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Course – Lesson 7: II. Concepts, Terms to Explore

CONCEPTS
TERMS TO EXPLORE

LESSON 7:II – WHAT ARE KEY CONCEPTS AND TERMS TO EXPLORE?

THE FUTURE…

Sometime in the near future, you walk into City Hall and see on the directory hanging on the wall, right under the Department of Parks, the Department of Family Resilience. You’ve made an appointment to meet with the co-directors of the department so you stroll down the hall and enter room 122. Inside you’re greeted by program associate and social marketing expert Rayna who shows you into a large meeting room with a table and seating for 20. The walls are giant whiteboards where people can write on from floor to ceiling. In walk the co-directors Marie, who introduces herself as overseeing research, policy and data. Daniel introduces himself as overseeing continuous quality improvement and training.

Over the course of an hour you learn how this team is tracking ten vital surviving and thriving services across the city and county. They survey all parents and youth yearly to assess ease or challenges accessing services, as well as why challenges might exist. While the city does not provide the ten services, they use their power to leverage with all those nongovernmental agencies who do. The co-directors bring up on their giant wall screen the website that shows a map of the county, with highlighted communities indicating problem areas lacking fully effective and accessible services.

The job of the City Department of Family Resilience isn’t complicated, it is monitoring a process of continuous quality improvement across ten sectors. The department is also collaborating with county staff, school district staff and leadership within local higher education. When gaps are identified in a particular community or with a specific agency, the trio act as a swat team to solve agency challenges meeting the needs of residents. As a result of the funding the Dept of Family Resilience, city residents have been giving high ratings to the user-friendliness of all ten service sectors.

That’s the future we are building to. Until we prove our concept with the 100% New Mexico initiative, we will have to piece together volunteers to form a strong and effective coalition-or more accurately, ten coalitions (each one representing one of the ten surviving and thriving sectors) under one 100% Community coalition.

IN THE PRESENT…

To make the future family-friendly scenario a reality, which involves setting up your local 100% New Mexico initiative, let’s go over 10 steps. Remember, each county is different so these steps may need to be customized to meet your unique needs and capacities.

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Lesson 7:I

OBJECTIVES

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Lesson 7:III

IMPROVE

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Course – Lesson 7: VIII. What are lesson assignments and next steps?

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NEXT STEPS AND ASSIGNMENTS

LESSON 7:VIII – What are lesson assignments and next steps?

Step by Step

Your steps may be different depending on your situation. Ideally, you are taking this course as part of a cohort — a group made up of local 100% New Mexico initiative participants. You may be the co-community organizer, action team leader or member. This is ideal, as you can discuss the course and all the information presented with people you’ll be collaborating with. However, you might be taking this course because you wish to start a 100% New Mexico initiative and today, you are a solo champion seeking to recruit stakeholders. Either way, the following steps enrich your learning experience and prepare you to begin developing your innovations and projects. 

Visit the Virtual Innovation Center: We provide you with links to innovations in all ten key family-serving sectors. These innovations include a menu of various projects, from across the state, nation and globe to consider implementing. The projects identified are designed to strengthen family health, safety and learning systems — and support your local 100% Community innovation.

Reviewing your course textbooks: Ideally, you have a good supply of sticky notes and sharpie pens to make comments and questions throughout Anna, Age Eight, 100% Community and Adaptive Leadership. This makes group discussion more lively and focused as you get answers to questions and challenge assumptions. 

Reading Assignment: By now, you should at least be well into Anna, Age Eight, 100% Community and Adaptive Leadership. Collectively, these texts provide you with a solid understanding of our 20 key concepts. All three books could serve as reference guides for not only 100% Community Initiative participants, but for all stakeholders in your county. 

You may find that Anna, Age Eight serves as an excellent call to action, and you may wish to share this book widely in your community. You can build entire forums, book clubs,  and workshops around Anna’s story. 

100% Community is your step by step guide that you’ll find you don’t want to be far from (we sure aren’t). The chapter that focuses on your sector should be made widely available to everyone working in your sector throughout your county. 

