While collaborative change models are gaining momentum in human services, more needs to be known about those leading the changes in a contemporary context. The professional experiences of those who work among diverse, fragmented, even rival factions, often without formal authority, and manage to facilitate cross-system cooperation among multiple partners remain under explored. They represent the evolution of a rich and varied history of models of leadership in social networks and social movements. In this qualitative study, leaders from the Reclaiming Futures initiative reflect on their roles in collaborative efforts to improve substance abuse treatment and community involvement in juvenile justice. Findings revealed the characteristics and strategies of successful boundary spanners — valuable for those engaged in such work and for future workforce development.
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