Post on 22-Feb-2016
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Focusing for RESULTS
Who Did What, How Long it Took, and Lessons Learned in Four United Ways
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 2
Getting focused: What means; what it looks like
Examples from the field
United Way of Santa Fe County; Santa Fe, NM
United Way of the Midlands; Omaha, NE
United Way of Rock River Valley; Rockford, IL
United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County; San Antonio, TX
Resources
Topics
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 3
What Does “Getting Focused” Mean?
Selecting a limited number of issues and strategies in which to invest time, relationships, technology,
expertise, money, and other resources to improve people’s lives
Getting focused is essential for delivering meaningful results with limited resources
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 4
Investments of time, relationships, technology, expertise, money, other resources
Focus Area
What Does “Getting Focused” Look Like?
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 5
Investments of time, relationships, technology, expertise, money, other resources
Focus Area
What Does “Getting Focused” Look Like?
Specific direct-service and/or community change strategies
for improving lives
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 6
Investments of time, relationships, technology, expertise, money, other resources
Focus Area
Next level; more specific
Next level; still more specific
Next level; evenmore specific
What Does “Getting Focused” Look Like?
Specific direct-service and/or community change strategies
for improving lives
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 7
Getting focused: What means; what it looks like
Examples from the field
United Way of Santa Fe County; Santa Fe, NM
United Way of the Midlands; Omaha, NE
United Way of Rock River Valley; Rockford, IL
United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County; San Antonio, TX
Resources
Topics
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 8
United Way of Santa Fe CountySanta Fe, New Mexico
Presenter:
Ron StevensFormer President and CEO
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 9
United Way of Santa Fe CountyWhy We Focused
• To have a more strategic effect on important problems
• To break free of historical patterns as the framework for investing funds
• To differentiate ourselves – provide clearer identify for UWSFC based on “creating lasting change in chronic community conditions”
• To improve market share among donors• To position UWSFC as a leader rather than
“middleman” for passing through funds• To embody good business practice
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 10
United Way of Santa Fe CountyBenefits of Focusing
• Contributed to recognition as community leader around 2-1-1 and Early Childhood
• Broke out of historical funding patterns box• Framed a 5-year investment strategy based on
“creating lasting change in chronic community conditions”
• Created the ability to identify strategies in addition to direct service funding to achieve results
• Created alignment of mission, board, staff, resources
• Attracted new people with fresh ideas
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 11
United Way of Santa Fe CountyBenefits of Focusing
• Energized board and staff, allowed us to create a very strong team
• Resulted in creation of a focused, energized marketing strategy
• Increased board involvement in resource development
• We say “no” to work not in alignment
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 12
United Way of Santa Fe County Levels of Focus
Investments of time, relationships, technology, expertise, money, other resources
Priority Area
Goal
Objective
Strategy
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 13
United Way of Santa Fe CountyHow and How Long – Level 1: Priority Areas
Who Did What: • Staff researched & provided options. Included research
into other UWs, survey of donors, discussion of options, selection of draft
• Community Investment Committee (CIC) proposed
• Staff & CIC identified & recruited experts for Work Groups (agency & nonprofit staff and other community members with expertise in each priority area).