Lastly, Adaptive Leadership is a book you will want to reference once you start going out into the field and meeting with leaders and stakeholders. When you get your first “we’re already doing this” or “you’re not acknowledging the work we’ve already done”, you will want to really understand the fundamentals of an adaptive challenge.

READY TO REVISIT READINESS?

Lesson 7

Congratulations, you’ve just completed the 100% Community Course. This means you are one of the first people in the nation to have successfully participated in a learning experience focused on the data-driven prevention of ACES, trauma and social adversity. Kudos to you.

When you started the course, you took the Readiness survey. Are you ready to take it one more time to assess your knowledge? If you hit any challenging questions, you find the chapters they are answered in noted along with the question. We acknowledge that our twenty key concepts represent many fields of study. For this reason, we are never far from our copy of 100% Community to refresh our memories.

You are just beginning a groundbreaking initiative that could potentially transform your community. You are also now part of a national network of champions who share your knowledge, drive and passion. Reach out to us so that we can assist you in connecting to all the 100% Community Initiative projects. We also offer our blog 10@100% where you can read and submit insightful articles. Welcome to our team and movement to ensure safe childhoods for all.

author photo

Katherine and Dom

Katherine Ortega Courtney, PhD and Dominic Cappello
Coauthors of Anna, Age Eight and 100% Community

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Lesson 7:VII

QUESTIONS

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Innovations

10 AREAS AWAIT US

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Course – Lesson 7: VII. Questions

QUESTIONS
ARE YOU READY?

LESSON 7:VII – VITAL QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

Real World Work

In 100% Community “PART THREE: Countdown to 100%,” we ask the following questions at the end. It can only strengthen your initiative by asking and answering these questions with initiative participants before proceeding with real-world work on the 100% New Mexico initiative.

Really, you’ll thank us later.

  1. In chapter 29, we wrote about the importance of data, not opinions, guiding our work in a process of continuous quality improvement. First, what’s been your experience using data to guide projects? Second, why is Continuous Quality Improvement a data-driven process?
  2. In chapter 30, we suggested, based on reading The Practice of Adaptive Leadership, that people fear loss, not change. Can you think of a time when loss aversion has either obstructed or supported change in your communities?
  3. In chapter 31, we promoted the collective impact model to guide our work. How might we support organizations and our action team members in using the Collective Impact model to best achieve results?
  4. In chapter 32, we laid out the 100% New Mexico initiative in 10 steps. First, which of those steps may be the most challenging, and why? Second, which individuals or organizations in your county can fill the roles we describe?
  5. In chapter 33, we advocated for a 100% Community Task Force on Historical Trauma. Why is it important for all of your county residents to learn about historical trauma and historical resilience?
  6. In chapter 34, we described potential timelines for various components of the initiative. How realistic are they given the capacity of your county?
  7. In chapter 35, we focused on life-long learning as a key component of our initiative. Who are partners in your county or state who could support this goal?
  8. In chapter 36, we offered some insights on using technology to strengthen your community work. In your experience, how is tech and the web used to promote health, safety and education in your county — and with what results?
  9. In chapter 37, we described how the public sector workforces (representing hundreds of organizations) work primarily in silos, not in collaboration. How can your county remedy that using technology and relationship-building?
  10. In chapter 38, we focused on place for synergy in order to develop strategies for healing disrupted economies. How can private sector partners in your county work with public sector change agents to bring about solutions?
  11. In chapter 39, we arrive at a place called “Faith.” Here we focus on the role of faith in the compassion of others to serve all our children and families. How can your partners in your county pursue a dialogue with all your faith-based communities, all who hold a value that all people matter, especially the most vulnerable among us, to support the work ahead?

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Lesson 7:VI

10 STEPS

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Lesson 7:VIII

NEXT STEPS

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Course – Lesson 7: VI. 10 Steps – Getting To 10@100%

10 STEPS
GETTING TO 10@100%

LESSON 7:VI – Q+A WITH AUTHORS KATHERINE ORTEGA COURTNEY, PHD AND DOMINIC CAPPELLO

How is the backbone of the initiative created?

