Resource development indicators and measures are listed below. For the
most part, measures to document the indicators are counts of specific
events or items that can be derived from existing records or from tracking
protocols that can be developed. Other measures are also specified.
It should also be noted that the extent to which resource development
indicators are reflective of solid collaborative efforts is dependent,
in part, on the extent to which the resources are provided on a continued
basis. Successful collaborative efforts take time to develop. Therefore,
renewal and continuation of resources over time to the collaborative effort
should be considered when documenting resource development indicators.
In addition to documenting the expansion and integration of resources,
there is need to also track the programatic results of the increased capacity
afforded by resource development. After assessing the resource development,
include information about how those resources were used to improve programatic
or collaborative efforts.
I. Indicators for Community Resource Expansion: Acquiring the resources
that are needed
Environmental Capital: Improvement in
the social and organizational context in which the collaborative group
exists and functions.
Goal: Community will improve its ability to address
and meet the needs of its members |
Indicator: Increased access to needed technical assistance from
external resource systems will result in greater ability to meet community
need Measure: A numerical tally of the number and duration of visits
from different state/federal, and/or international agencies to the communities
based on a content assessment of agency trip reports.
Measure: An interview or survey assessment of presenters meeting
of community need.
Indicator: Residents of the community perceive their community
as a collectivity. (Rossi)
Measure: Record number of community members who perceive themselves
as sharing a significant set of interests with other residents
Tool: Mobilization Scale (Jakes and Cassidy,
1999) (in Adobe Acrobat PDF)
Indicator: The extent to which there exist opportunities for public
discussion within an organizational and/or structured setting.
Measure: Content analysis of local papers, newsletters, or meeting
announcements. Time given at local meetings for public input into decision
making process
Indicator: The extent to which a wide variety of related organizations
come together to co-sponsor events, activities or projects
Measure: Numerical count and analysis of meeting minutes
Indicator: The purposes of the local organization meet the community's
needs
Measure: Community survey of organizational awareness, involvement,
and perception of needs being met in community.
Tool: Mobilization Scale (Jakes and Cassidy,
1999)
Indicator: Number of letters of commitment or interagency agreements
between partner organizations and agencies, and policies, laws, or regulations
that specifically identify or encourage collaboration to address issues
and problems of CYFAR.
Measure: Number of letters of commitment or interagency agreements
between partner organizations and agencies, and policies, laws, or regulations
that specifically identify or encourage collaboration to address issues
and problems of CYFAR. These documents must explicitly focus on enhancing
the work of a collaborative group to address issues and problems of CYFAR.
Indicator: Timely information via PCs, Internet, other communication
devices, etc. will be available and/or affordable.
Measure: Survey by phone and personal interview. Logs of site connectivity
computer use.
Indicator: All members of the group are informed of the actions
of the group.
Measure: interview, Distribution lists
Tool: Network Analysis Questionnaire Source: Linney & Wandersman
(1991). Prevention Plus III. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Pg. 413.
Goal: Community relationships and communication
will be strengthened in ways that encourage participation. |
Indicator: Meetings will be well planned and executed.
Tool: collaboration Structure Meeting Questionnaire
Source: Winer, M., & Ray, K. (1994). Collaboration Handbook: Creating,
Sustaining, and Enjoying the Journey, St. Paul, MN: Amherst H. Wilder
Foundation.
Tool: Meeting Questionnaire Source: Dombro, A. L., O'Donnell, N.S.,
Galinsky, E., Malcher, S.G., & Garber, A. (1996). Community Mobilization:
Strategies to Support Young Children and Their Families, New York: Families
and Work Institute.
Tool: Citizen Development Questionnaire
See also: Where the Answers Live: Team Decision Making in Zenger,
J. H., Musselwhite, E., Hurson, K., Perrin, C. (1994). Leading Teams:
Mastering the New Role. Homewood, IL: Zenger-Miller.
Goal: Community will improve its ability to
address and meet the needs of its members. |
Indicator: Increased access to needed technical assistance from
external resource systems will result in greater ability to meet community
need Measure: A numerical tally of the number and duration of visits
from different state/federal, and/or international agencies to the communities
based on a content assessment of agency trip reports.
Measure: An interview or survey assessment of presenters meeting
of community need.
Indicator: The extent to which there exist opportunities for public
discussion within an organizational and/or structured setting.
Measure: Content analysis of local papers, newsletters, or meeting
announcements. Time given at local meetings for public input into decision
making process Indicator: The extent to which a variety of related organizations
come together to co-sponsor events, activities or projects Measure:
Numerical count and analysis of meeting minutes
Indicator: The purposes of the local organization meet the community's
needs
Measure: Community survey of organizational awareness, involvement,
and perception of needs being met in community.
Indicator: Number of letters of commitment or interagency agreements
between partner organizations and agencies, and policies, laws, or regulations
that specifically identify or encourage collaboration to address issues
and problems of CYFAR.