• Work Groups & Board approved proposed priority areas
How Long It Took:• Approximately 5 months (not including board approval)
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 14
United Way of Santa Fe County Four Priority Areas
Helping Kids Succeed
Improving Health & Healing
Increasing Self-sufficiency
Unifying Our Diverse Community
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 15
United Way of Santa Fe CountyHow and How Long – Level 2: Goals
Who Did What: • Staff provided options • CIC recommended • Work Groups reviewed, approved• Board approved
How Long It Took:• Once priority areas determined, draft in about 1
month• Finalized in 2 more months (not including board
approval)
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 16
United Way of Santa Fe CountyA Goal for One Priority Area
Priority AreaIncreasing Self-sufficiency
GoalIndividuals and families have opportunities to maintain independence and improve their quality of life
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 17
United Way of Santa Fe CountyHow and How Long – Level 3: Objectives
Who Did What:• Staff synthesized Work Group input, drafted
objectives• CIC recommended• Work Groups vetted• Board approved
How Long It Took:• Approximately 3 months, not including board
approval (1 month overlap with finalizing goals)
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 18
Priority AreaIncreasing Self-sufficiency
GoalIndividuals and families have opportunities to maintain independence and improve their quality of life
ObjectiveIncrease economic opportunities and financial security for families and individuals by focusing on financial skills, housing options, employment and job opportunities, and functional literacy
United Way of Santa Fe CountyAn Objective for One Goal
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 19
United Way of Santa Fe CountyHow and How Long – Level 4: Strategies
How Long It Took:• Approximately 2 months
Who Did What:• Staff synthesized Work Group input, drafted
strategies• CIC recommended• Work Groups vetted• Board approved
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 20
• Provide outreach and education leading to financial literacy and security for low-income, at-risk populations
• Provide people in the hospitality industry with skills needed to advance their careers
Prevention & development
services that:
• Promote innovative approaches such as IDAs to help families become self-sufficient
• Develop partnerships between nonprofits and educational institutions that lead to careers in small business and nonprofit management
Efforts to influence
community changes that:
• Increase the development of affordable housingBreakthrough
opportunities to advance
community change efforts
• No strategies identified for investmentBasic human-needs &
crisis services that:
United Way of Santa Fe CountyDirect-service and Community-change Strategies for One Objective
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 21
United Way of Santa Fe County Lessons Learned
Challenges• Creating Work Groups that were sufficiently
broad and inclusive of enough expertise while still being manageable.
• Creating an expedited process that would not feel too rushed by those participating
• Creating not only the reality of meaningful input, but the feeling of meaningful input in an expedited process
• Strategies may evolve as community needs shift
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 22
United Way of Santa Fe County Lessons Learned
Things we’re glad we did• Unifying decision making in one committee so
that investment decisions would be consistent and integrated
• Lots of communication with agencies and donors along the way
• Engagement of people with specific expertise through Work Groups to provide input and vetting at each level
• Streamlined process
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 23
United Way of Santa Fe County Lessons Learned
Things we’re glad we did• Staff provided recommendations to volunteers,
who actually made decisions
• First phase of implementation revolutionized the funding process. Second phase began shifting resources toward initiatives, developed investment strategy. Phase-in was a good thing -- less resistance to change
• Regular education of board members
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 24
United Way of Santa Fe County Lessons Learned
Things we would do differently
Fewer objectives and strategies
Use identification of community outcomes as way to prioritize and reduce number of objectives and strategies
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 25
United Way of Santa Fe County Lessons Learned
Best advice we can offer• Expect the process to be dynamic, iterative,
particularly as focus becomes more specific.
• Make use of UWA Community Impact materials (Essential Attributes, Community Investment Triangle, etc.). Provide a great conceptual framework that can be used with all stakeholders.
• Develop change management and community development competencies within staff and volunteers – collaboration to identify and implement priorities is new work.
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 26
United Way of Santa Fe County Lessons Learned
Best advice we can offer
• Expect and work with resistance.
• Make sure you have the right people: staff, volunteers and partners.
• Have courage and take risks.