How is the backbone of the initiative created?

Katherine Ortega Courtney, PhD responds:

Katherine Ortega Courtney, PhD responds:

Step 1 is called Creating the Backbone. 100% Community developers meet with a core team of local champions who wish to explore bringing the 100% New Mexico initiative to their county. These might be two people who have read 100% Community and are synch with our vision, goals and activities. We work with this local team, called our 100% community organizers, using the collective impact model that promotes the following five features:

  1. A common vision and agenda
  2. Collaboration and mutually-reinforcing activities
  3. Continuous communication and transparency
  4. Shared measurement and use of data
  5. Backbone support in the form of a local agency

It’s here you’ll find insights in “Chapter 31: Sharing the Vision to Achieve Collective Impact.” We can also share with you how localities are finding agency partners and economic bases for the work.

Each county starts their initiative in a different way. Some start with a book club focused on discussing Anna, Age Eight or 100% Community. Others dive right into community convenings while others set up a monthly networking and professional development gathering to build a strong sense of community. The roles of the first champions to start the work included a rural health clinic medical director, a city councilor, a college president, a school board member, a university physics professor, and a socially-engaged grandmother/public servant/former congressional aide.

What are the activities to engage county residents?

What are the activities to engage county residents?

Dominic Cappello responds:

Dominic Cappello responds:

We move to Step 2: Sponsoring Community Forums. We support the community organizers in sponsoring community forums across the county to gather feedback from those working in our 10 “surviving” and “thriving” sectors, which includes higher education and socially-engaged youth and adults. We promote the reading of Anna, Age Eight: The data-driven prevention of childhood trauma and maltreatment and 100% Community: Ensuring trauma-free and thriving children, students and families.

Through a series of forums and events, the local community organizers listen carefully to all comments, concerns, suggestions and ideas, creating a report that details the wide range of perspectives on ACEs prevention and treatment, as well identifying who is already doing vital work to support county residents. The more dialogue that can take place across the county, the more informed the community organizers will be about the change that the 100% Community program may represent. To many, change can mean loss or disruption in the status quo, and any successful initiative like ours must acknowledge community members’ feelings with respect and patience.

We have seen very positive results by hosting what Dona Ana County, New Mexico calls “Great Conversations.” Ask us about these community gathering where one question is posed to a group of community residents and insights are shared in a structures and respectful process.

How are leaders from ten diverse sectors recruited?

How are leaders from ten diverse sectors recruited?

Katherine Ortega Courtney, PhD responds:

Katherine Ortega Courtney, PhD responds:

Welcome to Step 3: Convening Leaders in 10 Sectors. Community organizers convene a series of meetings of agency leaders from all 10 “surviving” and “thriving” sectors to assess their interest in the 100% New Mexico initiative and their capacity to devote time to it. Eventually, the plan is that they will commit to leading or joining an action team (with the goal of developing their in-agency projects or collective projects). The goal of the action teams is to strengthen services so that 100% of residents have access to them in a timely manner. 100% Community action teams are comprised of members who commit to weekly work, and completing the 100% Community course.

Ask us about what we call “The San Miguel County Model” and their approach to recruiting potential action team members by starting a book club with the 100% Community chapters as their focus. To get a good overview on the ten sectors, read all of Part Four: Workbook for Action Teams that contains the ten chapters on the ten surviving and thriving service areas.

When do we survey our parents and youth to identify gaps in services?

When do we survey our parents and youth to identify gaps in services?

Dominic Cappello responds:

Dominic Cappello responds:

This is where we really engage with the community. Step 4: Conduct the 100% Community Survey is where we ask, “How easy is it to access vital services?”

This county-wide survey assesses to what degree local parents and youth have access to the 10 key “surviving” and “thriving” service areas/programs. This data will identify gaps in services in specific areas of the county and why there are challenges accessing services. This survey data provides the 100% New Mexico initiative with focus areas in all cities, towns and communities within county borders for innovations and projects. As the survey process unfolds, the community organizers and action teams leaders can identify all the current work being done in all ten sectors, including task forces, committees and research groups.