Measure: Number of letters of commitment or interagency agreements
between partner organizations and agencies, and policies, laws, or regulations
that specifically identify or encourage collaboration to address issues
and problems of CYFAR. These documents must explicitly focus on enhancing
the work of a collaborative group to address issues and problems of CYFAR.
Indicator: Timely information via PCs, Internet, other communication
devices, etc. will be available and/or affordable.
Measure: Survey by phone and personal interview. Logs of site connectivity
computer use.
Financial Capital
Goal: Community groups will increase their
financial capital for use in community programming |
Indicator: The extent to which local community leaders and/or
public officials redirect local budget resources in ways that more fully
support the staff, program and facility requirements of CYFAR community
based project initiatives.
Measure: A review of official documentation and annual budget data.
Indicator: Amount of financial resources contributed by partner organizations
and agencies to the collaborative group to address issues and problems
of CYFAR.
Measure: Total amount of financial resources contributed by partner
organizations and agencies to the collaborative group to address issues
and problems of CYFAR.
Indicator: Amount of financial resources secured by the collaborative
group through community fundraising, government and foundation grants
and contracts, and other private sector resources to address issues and
problems of CYFAR.
Measure: Data providers will need to track and maintain the total
amount of financial resources secured by the collaborative group through
community fundraising, government and foundation grants and contracts,
and other private sector resources to address issues and problems of CYFAR.
Non-financial capital
Goal: Community groups will increase their
non-financial capital for use in community programming |
Indicator: Number of organizations or agencies providing in kind
contributions (e.g., donation of meeting rooms, supplies, computers, transportation,
public relations or promotional activities, equipment, furniture, printing,
construction and renovation, clerical assistance, etc.) to support a collaborative
group to address issues and problems of CYFAR. Measure: Monitor
contribution records
Human Capital: Improvement in individuals' cognitive skills, knowledge,
training, and other personal skills and resources to improve the community
Goal: Local citizens will gain knowledge, awareness,
and skills to bring about change in the community |
Indicator: Community members will show an increase in knowledge,
awareness, and skills to bring about change in the community. Specifically,
the extent to which citizens have learned the following skills:
Gather information relevant to issues
develop a survey
conduct a survey
assess resources
Collaborative problems solving
facilitate a group discussion
negotiate in conflict situations
decision making
consensus building
Influence over the community
leadership
communication
Plans to take action
Grantwriting
time management
Measure: Survey or interview citizens to determine which skills
they have acquired since program implementation
Tool: Mobilization Scale (Jakes and Cassidy,
1999) (in Adobe Acrobat PDF file)
Tool: Evaluation of Citizen
Action Training (in Adobe Acrobat PDF file)
Goal: Local citizens will gain knowledge, awareness,
and skills to bring about change in the community |
Indicator: Community members will show an increase in knowledge, awareness,
and skills to bring about change in the community. Specifically, the extent
to which citizens have learned the following skills:
1. Gather information relevant to issues
a. develop a survey
b. conduct a survey
c. assess resources
1. Collaborative problems solving
a. facilitate a group discussion
b. negotiate in conflict situations
c. decision making
d. consensus building
1. Influence over the community
a. leadership
b. communication
1. Plans to take action
a. Grantwriting
b. time management
Measure: Survey or interview citizens to determine which skills
they have acquired since program implementation
Tool: Mobilization Scale (in Adobe Acrobat
PDF file)
Tool: Citizen Development Questionnaire
(in Adobe Acrobat PDF file)
Social Capital
Goal: To increase social linkages and the reciprocity
of relationships among community groups |
Indicator: Increase in number of paid organization and agency
personnel meaningfully involved in a collaborative group to address issues
and problems of CYFAR.
Measure: Counts of paid organization and agency personnel meaningfully
involved (i.e., attending at least two meetings and performing significant
work) in a collaborative group to address issues and problems of CYFAR.
Indicator: Increase in number of volunteers meaningfully involved
in a collaborative group to address issues and problems of CYFAR.
Measure: Counts of volunteers meaningfully involved (i.e., attending
at least two meetings and performing significant work) in a collaborative
group to address issues and problems of CYFAR.
Indicator: Community organizations & local government bodies use
of group process techniques to address issues or solve problems results
in more effective group functioning.
Measure: Review of minutes, reporting by members or attendees,
survey for evidence of use of group process technique. Interview of group
participants on functioning of group.
Indicator: Community members report an increase of feelings of
trust in their community
Measure: Interview, survey or focus groups - How has your level
of trust in your community changed as a result of involvement in CYFAR?
Indicator: Community members report an increase of feelings of
identifying with the community - decreased alienation
Measure: Interview, survey or focus groups - How has your level
of identification with your community changed as a result of involvement
in CYFAR? - Do you feel more like a part of your community since your
involvement with CYFAR? Do you feel like you know the members of your
community better since your involvement in CYFAR?
Indicator: An increase in citizen Involvement
Measure: See citizen development/citizen
participation section
Indicator: Increase in the number of civic groups or ability of
existing civic groups to meet community need.