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 27
Getting focused: What means; what it looks like
Examples from the field
United Way of Santa Fe County; Santa Fe, NM
United Way of the Midlands; Omaha, NE
United Way of Rock River Valley; Rockford, IL
United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County; San Antonio, TX
Resources
Topics
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 28
United Way of the MidlandsOmaha, Nebraska
Presenters:
Virgil KellerVice PresidentPlanning and Community Development
Barbara VelinskyDirectorAllocations & Agency Relations
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 29
United Way of the Midlands (Omaha) Why We Focused
• To create lasting changes at community level, avoid addressing only the symptoms
• To develop coherent community understanding and strategy to address priority needs of the community
• To create a more compelling case for donors
• To address declining market share & increasing designations
• To attract new partners with financial resources from outside annual campaign
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 30
• Revitalized interest in United Way by donors, staff, volunteers, partners
• Increased positive exposure in local newspaper
• Clearer differentiation of United Way brand and marketing materials
• Increased undesignated contributions through greater differentiation
• Increased creative exchange for program entrepreneurship – opened the windows for renewed discussion
• Compels better integration of departments, and projects and activities within departments, removing the “silo” syndrome
United Way of the Midlands (Omaha) Benefits of Focusing
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 31
United Way of the Midlands (Omaha) Levels of Focus
Investments of time, relationships, technology, expertise, money, other resources
Focus Area
Impact Initiative
Strategy
Project
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 32
Who Did What: • Area provider experts including traditional UW agency
partners identified pressing issues of specific populations, reported promising approaches and potential partners
• United Way staff summarized input, reviewed annual Human Care Profile, drafted recommendations
• United Way fund distribution/planning volunteers reviewed and amended staff report and recommendations
• Executive Committee reviewed report, recommended engaging other parts of the organization
• Board approved Focus Areas
How Long It Took:• Approximately 8 months
United Way of the Midlands (Omaha) How and How Long: Level 1 - Focus Areas
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 33
Economically & Socially Disadvantaged Families
Frail & Impaired Older Adults
Youth at Risk
United Way of the Midlands (Omaha) Three Focus Areas
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 34
United Way of the Midlands (Omaha) How and How Long: Level 2 - Impact Initiative
Who Did What:
• Staff proposed 3 initiatives based on information gathered during “Focus Areas” phase and existing community initiative
• Fund distribution/planning volunteers approved 1 initiative for implementation and learning
How Long It Took:
• 1 month
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 35
United Way the Midlands (Omaha) An Impact Initiative for One Focus Area
Focus AreaEconomically & Socially Disadvantaged Families
Impact InitiativeEconomic self-sufficiency by connecting “unbanked” working families including immigrants with traditional financial institutions
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 36
United Way of the Midlands (Omaha) How and How Long: Level 3 - Strategies
Who Did What:
• Staff person with relevant expertise consulted with community experts, drafted recommendations
• Community experts reviewed and amended recommendations
• Fund distribution/planning volunteers approved strategies
How Long It Took:
• 2 months
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 37
United Way the Midlands (Omaha) A Strategy for One Impact Initiative
Focus AreaEconomically & Socially Disadvantaged Families
Impact InitiativeEconomic self-sufficiency by connecting “unbanked” working families including immigrants with traditional financial institutions
StrategyFinancial literacy. Help poor avoid costs of non-traditional financial operations
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 38
United Way of the Midlands (Omaha) How and How Long: Level 4 - Projects
How Long It Took:
• 2 months to draft project plans; refinement is ongoing
Who Did What:
• Staff person continued consultation with community experts, drafted project outlines
• Community experts reviewed and amended proposals
• Fund distribution/planning volunteers approved proposed projects
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 39
United Way the Midlands (Omaha) A Project within One Strategy
Focus AreaEconomically & Socially Disadvantaged Families
Impact InitiativeEconomic self-sufficiency by connecting “unbanked” working families including immigrants with traditional financial institutions
StrategyFinancial literacy. Help poor avoid costs of non-traditional financial operations
ProjectWork with employers to offer financial literacy training and Individual Development Accounts (IDA’s) as benefits
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 40
Challenges• Resistance to change and agency fear of losing
funding
• Temptation to engage in multiple areas, thereby lessening impact in all of them
