School-Linked Collaborative Services and Systems Change

Abstract

This study examines whether the alternative policy instrument, systems change, fits the problem of efficient and effective local services. An initiative known as school-linked collaborative services, implemented by a team of county-level policy makers and community-based teams, is the focus. The findings reveal that the policy instrument of systems change devolved authority to the street-level bureaucrats but not responsibility for meeting objectives. As well, the effort to minimize duplication of services through collaboration inadvertently created new layers of bureaucratic control. Implications suggest that systems change alone is not an adequate policy instrument. Suggestions for combining policy instruments of systems change and capacity building are discussed.