The National Results and Equity Collaborative (NREC)–a partnership of social sector organizations dedicated to accelerating positive and equitable results for children in the US–just released a draft version of its new Early Childhood Action Guide: Turning Curves for Vulnerable Children from Birth to Age 8: Shared Results and Measures. In addition to reviewing and downloading the draft document, members of the public are able to leave comments and feedback on the NREC  website here: http://resultsandequity.org/shared-results-and-measures-review/.

According to NREC, the new action guide is going to be the first in a series of tools developed to assist local, state, and national leaders align their work, foster collaboration and capacity building, and avoid using competing methods that slow progress.  The action guide recommends a set of common results and indicators that should be used by communities working on improving the lives of children from birth to age eight. For example, a suggested result of “children are safe, healthy, and developing on track” lists three primary indicators to measure this result, one of which includes “children have consistent access to a primary healthcare provider.” The action guide also explains the decision-making process behind each result and indicator selected, its significance, and a more detailed definition of the indicators.

NREC shares that aligning work with a set of common results and indicators grows out of a belief that:

  • At the community level, focusing on a concise, manageable set of results and indicators leads to greater progress;
  • Each community can move more rapidly to action by using a core set of indicators that are grounded in strong research; and
  • As national organizations committed to improving results for young children, the NREC national partners can offer a benefit to its network if we agree on a starting point set of results and indicators.

While there is obviously a benefit to subscribing to a set of established results and indicators that can be applied across sites, collaboratives, and regions, individuals are also encouraged to refine the draft list  by adding results and indicators that are of special relevance to their communities.

Henrietta Munoz Ph.D, Vice President of Grant Research and Evaluation at United Way San Antonio and Bexar County, TX shared the following about her experience with NREC: “Being an NREC community partner is helping us replicate and adapt our East Side San Antonio B-8 work region-wide. Access to existing knowledge from both peers and diverse national organizations, combined with the opportunity to co-create additional tools and knowledge, increases our chances for sustainability because this work is expanding the possibilities for the true integration of systems.”

In addition to the proposed action guide, the NREC website also provides other tools and resources for achieving impact, including “A Guide to Results-Based Planning and Facilitation: Achieving Results and Equity for Vulnerable Children and Youth.” Visitors are also provided with links to a variety of Results-Based Accountability resources, as well as the Clear Impact Scorecard software. To view these additional resources, visit NREC at www.resultsandequity.org/tools-and-resources.

To download, view, or provide feedback to the Early Childhood Action Guide: Turning Curves for Vulnerable Children from Birth to Age 8: Shared Results and Measures, please visit NREC’s website here: http://resultsandequity.org/shared-results-and-measures-review/.

 

 

 

About NREC: “The National Results and Equity Collaborative is a new and game changing approach to accelerating positive and equitable results for children, youth, families and communities throughout the United States. It enables networks of funders, technical assistance providers, intermediary organizations, public and private civic and service organizations, government and others to work together in greater alignment to help more vulnerable young people succeed from birth throughout adulthood.” Source: http://resultsandequity.org/about/