• Communication – we human beings require continued communication in multiple forms to meet their individual perspectives
• Managing different levels of development for each focus area while maintaining consistency
United Way of the Midlands (Omaha) Lessons Learned
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 41
Things we’re glad we did
• Selecting an initiative where we already had some successes, visibility, and reputation
• Starting with experts and research and engaging volunteers with specific recommendations
• Staff took a much more proactive role, proposing content for volunteer review
• Not holding out for consensus on every decision
United Way of the Midlands (Omaha) Lessons Learned
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 42
United Way of the Midlands (Omaha) Lessons Learned
Things we would do differently
• When making references to engaging non-traditional partners, always emphasize pursuit of additional resources
• Better communicate agency engagement as effort progresses
• Better alert volunteer leadership of potential resistance and reasons for it
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 43
United Way of the Midlands (Omaha) Lessons Learned
Best advice we can offer• Perseverance – unless you are ready for a long-
term commitment, do not start
• Adaptability – be ready to change based on valid input while maintaining a core of your original plan; this is a true balancing act
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 44
Getting focused: What means; what it looks like
Examples from the field
United Way of Santa Fe County; Santa Fe, NM
United Way of the Midlands; Omaha, NE
United Way of Rock River Valley; Rockford, IL
United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County; San Antonio, TX
Resources
Topics
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 45
United Way of Rock River ValleyRockford, IL
Presenters:
Brent BernardiBoard member
Martha CoatsVice President, Community Building
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 46
United Way of Rock River ValleyWhy We Focused
• Our traditional role as fundraiser was no longer compelling
• Change in local business environment
• While we had been funding services for over 80 years, our community problems continued to worsen
• With declining revenue, we realized that we couldn’t be all things to all people – we weren’t having a great impact
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 47
United Way of Rock River ValleyBenefits of Focusing
• Achieving measurable results
• Seen as more than a fundraiser
• Able to attract/retain qualified staff
• Increased ability to recruit the right volunteers
• Heightened awareness of community issues
• Ownership of community issues by board members, donors and the community as a whole
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 48
United Way of Rock River Valley Levels of Focus
Investments of time, relationships, technology, expertise, money, other resources
Priority Area
Goal
Objective
Strategy
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 49
United Way of Rock River Valley How and How Long - Level 1: Priority Areas
Who Did What: • Contracted with University of Illinois Health Systems
Research for community assessment including empirical data, focus groups, key informant interviews
• Board studied assessment data
• UW hosted Community Issues forum – 250 community representatives were presented with assessment data, created vision statements in 14 topics
• Board reviewed vision statements, sought additional input from UW volunteers, funded partners
continued
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 50
United Way of Rock River Valley How and How Long - Level 1: Priority Areas
Who Did What (continued): • Board drafted potential areas of focus
• Staff conducted additional research, studied efforts elsewhere and presented additional information to board
• Board approved priority areas
How Long It Took:• Approximately 14 months (community assessment
conducted December - March, board approved priority areas in December)
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 51
Improving Education
Supporting Families
Increasing Efficiencies in the Human Service System
United Way of Rock River ValleyThree Priority Areas
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 52
United Way of Rock River ValleyHow and How Long - Level 2: Goals
Who Did What: • Staff researched components of priority areas• Staff provided options for the goals• Board reviewed• Board approved
How Long It Took:• Once priority areas determined, staff presented
draft in about one month• Finalized with board approval in two months
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 53
Priority AreaImproving educational attainment
United Way of Rock River ValleyA Goal for One Priority Area
GoalAll students graduate from high school
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 54
United Way of Rock River ValleyHow and How Long - Level 3: Objectives
Who Did What:
• Talked to those people we are trying to help – asked about barriers
• Crafted objectives to minimize obstacles
How Long It Took:
• Approximately 2 months
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 55
ObjectiveIncrease parental involvement in children’s education
United Way of Rock River ValleyAn Objective for One Goal
Priority AreaImproving educational attainment
GoalAll students graduate from high school
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 56
