Successful Cross-Training experiences can be organized and led in different ways. Some examples are:

1. Community-Based

Derives from a single agency request for a specific local community and involves collaboration of all players in the community's systems. One agency is the lead agency and coordinates and sponsors the Cross-Training.

Advantages: Grassroots impact, helps build local capacity for immediate program and service impact.

Disadvantages: Community agencies may not have the resources to conduct the training because their budgets are overburdened. Sometimes, they cannot get the decision makers and policymakers to the table and they have difficulty implementing action steps which require policy change. Results may not be system-wide.

2. Statewide Systems

Staff from government agencies take the leadership role in making the request, coordinating planning, identifying issues and gaps, setting objectives and priorities for system issues, collecting data, facilitating meetings with key stakeholders, and recruiting key leaders and service practitioners to come to the table for planning and cross-systems participation.

Advantages: Government agencies are usually able to contribute staff and resources for Cross-Training. They have the power and ability to hold people accountable for tasks and participation.

Disadvantages: Geographic size may make it difficult to make the training meaningful to the community.

Statewide training applications require extra time and effort. They encompass more agencies, increasing the number of turf issues to be dealt with.

3. Replication

Training of trainers assures coordination and leadership is provided to a coalition of training providers. A Statewide planning group assumes leadership and coordination, and initiates the process. The planning group includes representatives from training systems, local nonprofit agencies, government agencies, and advocacy groups. As a group, the coalition conducts a training needs assessment and guides the planning process to develop a training plan for replication of the Cross-Training. The coalition leverages trainers and resources, and forms subcommittees to assist with the activities.

Advantages: This type of application promotes broad-based participation, and involves a wide range of players. It establishes training partnerships and involves more agencies in disseminating the Cross-Training model. The coalition can easily identify trends as well as philosophical and policy challenges that can be ironed out before the training occurs. These efforts can result in systems change and positive long-term outcomes.

Disadvantages: It is up to local agencies if replication occurs despite follow-up reinforcement provided to them. Competing training priorities may be frustrating and cause problems with follow through, as staff may be dedicated to and have biases toward other competing priorities.