The survey process has been used in a variety of counties and communities. Ask us about recruiting survey takers, identifying communities to focus on, and best places to connect with parents and youth.

When do we report on the survey results?

When do we report on the survey results?

Katherine Ortega Courtney, PhD responds:

Katherine Ortega Courtney, PhD responds:

This brings us what should be an important event for the iniativate and elected leaders and stakeholders. We enter Step 5: Sponsor a 100% Community Town Hall to Share Survey Results. Community organizers, along with action team leaders, invite all county leaders, stakeholders and the public to an event where they share the findings of the survey, detailing where gaps in services exist and why residents reported they had challenges accessing services. Leaders from all 10 “surviving” and “thriving” sectors share the current work to address gaps and offer opportunities for residents to work in alignment with the efforts of city and county government, along with school boards, nonprofit agencies, child welfare, higher education and the business sector.

A review of chapter 23 on Foundations might give you the insights to approach a foundation for support of summits, town hall or forums. Or plan B is partnering with higher education who will have meeting rooms and technology. chapter 22 gives insights into partnerships with colleges and universities.

The summit provides an opportunity to engage stakeholders in becoming action team leaders. The summit is really a starting point to beginning the real work of the initiative- closing gaps identified through the survey.

How are participants for the 100% Course identified and recruited?

How are participants for the 100% Course identified and recruited?

Dominic Cappello responds:

Dominic Cappello responds:

Well, in some ways you know as you are in this course. We hear from counties that every recruitment process is different. So we have Step 6: Recruit for and launch the 100% Community Course.

The community organizers and action team members take the 100% Community course, which includes classroom instruction, coaching and web-based lessons that are customized to meet local needs. Lessons include:

  1. Engaging with the community
  2. Assess the challenge
  3. Plan with research and logic
  4. Act with partnerships
  5. Evaluating Progress
  6. Partner and build strategic relationships
  7. Program for results

This 100% Community course prepares the 100% New Mexico initiative leaders of the 10 action teams to work in a data-driven process of continuous quality improvement (CQI) focused on four phases: assessment, planning, action and evaluation. The course textbook 100% Community provides to all action team members evidence-informed innovations and projects to consider implementing. The goal is to get all 10 sectors serving 100% of county residents.

Courses can be customized to meet the needs of local participants and you can also look into CEUs. You will also wish to read “Appendix H: Evaluation begins with Questions” so that when leaders or funders ask, “How are you evaluating all this?” you have an answer.

As you recruit you will find people wanting to focus on trauma-informed activities, which means a focus on public awareness or improving communication skills or mindfulness. While this is all important in the long run, the priority first is ensuring that all residents have access to the survival services that keep them healthy and safe. You will have to, repeatedly, remind people of the priorities based on our understanding of the needs of our most vulnerable residents.

Can you tell us how planning is done in various localities?

Can you tell us how planning is done in various localities?

Katherine Ortega Courtney, PhD responds:

Katherine Ortega Courtney, PhD responds:

Yes, we are talking about Step 7: Planning.

Once our action teams have the survey data and have been through the 100% community training, they are ready for the planning stage. Teams will review the research for each sector, much of which is outlined in 100% Community and on our website called the 100% Innovation Center. Teams will then consider possible funding sources and develop a detailed action plan, including who is responsible for what and when each step of CQI can be expected to be completed. We will also develop a logic model, a planning tool detailing all aspects of a particular project, so that everyone working within the 100% New Mexico initiative can see how the plans will lead to the desired outcomes. Each innovation and project will require a logic model to guide the action teams.

Here you will want to review “Chapter 29: Continuous Quality Improvement Guides Us with Data” and explore the toolbox (aka the Appendices) which houses a logic model, org chart, partnership chart, timeline and more insights into using the continuous quality improvement framework.

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Lesson 7:V

ADAPT

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Lesson 7:VII

QUESTIONS

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