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fully. Evaluating should take little time 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 participants. 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 it 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. "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 messages our data reveals. " Even when evaluation results do not match initial hopes and expectations, 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 starting point from which we can measure success and recommend improvements. t i Edward C. Siegel is president of the Center for Evaluation Research. To find out more about evalua- tion tools, Evaluation Instrument Battery: Pre - vention Programs for High Risk Youth, is avail- able from the Center for Evaluation Research, 219 SE Main Street, Suite 3030, Minneapolis, MN 55414 or call (800) 353 -3390. Graphic based on information in Critical Needs, Critical Choices: A Survey on Children and Families in America's Cities, a March 1996 publication of the National League of Cities. INC R E A SIN G RESOURCES FOR C.H I LD.REN , YOUTH, -A -N.D F -AiM I L I ES City officials relayed . several lessons to the National League of Cities that have been helpful: in promoting an increase in resources available for children, youth, and families in their cities. 1. It is important to use financing to support the city's mission and goals, rather than have available dollars drive programs. 5. Design strategies that are broad and appeal :tolall sec- tors of the community_ Such approaches create more di verse ownership and investments in the outcomes. 6. Giving neighborhoods or smaller communities some ..,authority over :. how dollars are spent for children and families increases their-buy-in -and support. 7- Build collaborative relationships. Bringing people together increases people's investment 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 -.: comesfor children, particularly young chuldren, is linked to the future economic vitality of a community. 9_ Don't be afraid to ask the private sector for money, 2. If the city has a vision and a process for citizen input, citizens are more willing to support tax increase. A:num- ber of cities used an extensive participatory process—some- times involving several thousand children,- youth, and adults —to develop their vision and strategic plan for chil- dren in their community. These processes not only result in better plans, but build public will for enhanced financing. 3. The public is willing to fund services` for children and families when convinced those services 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 publicbuilds - support. Repented with permission from the New Directions • brief— For Cities, Families, and Children a 1997 publication of the National League of Cities. For more information, contact John E; Kyle, Program Director, Children and Families in Cities, National. League of Cities, 1301 Pennsylvania. Avenue N.W.,. Washington ,`D.C.::20004.::Telephone::( 202).626- 3030.E - mail :;kyte@nlc.org 10 Page 80 AUGUST 1997