Measure: Document review of meeting minutes, newsletters and local
paper. Community survey of awareness of local organizations, and perceptions
of these organization's ability to meet local need.
Indicator: Increase in care for property
Measure: Increase in the home value in the neighborhood greater
than town average inflationary increases.
Indicator: Decrease in the transient nature or feelings of temporary
residence in the community
Measure: Analysis of Percentage of home ownership, percentage of
home ownership turnover within 5 years, Interview with community residents:
Do you plan to stay in your community long term? Do you think your children
will want to come back to this community to live? Do you think this community
is a good place to settle down?
Indicator: Increase in mutual give and take within community/ reciprocity
i.e., day care needs facility, church provides space, day care takes care
of church members children.
Measure: Interview with community members
I. Indicators for Community Resource Accessibility: Insuring that
resources are accessible, integrated, and used effectively
Environmental Capital
Goal: The community structure will be strengthened
in ways that facilitate accessibility and effective use of resources
|
Indicator: Family members, youth, and children living in at-risk
circumstances will have greater access to community based services, facilities
and other resources necessary for alleviating at-risk living conditions
Measure: Survey or interview community members
Indicator: The extent to which CYFAR Project initiatives are structurally
integrated as an ongoing part of local governmental jurisdiction or a
non-governmental organization servicing the needs of at-risk people living
within that jurisdiction.
Measure: Evidence documenting that structural realignment has occurred.
Indicator: Structures will be in place in the community that allow
for improved integration of resources i.e., communities will be able to
use the available financial capital to improve human capital, which should
in turn, improve the community's assets
Measure: Survey or interview community members
Measure: Monitor records of how resources are used
Indicator: Community services will be more accessible to community
members who need them
Measure: Interview or survey community members
Measure: Monitor records of use of community services
Indicator: Community will include a diverse representation of the
community in its collaborative groups addressing issues and problems of
CYFAR.
Measure: Diversity on the collaboration's membership will be assessed
on the following criteria: to which members of the collaborative group
represent the following characteristics: age, educational background,
ethnicity, family status, gender, income, military experience, geographic
areas of origin, ownership of property and assets, physical and mental
ability, race, sexual orientation, social class, spiritual practice, and
work experience.
Financial Capital
Goal: Communities will have increased accessibility
to and more effective use of monetary resources |
Indicator: Number of partner organizations and agencies contributing
financial resources to the collaborative group to address issues and problems
of CYFAR.
Measure: Data providers will need to track and maintain counts
of partner organizations and agencies contributing financial resources
to the collaborative group to address issues and problems of CYFAR.
Indicator: Increased use of Resources Assessment.
Measure: Data providers will need to complete a Use of Resources
Assessment (to be developed) that will assess the appropriate use of financial
resources for the collaborative effort. This will be a qualitative assessment
and will likely include the following questions (based on Kaye & Wolff,
1997): Does everyone have access to the collaborative groups resources
or are they only available to a small handful of people who have certain
connections? Who controls decisions concerning the use of resources? Towards
what use are the collaborative funds put? Do the long term financial resources
generated by the collaborative group benefit those who did not initially
have access to them?
Indicator: Community programmers will have increased access to
financial capital
Measure: Survey or interview
Indicator: Community groups will effectively use their monetary
resources to contribute to the community (such as by implementing groups,
paying for training for group leaders, paying for educational programs
for youth, etc.) Measure: Monitor financial records
Measure: Survey or interview Non-financial Capital Goal: Communities
will have improved accessibility to and use of non-financial resources
Indicator: Increased accessibility to non-financial resources
Measure: Survey community members to see if the community's non-financial
resources are accessible to those who need them
Indicator: More effective use of non-financial resources
Measure: Survey or interview community members to determine how
they are using their community's non-financial resources (are they effectively
utilizing resources such as space, computers, etc., that were donated
to them?)
Measure: Monitor records of use of non-financial resources Human
Capital
Goal: There will be an increase in the use
of community members' knowledge, skills, training, experience, etc. |
Indicator: Community members' skills will be recognized by the
community groups in which they participate
Measure: Survey or interview group members
Indicator: Community members' skills will be well utilized by the
community groups in which they participate.
Measure: Survey or interview group members
Indicator: Community members will feel valued and needed in community
functions
Measure: Survey or interview group members
Social Capital
Goal: There will be an increase in the use
of trust, involvement, and reciprocity by community groups and members |
Indicator: Community groups will demonstrate increased reciprocity
of relationships
Measure: Survey or interview group members
Indicator: Community groups will demonstrate trust in their partnerships
Measure: Survey or interview group members
Indicator: Community members will take advantage of community networks
to benefit programming efforts
Measure: Survey or interview group members
Authors: Lisa Cassidy and Susan Jakes
Adapted from an submission for the the Resource Development Working Group
by Michael Lambur, Extension Specialist, Program Development and Nadya
Berstein, Research Assistant, Virginia Cooperative Extension
|