United Way of Rock River ValleyHow and How Long - Level 4: Strategies
Who Did What:
• Staff with input from volunteers and stakeholders developed strategies
• Staff formalized partnerships
• Staff and partners defined and agreed upon roles and responsibilities
How Long It Took:
• Approximately 6 weeks
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 57
United Way of Rock River ValleyDirect-service and Community-change Strategies for One Objective
Efforts to influence
community changes that:• Launched multi-faceted parent education
campaign on the importance of parent involvement
• Engage parents in comprehensive Back to School efforts
Breakthrough
opportunities to advance
community change efforts
• Developed and funded a diversion program requiring parent involvement for students who violate daytime curfew
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 58
• Help children see parents’ value for education by providing educational services for homeless mothers and their children in the same facility
Direct basic human-needs
& crisis services that:
• Provide information specifically for Hispanic parents on their role in their children’s education
• Provide parent education programs for African American parents and engage them in culturally based field trips with their children
Direct prevention &
development services that:
United Way of Rock River ValleyDirect-service and Community-change Strategies for One Objective
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 59
United Way of Rock River ValleyLessons Learned
Challenges• Educating community partners and stakeholders on the
concept of community-wide impact
• Ensuring that all objectives and strategies were driven by real data and based on proven models
• Keeping strategies flexible and responsive to changing community conditions
• Not making assumptions (getting the right information from the right people)
• Maintaining focus on addressing causal issues, not doing what we are familiar or comfortable with
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 60
United Way of Rock River Valley Lessons Learned
Things we’re glad we did
• Research – empirical data, key informant interviews, focus groups
• Got broad input – community issues forum, impact council input, agency input
• Engaged non-traditional partners such as government, court system, juvenile justice system
• Talked to target population
• Encouraged board to take ownership of thiscontinued
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 61
United Way of Rock River Valley Lessons Learned
Things we’re glad we did (continued)
• Communicated consistently with donors and agencies
• Phase in of funding changes
• Regular education of board members through monthly progress reports at board meetings
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 62
United Way of Rock River Valley Lessons Learned
Things we would do differently
• Spend the same amount of time doing research and planning, but phase in implementation of funding changes more quickly
• Recruit several agency ambassadors to share information with their colleagues
• Remove staff barriers more quickly
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 63
United Way of Rock River Valley Lessons Learned
Best advice we can offer• Make sure your decisions are data driven and that
your objectives are clear and specific
• Use tools from UWA and other United Ways – share your own best practices
• Anticipate changes and adjustments to your strategies as you gain results
• Make sure you have staff and volunteers’ talents aligned with the new business of community impactcontinued
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 64
United Way of Rock River Valley Lessons Learned
Best advice we can offer (continued)
• Use every opportunity as one to share the new work of United Way
• Expect and work with resistance
• Make sure you have the right people: staff, volunteers and partners
• Persevere – you will see results
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 65
Getting focused: What means; what it looks like
Examples from the field
United Way of Santa Fe County; Santa Fe, NM
United Way of the Midlands; Omaha, NE
United Way of Rock River Valley; Rockford, IL
United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County; San Antonio, TX
Resources
Topics
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 66
United Way of San Antonio & Bexar CountySan Antonio, Texas
Presenters:
Philip J. PfeifferPartner, Fulbright & Jaworski
Jose Antonio ContrerasSenior Vice PresidentUnited Way of San Antonio & Bexar County
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 67
United Way of San Antonio & Bexar CountyWhy We Focused
• Initial trigger: Increase in donor-restricted growth• Disturbing trends in the nonprofit, philanthropic and work
environments - Explosion in number of non-profits- Changing workplace and impact of global economy- Changing workforce- Competition in workplace giving – public and private- Loss of share – nationally and locally- Declining participation – nationally and locally
• Growing scope and complexity of problems in the community
Implications?• Cannot ignore signals, must explore further
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 68
United Way of San Antonio & Bexar CountyBenefits of Focusing
• Re-energized board, staff, new volunteers
• Differentiated United Way as strategically focusing on issues our community is most concerned about
