As used in this booklet, "collaboration" includes all types of mutual efforts, such as partnerships, coalitions, joint ventures, mergers, and many other forms of cooperation between and among community-based organizations and agencies. In the area of violence prevention, the booklet recommends the development of formal collaborations that involve clear guidelines, roles, responsibilities, and procedures. A section on the characteristics of effective collaborations categorizes them under six categories: environmental, membership, process/structure, communication, purpose, and resources. A section of the booklet on the structuring of collaborations advises that no one structure is better than another for collaboration. It is important, however, that all parties involved agree on the structure of their collaboration. Further, it is important for all the partners in the collaboration to be aware of and focus on the stage of development in which the group is currently engaged. The four process stages of the mutual effort are concept exploration, negotiation, ratification, and implementation. Steps for building successful collaborations are as follows: Define the problem and its impact on the community; involve all the relevant individuals and organizations; convene a meeting; share perspectives; work to resolve differences; get the whole community involved; and determine the next steps. A list of 11 resources