2.4: Not Every Partnership Looks the Same

Community partnerships can support young caregivers in different ways. Some organizations may help identify and refer young caregivers, while others may have the capacity to deliver the Powerhouse® program directly.

Understanding what type of partnership you need will help you decide where to focus your outreach.

Referral Partners
Help identify young caregivers and connect them to Powerhouse® programming. These partners often have trusted relationships with families and are well positioned to recognize when a child or youth may be providing care.

Program Delivery Partners
Have the interest, capacity, and access to families needed to deliver the Powerhouse® program in their community in partnership with YCA.

Some organizations may be able to do both.

What Does Your Organization Need?

Before choosing your priority partners, consider:

  • Do you need to strengthen referral pathways to identify and reach more young caregivers?
  • Do you need a program delivery partner to expand where Powerhouse® is available?
  • Do you need both?

Your needs may vary across communities and change as your program grows.

Choose Your First Priorities

Your Community Partnership Map is designed to help you think broadly about the organizations in your community that may already be connected to young caregivers and their families.

Now it’s time to focus your efforts. Rather than contacting every organization at once, choose three organizations that are well-positioned to become strong community partners. Beginning with a small number of organizations allows you to build meaningful relationships, establish successful referral pathways, and grow your network over time.

As you prioritize, consider:

  1. Leadership Support – Is leadership interested in supporting young caregivers and willing to champion the partnership?
  2. Staff Capacity – Do staff have the time, interest, and capacity to complete training, identify young caregivers, and support program delivery?
  3. Access to Families – Does the organization have regular contact with children, youth, and families who may include young caregivers?
  4. Space & Resources – Does the organization have the space and basic resources needed to support the program?

✅ Key Takeaway: Strong partnerships take time to build. Start with a few organizations where you see the greatest opportunity for collaboration, then expand your network as your referral pathways grow.

★ Powerhouse® Tip: Keep the first conversation simple. Help partners see how young caregivers connect to the families they already support, then agree on one clear next step.

If that next step involves referrals, remember that your organization will need a clear process for receiving and responding to referrals or inquiries. You’ll develop your intake and registration pathway in Lesson 3 based on your organization’s policies and procedures.