Our Collective Approach

Tackling Big Challenges Together

Downtown Calgary skyline at sunset with the Bow River and autumn trees in the foreground.

Dementia Network Calgary takes a collective impact approach to achieving its strategic priorities.

Our Approach

Collective impact emerged in the early 2000s as an approach to addressing complex social challenges that could not effectively be addressed by any one organization.

Kania and Kramer define collective impact as “the commitment of a group of important actors from different sectors to a common agenda for solving a specific social problem”. According to FSG, the consulting firm co-founded by Kramer and managed by Kania, the five conditions of collective impact success are:

1

Common Agenda

All participants share a vision for change that includes a common understanding of the problem and a joint approach to solving the problem through agreed-upon actions.

2

Shared Measurement

All participating organizations agree on the ways success will be measured and reported, with a short list of common indicators identified and used for learning and improvement.

3

Mutually Reinforcing Activities

A diverse set of stakeholders, typically across sectors, coordinate a set of differentiated activities through a mutually reinforcing plan of action.

4

Continuous Communication

All players engage in frequent and structured open communication to build trust, assure mutual objectives, and create common motivation.

5

Backbone Support

An independent, funded staff dedicated to the initiative provides ongoing support by guiding the initiative’s vision and strategy, supporting aligned activities, establishing shared measurement practices, building public will, advancing policy, and mobilizing resources.
Resources

Knowledge Hub: Strategies & Solutions

Explore professional resources, reports, and research about dementia; learn more about systems change and collective impact approaches.

Guides
Document
Supporting Dementia Caregivers: A Decision-Making Road Map

This roadmap was developed by Dr. Seema King, Dr. Jessica Simon, Dr Jayna Holroyd-Leduc from their research into support needed by dementia caregivers in Alberta at key points in their person's dementia journey. The map was designed by Sam Hester as a way to visually represent information and helpful resources to consider at different stages, such as getting a diagnosis, driving, making day-to-day decisions, deciding on care options, and self-care.

Guides
Document
Supporting Dementia Caregivers: A Decision-Making Road Map

This roadmap was developed by Dr. Seema King, Dr. Jessica Simon, Dr Jayna Holroyd-Leduc from their research into support needed by dementia caregivers in Alberta at key points in their person's dementia journey. The map was designed by Sam Hester as a way to visually represent information and helpful resources to consider at different stages, such as getting a diagnosis, driving, making day-to-day decisions, deciding on care options, and self-care.

Reports
Article
USA Approves Blood Test for Diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease

The USA's Food and Drug Administration has approved the first blood test for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease, developed by Japan-based Fujirebio Diagnostics.

Reports
Article
USA Approves Blood Test for Diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease

The USA's Food and Drug Administration has approved the first blood test for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease, developed by Japan-based Fujirebio Diagnostics.

Guides
Podcast
Policy Change in Collective Impact Work

This podcast episode from the Collective Impact Forum discusses the importance of policy and advocacy work to the success of collective impact initiatives like the Dementia Network

Guides
Podcast
Policy Change in Collective Impact Work

This podcast episode from the Collective Impact Forum discusses the importance of policy and advocacy work to the success of collective impact initiatives like the Dementia Network

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