11-12-1997 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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fully. Evacuating 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- ace 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 somenmes necessary. co 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 co over mea- sure. The most valuable information will come from measuring only che 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 he willing to accept the messages our data reveals. " Even when evaluanon 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 che effectiveness of our efforts and be willing to accept the mes- sages our data reveals Evacuation is the starring point from which we can measure success and recommend improvements. it- 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?. om the Center for Evaivanon Research, 219 SE :/lain 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, INCREASING RESOU:RCES FOR GNILD.REN, YOUTH, AND F'A:M ILIE.S City officials: relayed several lessons 'to the National.League a of Cities-that have been.helpfuldn - promoting an increase in resources .available.for-children, yonth,..and fanrilies 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. 2. If the city has a vision and a process for citizen input, citizens are morewilling to support a tax increase- A num- ber of cities used an extensive participatory process —some- times involving several thousand children, youth, and adults —to develop theirvision and strategic plan for chil- dren m 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 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 strategies that are broad. and. appeal to all sec- ton of the community. Such approaches. create.more di- verse ownership and.investmentsin 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- comes for children, particularly young children, is linked to the future economic vitality of a community. 9. Don't bean-aid to ask the private sector formoney. Repented with permission from the New Direcrions 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. 0:20004. Telephone: (202) 626 -3030. E- mail:.kyle n1c.og 10 Page 63 x,9 97