As the name indicates, the success of the Community Partnerships Program depends on a common vision and strong collaboration among key partners across the SCI community. The Rick Hansen Institute has forged partnerships between service providers, health care professionals, researchers and many others to identify priority needs and deliver customized solutions, from point of injury to full community participation, through the establishment of Local and Provincial Solutions Teams.

Local Quality of Life (QOL) Teams work within communities across Canada to identify local individual and group needs and work together to find innovative solutions to meet those needs. The QOL Teams direct Wheels In Motion funds to identified needs, and also lead the search for additional funds when necessary.

In communities where it is not practical or possible to establish a QOL Team, one or several local QOL Representative(s) may be appointed to work with the Provincial Alliance or the national Rick Hansen Institute to identify and deliver solutions to priority needs.

Provincial Alliances have been established, or are in the process of being established, in a growing number of provinces and territories. A Provincial Alliance is a team of experts from the SCI community who collaborate to develop and implement a provincial SCI strategy based on the priority needs of people with SCI. Provincial Alliances collaborate with the Rick Hansen Institute and work with QOL Teams to maximize opportunities to fund solutions and search for additional needed funds.

In addition to the formalized collaborations occurring within local and provincial solutions teams, the Rick Hansen Institute facilitates and supports connections and collaborations between service providers, researchers and the SCI community, to enhance the outcomes of numerous initiatives occurring outside the solutions team structure.