Performance Accountability for Programs Agencies and Service Systems Who are our customers, clients, people we serve? (e.g children in a child care program) How can we measure if our customers/clients are better off? (performance measures about client results – e.g. percent of children with good literacy skills) How can we measure if we are delivering [...]
Here is a way to teach the Results-Based Accountability thinking process which will work with any audience. (Your script in bold and Audience likely responses in quotes.) 1. Draw a story behind the curve example with an upload sloping trend of 5 data values on a flipchart 2. Ask “How many people here have ever had [...]
The most common problem in this work is the problem of language. People come to the table from many different disciplines and many different walks of life. And the way in which we talk about programs, services and populations varies, literally, all over the map. This means that the usual state of affairs in planning [...]
In astrology, when the stars or planets align, something special is about to happen. So too, it can be argued, that when the federal, state and local players in children and family services agree on what needs to be done that this “alignment” could foretell important changes in the lives of children, hopefully for the [...]
Here are 11 things a legislature could consider to change the way people work together, and to improve the measurable well-being of children, families and communities. 1. Create a special committee to assess the overall well-being of children and families: There is no need to start by changing the existing committee structure. It may make sense, [...]
The Short Answer Start with ends, work backward to means. What do we want? How will we recognize it? What will it take to get there? Be clear and disciplined about language. Use plain language, not exclusionary jargon. Keep accountability for populations separate from accountability for programs and agencies. Results are end conditions of [...]
The Short Answer 1. Maybe this is just another fad. How well it is done will determine that. 2. But the results themselves (conditions of well-being for children, adults, families, and communities) are here to stay. Results like "all children are healthy and ready for school" will still be important in 100 years. 3. The framework [...]
The Short Answer 1. Appeal to their sense of right and wrong. 2. Appeal to their self interest. Full Answer (1) Appeal to their sense of right and wrong: Improving the well-being of children and families is the right thing to do. Doing it in a disciplined way is the right way to [...]
The Short Answer 1. Anywhere leads to everywhere. It doesn't matter where you start, you will eventually get to everything. 2. Start where people are passionate. 3. Don't let outsiders tell you where to start. Start where it feels right for your county, city or community. 4. The work can proceed on parallel tracks. Don't let [...]
The Short Answer When thinking about how to bring people together to do the work of RBA, there are a few organizational and political considerations. (1) Organizational: (a) Build on existing forums: collaboratives, children's cabinets, coalitions, family and child advocacy organizations, United Ways or similar convening organizations. (b) Create tables where people can work [...]