• Created long-needed opportunity for new investment areas outside of existing framework
• Gave us a focus for our community initiatives
• Began alignment of board, staff, resources
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 69
Investments of time, relationships, technology, expertise, money, other resources
United Way of San Antonio & Bexar CountyLevels of Focus
Issue Area
Target Population
Lasting Change
Vision - Barriers
Priority Concern
Action Plans
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 70
United Way of San Antonio & Bexar CountyHow and How Long – Issue Areas
Who did what: • Defining Tomorrow Committee
- Commissioned market research firm• Opinion Poll• Focus Groups• The COMMUNITY IMPACT Question
- Directed staff to develop supporting data book- Recommended 3 Issue Areas, preliminary priority concerns
• Task Force on Strengthening UW and subsequently Executive Committee approved recommendation
How long it took:• 1 year
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 71
Developing Individual Capacity for Success
Strengthening Families
Developing Successful Children
United Way of San Antonio & Bexar CountyThree Issue Areas
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 72
United Way of San Antonio & Bexar CountyHow and How Long – Priorities, Stage I
Who did what: • Defining Tomorrow Committee
- Established three Issue Councils- Recruited Council Leadership (Council Chairs and
Co-Chairs)
• Issue Council Leadership- Recruited Council membership with focus on specific
skill sets- Held orientation/Council kickoff
How long it took:• 6 months
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 73
United Way of San Antonio & Bexar CountyHow and How Long – Priorities, Stage II
Who did what:
• Issue Councils
- Recommended priorities and sequencing
• Defining Tomorrow Committee and subsequently Executive Committee approved recommendation
How long it took:
• 3 months (one 4-hour, 2-hour and 1-hour meeting respectively)
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 74
Issue Area: Developing Individual Capacity for SuccessPriorities: 1. Insufficient educational outcomes2. Issues of personal well-being3. Deficiencies in sense of personal competence
Issue Area: Strengthening FamiliesPriorities: 1. Family Financial Insecurity and Instability2. Family Parenting3. Fragile Neighborhoods
Issue Area: Developing Successful ChildrenPriorities: 1. Early Care and Education2. Protection of/for children3. Healthcare for children
United Way of San Antonio & Bexar CountyPriorities for the Issue Areas
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 75
United Way of San Antonio & Bexar CountyHow & How Long - Level 3: Target Population
Who Did What:
• Issue Councils answered these key questions:
- What criteria will we use in determining target population?
- What are the demographic, geographic and/or conditional characteristics of the population with whom we will target our action plan addressing [priority concern]?
• Issue Councils developed recommendation:
- Each Issue Council selected the target population for its first priority concern.
How Long It Took:• Approximately 1 month (one 4-hour meeting)
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 76
Issue Area: Developing Successful Children
Priority: Early Care and Education
Target Population: Children ages 0 – 5 from low-income (≤ 150% of Federal Poverty Guidelines) households located in ZIP codes 78207 and 78237
The details: Children experiencing multiple risk factors for failure, such as:- Inadequate supervision - Teen parents- CPS involvement - Homelessness- Limited English - Disabilities- Parents with substance abuse issues
United Way of San Antonio & Bexar CountyTarget Population for One Priority
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 77
United Way of San Antonio & Bexar CountyHow & How Long - Level 4: Vision & Barriers
Who Did What:
• Issue Council answered two key questions:
- [Vision] What exactly do we want to achieve?
• What specific results?
- [Barriers] Why is vision not true?
• What are the root causes, underlying conditions?
How Long It Took:• Approximately 2 months (two 4-hour meetings)
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 78
Issue Area: Developing Successful Children
Priority: Early Care and Education
Target Population: Children ages 0 – 5 from low-income (≤ 150% of Federal Poverty Guidelines) households located in ZIP codes 78207 and 78237
Vision: School Readiness – producing children who are prepared to succeed in school
United Way of San Antonio & Bexar CountyVision for One Target Population
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 79
Issue Area: Developing Successful Children
Priority: Early Care and Education
Target Population: Children ages 0 – 5 from low-income (≤ 150% of Federal Poverty Guidelines) households located in ZIP codes 78207 and 78237
Vision: School Readiness – producing children who are prepared to succeed in school
Barriers:• Familial attitudes • Mistrust • Family instability • Debilitating influences of risky behaviors• Parents’ limited educational level• Lack of parenting skills and support systems• Families are overwhelmed
United Way of San Antonio & Bexar CountyBarriers to One Vision
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 80
United Way of San Antonio & Bexar CountyHow and How Long - Level 5: Lasting Change
Who Did What:
• Issue Council answered these questions:
• What moves past barriers to vision?
