the countries in the Horn of Africa, Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia, in two WHO regions, an outbreak response involving the WHO Africa and WHO East and Mediterranean Regions and partner agencies like the UNICEF in East and Southern African was developed. This paper documents response to polio virus outbreak in the Horn of Africa and the lessons learnt for the interregional and inter-agency collaboration on the response. This collaboration led to speedy interruption of the outbreak and within a period of one year the total virus load of 217 in 2013 was brought down to mere six. This resulted from collaborative planning and implementation of activities to boost the hitherto low immunity in the countries andimprove surveillance among others. A number of lesson were generated from the process. Some of the lessons is critical role such collaboration plays in ensuring simultaneous immunity boosting, information and resources sharing, among other. Some challenges were equally encountered, chiefly in the appropriation of authorities. In conclusion, however, one is safe to note that the collaboration was very fruitful given the timely interruption of transmission.

A 36-Hour Unplugged Full-Scale Exercise: Closing the Gaps in Interagency Collaboration between the Disaster Medical Assistance Team and Urban Search and Rescue Team in Disaster Preparedness in Taiwan

Introduction. Disaster medical assistance team (DMAT) and urban search and rescue team (USAR) need to cooperate seamlessly to save lives in disasters, but related research is limited. Objectives. To estimate the disaster preparedness of the DMAT and the barriers affecting interagency cooperation between the DMAT and the USAR team. Methods. This was an observational study of a full-scale exercise conducted in Taiwan from November 16 to 18, 2018. The exercise scenario simulated a magnitude 7 earthquake in Tainan City. DMATs from other counties were deployed and cooperated with local USAR teams to carry out disaster relief. Our study invited 7 experts to evaluate DMATs on disaster preparedness capabilities and the interagency collaboration between DMATs and USAR. Results. A total of eight DMATs, consisting of 30 physicians, 65 nurses, 74 logisticians, 5 health bureau personnel, and 85 USAR teams, participated in this exercise. During the mission, 176 patients were treated. The capabilities of each team were generally consistent with the basic technical standards for type I emergency medical teams, but the compliance rates for basic local anesthesia, cold chain equipment for medication, rapid blood test tools, and sterilization devices were only 50%, 12.5%, 12.5%, and 9%, respectively. In addition, 53% of participants reported abnormal vital signs, indicating that it was a high-stress situation. Moreover, the main barriers to interagency collaboration were differing perspectives and poor mutual understanding. Conclusion. A full-scale exercise carried out jointly with DMATs and USAR teams was valuable for disaster preparedness, particularly in terms of understanding the weaknesses of those teams and the barriers to interagency collaboration.

Interagency Collaboration and National Security

On November 23, 2020, Brigadier-General Archilus Phillips presented Interagency Collaboration and National Security at the 2020 CASIS West Coast Security Conference. Key points of discussion included the perspective of a small state, Trinidad & Tobago, and their security strategies; achievements; challenges; Interagency Collaboration (IAC); the history of Trinidad & Tobago; and Caribbean security. The presentation was followed by a question and answer period.