If you're just starting a new Results-Based Accountability initiative (or any other effort to achieve measurable results), you're probably going to be met with some level of cynicism and apprehension. An important part of breaking through the cynicism is acknowledging and communicating that it may have legitimate causes. Here is how we suggest you address [...]
The Short Answer 1. "Doing things to get reelected" is a legitimate concern of elected officials. Look for ways in which work to turn the curves on child and family well-being can be "good news" for elected officials. 2. Short-term progress vs. long-term progress is a false choice. We need both and can produce [...]
The Short Answer 1. The best work is a partnership between the executive and legislative branches. A results framework which starts with the well-being of children and families can provide common ground for political players and make executive and legislative partnerships easier to create. 2. Executive branch roles can include: Creation of a children's cabinet, [...]
The Short Answer 1. Don't allow this to be an excuse. The work can proceed in parallel. The states shouldn't wait for the federal government. Counties shouldn't wait for the state. Cities shouldn't wait for the counties. And communities shouldn't wait for any of the above. 2. Don't give up on such help, but work [...]
The Short Answer 1. Always go back to results, common ground end-conditions of well-being that people care about. When people are clear about the ends, it clarifies the conflicts about means. There is not one right answer. Everyone can contribute. 2. Return to the simple questions that drive this work: What do we want (in plain [...]
The Short Answer One hour and 15 minutes. Full Answer Some of the answer depends on who is doing the work, the partners at the table, and whether there are paid staff devoted to the tasks. What is reasonable to expect in the first year? If you have a pre-existing collaborative or coalition from which [...]
The Short Answer 1. Start with ends and work backward to means. 2. Use data to drive decisions, not just measure success or failure after the fact. 3. Results are desired conditions of well-being, the ends we want, for children, adults families and communities 4. Improving results means getting from talk to action. And getting [...]
The Short Answer 1. Population accountability is accountability for the well-being of a whole population in a geographic area. Population accountability is bigger than any one program or agency or one level of government. In fact, it's bigger than government. It requires the whole community, public and private partners to make a difference. ("It takes a village [...]
The Short Answer Indicators are about whole populations. Performance measures are about client populations. Indicators are usually about peoples' lives, whether or not they receive any service. Performance measures are usually about people who receive service. Indicators are proxies for the well-being of whole populations, and necessarily matters of approximation and compromise. Performance measures are about a known group [...]
he Short Answer 1. Populations and subpopulations can be defined by geography or by both characteristic and geography. 2. Examples of populations include: all children in the county, all children 0 to 5 in the county, all children 0 to 5 in the Fairfield neighborhood of the county; all elders in the state, all elders [...]
