10-08-1997 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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Fully. Evaluating should cake little dme away from the program, activity, or event. Make language appropriate. Remember varying reading levels and different first lan- guages when creating evaluation materials. Evaluate the program not the parricipanrs. Participants should understand that their re- sponses and comments are being used to evalu- ate and improve the program. This will put youth at ease. encourage more honest answers. and, ultimately, develop a better program. Use established evaluation materials. Al- though is is tempting and sometimes necessary. to create your own evaluation materials, you will get better and more readily accepted results with established tests. Don't over measure. While this may seem like strange advice, it is possible to over mea- sure. The most valuable information will come from measuring only the most important aspects of your cities youth program, event, or activity. " tf we are going to meet the challenges of developing healthy youth and healthy cities. we must analyze the effectiveness of our efforts and he willing to accept the messages our data reveals. " Even when evaluation results do not match • initial hopes and expectadons. the research is an important tool. If we are going to meet the • challenges of developing healthy youth and • healthy cities. we must analyze the effectiveness of our efforts and be willing to accept the mes- sages our data reveals. Evaluation is the starling point from which we can measure success and recommend improvements. r Edward C. Siegel is president of the Center for Evaluation Research. To find our more about evalua- tion tools, Evaluation Instrument Battery: Pre- vention Programs for High Risk Youth. is avail- able from the Center for Evaivation Research, 219 SE Main Street, Suite 3030, Minneapolis, *1 55414 or call (800) 353 -3390. Graphic based on in formation in Critical Needs. Critical Choices: A Survey on Children and Families in America's Cities, a March 1996 publication of the : Narional League of Cities. INCREASING RESOU:RCE.S FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES City officials-relayed severallessons -:to the National -Leaguerof. Cities -thathave - been . heipfuldn- promothzg .andncrease in resources :available.for-children, youth,..and:.families::in theircities. 1.. It is important to use financing to supporrthe city's mission and goals,-rather than have :available. dollars drive programs. 2. If the city has a vision and a process for citizen input, citizens are more.willing to support a tax increase.. A num- ber of cities used an extensive- participatorrprocess —some- dmes involving several thousand rhildren, youth, and adults —co develop theirvision and.strategicplan for chil- dren m their community. These processes not only result.in betterplans, but.build public will for enhanced financing. 3. The public is willing to fund services for children and families when convinced. thoseservices are delivered effi- ciently and that expenditures produce results. 4. Getting the media on board to pickup on what your city is doing and explain.it to the public. builds support 5.. Design strategiesthat are broadandappeal.to all sec- tors of the community. Such approaches.create.more di- verse ownership and investments in the. outcomes. 6. Givingneighborhoods or smaller communities some authority over how dollars are spent for childrenand families increases their. buy -m and support. 7..Build collaboradve.relationships.. Bringing-people together increases people's investmenc.as taxpayers and as participants in the political process. 8. Frame an investment in children and youth as an economic investment. The potential of improving out- comes for children, partiaiiarly young children, is linked to the future economic vitality of a community. 9..Don't be:: 'afraid to ask the. private sector for-money.. Repented with permission from the New Di'recuons :brief- -For Cines,.Families,. and Children a 1997 publication of the National League of Cities. For more information, contactJohn 2.. Kyle, Program Director, Children and Families in Cities, National .League of Cities, 1301 Pennsylvania dvenue ■.W., Washington, D.C.:.20004. Telephone: (202) 626 -3030. E-maiEkyie@nlc.org a nlc.org 10 Page 55 1 99-