• What strategic changes in condition?
• Issue Council recommended the lasting change that they would first work toward in the community condition to address the priority
How Long It Took:
• Approximately 1 month (one 4-hour meeting)
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 81
Issue Area: Developing Successful Children
Priority: Early Care and Education
Target Population: Children ages 0 – 5 from low-income (≤ 150% of Federal Poverty Guidelines) households located in ZIP codes 78207 and 78237
Vision: School Readiness – producing children who are prepared to succeed in school
Barriers: Familial attitudes, family instability, mistrust, debilitating influences of risky behaviors, parents’ limited educational level, lack of parenting skills & support systems, families are overwhelmed
Lasting Change: All children (0-5) are prepared to succeed when they enter school
United Way of San Antonio & Bexar CountyLasting Change Sought for a Set of Barriers
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 82
United Way of San Antonio & Bexar CountyAction Plan: Specific Direct-service and Community-change StrategiesFirst-year Aims
Issue-Directed Programs
• Facilitate alignment of local coalitions to support quality Early Childhood education and develop a public policy agendaSystem and Policy
Changes
Community &
Neighborhood Initiatives
• Meet and engage with neighbors in all council initiatives • Enhance quality of care by informal caregivers• Equip parents to be better prepared their children to succeed
in school
• Provide mentoring for informal caregivers • Improve the quality of formal early childhood education
How Long It Took:• Approximately 2 months (five to six 4-hour meetings)
Focusing RESULTS: Who, What, How Long, Lessons Learned 83
United Way of San Antonio & Bexar County Lessons Learned
Challenges
• Two tiers of council participation
• Corporate/civic vs content experts
• Perception of “staff-driven” agenda
• Target population input/participation
• Ability to “demonstrate results” will take time
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United Way of San Antonio & Bexar County Lessons Learned
Things we’re glad we did• Strong community leader with impeccable credibility
• UWA resources: “Case for Action” series and UWA staff consultations, insights, system perspective
• Issue Council membership composition
• Target population input/participation
• Dedication of staff and financial resources – made planning possible and commitment to change real
• “Faster if we can, slower if we have to” approach
• Ongoing updates to Executive Committee/Board
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United Way of San Antonio & Bexar County Lessons Learned
Things we would do differently
• Modify “two-tier” process
• Agency communications
• Timeline clarification and management
• Conduct ITP later in the process
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United Way of San Antonio & Bexar County Lessons Learned
Best advice we can offer• Get a strong leader
• Confirm the “will” to go down this path and end up where the community directs you
• Be clear about your “agenda”
• Brief community leaders (“bell cows”) early and often
• Expect the process to be dynamic, iterative, particularly as focus becomes more specific
• Start with community (opinion poll, focus groups)
• Employ participatory process to engage, own
• Agency input: where and when
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Getting focused: What means; what it looks like
Examples from the field
United Way of Santa Fe County; Santa Fe, NM
United Way of the Midlands; Omaha, NE
United Way of Rock River Valley; Rockford, IL
United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County; San Antonio, TX
Resources
Topics
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• The Community Investment Triangle: Targeting Our Resources (keyword: CITriangle)
• Connecting Program Outcome Measurement to Community Impact (keyword: POM-CI)
• Getting Focused to Make Tough Choices (keyword: GetFocused)
• Redefining Agency Relationships for Community Impact (keyword: RedefineAgency)
• Small Cities: Getting Focused for Greater Results webinar replay (http://uwa.breezecentral.com/p84658172/)
Related Resources on United Way Online
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