Hillsdale CountyGreat Start Evaluation 2012
Background
• Primary Goal: To assess the impact of the Great Start Initiative at the local and state levels
• Evaluation Question: What progress are GSCs and GSPCs making in their efforts to build a functioning early childhood system within their communities?
BackgroundIn 2010 and 2012, surveys were distributed online and by mail to GSC/GSPC members, workgroup members, and key community members.
Hillsdale County Response RateGSC/ECC members 88.9% Parent Coalition Members 52.9%
GOAL
IMPROVED AND EXPANDED EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEM
Increased Coordination and
Collaboration across Agencies
Sustained and Expanded Public
and Private Investment
A RESPONSIVE AND SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY CONTEXT
Broad Community Support for Early Childhood Issues
SYSTEMS CHANGES
Local Providers Address Parent Concerns
CAPACITY BUILDING
CHANGE STRATEGIES Engaged
ConstituencyAuthentic Leadership &
Voice
Comprehensive Early Childhood System
Improvements
System Change ClimateReadiness for Change
Supportive Local Leaders and Political
Candidates
Great Start Collaborative Great Start Parent Coalition
CAPABLE COLLABORATIVE
Creating an Effective
Governance Structure
A CAPABLE AND POWERFUL PARENT COALITION
Creating An Empowering Coalition
Parents Needs are Met
Increased Access to Early
Childhood Services
Expanded Array of Quality
Programming and Supports
ALL CHILDREN ARE READY FOR SCHOOL BY AGE FIVE
Integrated Framework For Change
Leveraging Systems Change
Key Findings - Statewide
• As compared to 2010, GSCs and GSPCs in 2012 are making significantly more progress in building the systems changes needed to ensure that all children are ready for school.
• On every outcome area examined, GSCs/GSPCs accomplished far more in 2012 than they did in 2010.
Key Findings - Statewide• GSCs and GSPCs showed the most growth when
they built authentic voice, local readiness for change, and actively pursued system change
• GSCs and GSPCs also significantly strengthened all 8 levers for change and these levers continue to play an important role in 2012.
• Three new levers for change have been identified:
– Local Champions,
– Root Causes Prioritized, and
– Equity Prioritized.
Key Findings - Statewide
• GSC and GSPC infrastructure matters, particularly a continuous learning environment
• While Phase 1 and 2s continue to be more effective than Phase 3 and 4s, by 2012 the gap between the Phases has significantly diminished.
• BOTH the GSC and the GSPC continue to matter!
Local Overview• Increased access to Early Childhood
services from 2010-2012• Increased Coordination and Collaboration
across agencies• Expanded Array of Early Childhood
Services• Sustained and Expanded Public and
Private Investment in Early Childhood
Local Overview
• Comprehensive Early Childhood System Improvements
• Increased Community support for Early Childhood Issues
• Local Providers more responsive to parent concerns
• More supportive local leaders and elective candidates
• Empowered families as change agents
Local Overview
• Parents reported easier access to services
• Parents reported being more informed
Local Overview
• Agencies reported “quite a bit to a great deal” of benefits for being a part of the ECC
• 70% of parents reported benefits of participation on the ECC/Parent Coalition
Levers for Change
• In 2010, 8 factors were identified that were critical to promoting Great Start accomplishments
Levers for Change Engaged Constituents
• 85.4% of participants reported an increase in sharing goals such as an aligned understanding of, and agreement upon problems, possible solutions, and overall goals.
• 3.9% more of participants reported an increase in being more actively involved in the ECC or Parent Coalition since 2010
Levers for ChangeAuthentic Leadership and Voice
• 85.4% of participants reported stronger, more effective ties between the ECC and Parent Coalition, and with key outside organizations in the community
• 54% more of participants reported that parents are more effective leaders and champions for Early childhood because of the ECC
Levers for Change Readiness for Change
• 88.1% of participants said we believed in the need for change and have the capacity to pursue it.
• 32.3% more participants said that they see value in the collaboration effort and support other partners at the ECC table
• *New Lever! Local Champions
Levers for Change Systems Change Climate
• 100% of participants said they were in active pursuit of system change efforts, such as shifting or adopting new policies, procedures, or programs to reduce barriers and improve the system.
• 32.7% more participants in 2012 said they have strong relational networks, exchange referrals, coordinate services and share resources across agencies than in 2010.
New Levers that Emerged Equitable System Pursuits
• 93% of participants believe that local funders and providers understand the problems facing children and understand the root causes of children not being ready for school and 97% believe we have the strategies in place to address these causes.
• 88% of participants believe that the highest need families are receiving access to quality services and that organizations are considering the unique needs of families while servicing them.
Shared Goals
Active Constituents
Parent Leader-ship & Voice
Effective Partnerships
Readiness for Change
Interdependent Organizations
Strong Relational Networks
Intentional Systems Change Actions
Local Cham-pions (New!)
Equity
Orientation
(New!)
Root Cause Fo-cus (New!)
Levers for System Change
Equitable System Pursuits
Systems Change Climate
Readiness for Change
Authentic Leadership and Voice
Engaged Constituents
We are here!
We were here!
Great Start Progress
• The Hillsdale County Great Start Collaborative is currently a Stage 3 which is the highest Stage we can be at currently. We are in the top 22% of performing Collaboratives which places us in the top 12 across the State.
Moving Forward…..
Shared Goals
Active Constituents
Parent Leader-ship & Voice
Effective Partnerships
Readiness for Change
Interdepen-dent Organiza-tions
Strong Rela-tional Networks
Intentional Systems Change Actions
Local Cham-pions (New!)
Equity
Orientation
(New!)
Root Cause Fo-cus (New!)
68%
85%
69%
77%88%76%
100%
47%
84%
90% 85%
Areas of Strength
• Intentional systems change actions• Equity orientation• Readiness for change
Areas to Target
• Strong relational networks• Active constituents• Parent leadership and voice
Next Steps…..
• What areas are we most proud of?
• What areas do we need to focus on to grow?
• What strategies might we use to develop those areas?
• How does this data impact our three year strategic plan? Our annual work plan?
• What factors do we need to consider as we move forward?