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Structural Supports

Structural Supports. Susan Besio, Ph.D. Director of Planning Vermont Agency of Human Services. Statutory Framework. 1998 - Vermont Legislature provided statutory authority for : Ten Outcomes of Social Well-being for Vermonters Regional Partnerships State Team for Children and Families

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Structural Supports

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  1. Structural Supports Susan Besio, Ph.D. Director of Planning Vermont Agency of Human Services

  2. Statutory Framework 1998 - Vermont Legislature provided statutory authority for : • Ten Outcomes of Social Well-being for Vermonters • Regional Partnerships • State Team for Children and Families • Vermont Research Partnership • Reports on Well-being

  3. 10 Outcomes • FAMILIES, YOUTH, AND INDIVIDUALS ARE ENGAGED IN THEIR COMMUNITY’S DECISIONS AND ACTIVITIES • PREGNANT WOMEN AND YOUNG CHILDREN THRIVE • CHILDREN ARE READY FOR SCHOOL • CHILDREN SUCCEED IN SCHOOL • CHILDREN LIVE IN STABLE, SUPPORTED FAMILIES • YOUTH CHOOSE HEALTHY BEHAVIORS • YOUTH SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD • ADULTS LEAD HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE LIVES • ELDERS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES LIVE WITH DIGNITY AND INDEPENDENCE IN SETTINGS THEY PREFER • COMMUNITIES PROVIDE SAFETY AND SUPPORT TO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS

  4. Regional Partnerships • Purposes: • Develop and implement local strategies for improving the social well-being of Vermonters, • Advise the agency of human services and the department of education re: effective implementation of state and local health, human services, and education programs. • Twelve across the state • Part-time Coordinators • Membership:consumers, family members, state and local agencies, economic development representatives, business leaders, and any other interested citizens and parties

  5. Regional Partnerships, Cont. • Complement and work closely with state government in the regions • Facilitate inclusive community process • Focus on outcomes • Monitor local data • Support local decision-making • Develop strategies to meet local strengths and needs • Evaluate change

  6. State Team for Children, Families and Individuals • Purposes: • Support the activities of the regional partnerships • Participate in the development and implementation of state policies and programs designed to improve the well-being of Vermonters. • Co-chaired by AHS Director of Planning and Regional Partnership Coordinator • Membership: regional partnership coordinators; representatives of state departments which serve children, families and individuals; directors of private sector service and advocacy organizations; institutions of higher education, and any other interested parties

  7. State Team, cont. • Sub-committees for each of ten outcomes to identify: • Heartening and troublesome indicators • Recommendations • Actions / Strategies for improvement • Monthly meetings focused on one of ten outcomes • Annual Outcomes-based Planning Report

  8. Vermont Research Partnership • Purpose: • To study and make recommendations for improving the effectiveness of state and local health, human services, and education programs. • Chaired by UVM • Membership: UVM faculty, Agency of Human Services Planning Division staff, Department of Education Staff

  9. Vermont Research Partnership, cont. • Each year, faculty identify 8 to 10 human service or education programs for research and evaluation regarding effectiveness, best practices re: ten outcomes • Monthly meetings to report on progress • Annual report to legislature on research project findings • Annual legislative day • All day forum for state staff regarding studies, findings

  10. Tools

  11. Indicators for Outcomes • AHS Senior Policy Analyst Dedicated to Outcomes • 4 to 12 indicators for each outcomes • Multiple sources:US Census, Vital Statistics, Schools, AHS Administrative Data, Youth Risk Behavior Survey, etc. • Criteria for Selection: • Reliable • Valid • Updated routinely • Reflect statewide population (not program-specific populations) • Examples:% Low Birthrate % of kindergartners fully immunized Rate of teen violent deaths Rate of adult abuse and neglect victims

  12. Annual Performance Documents • Social Well-Being of Vermonters • All available national comparisons over time • “Top-level” narrative • Outcomes-Based Planning • Selected state comparisons over time • Detailed narrative with recommendations and strategies • Community Profiles • All available Supervisory Union level data over time • No narrative • New Tool: AHS Scorecard • Selected AHS indictors over time • No narrative

  13. Document Purposes • Inventory of data (descriptive) • Education/Information sharing • Monitoring trends • Needs Assessment/Grant Writing • Strategic Planning • Advocacy • Accountability/Focus on Outcomes

  14. Recent Observations • State Team “preaching to itself” – leaders not involved • Research Partnership not well-integrated with State Team, Regional Partnerships or State Managers / Programs • Published Documents not widely used at state level for strategic changes / performance-based management

  15. Overarching Question How do we achieve better alignment between our tools, partners and processes to actualize the intent of the Outcomes Legislation (i.e., to improve the well-being of Vermonters by increasing effectiveness of state and local health, human services, and education programs)?

  16. New Directions: State Team • Point of Accountability for Cross-Cutting Key issues (e.g., Incarcerated Women’s initiative) • Quarterly meetings with data presentations on key indicators, trends, regional comparisons • AHS, Education Leaders at quarterly meetings to focus on results • Regional teams present to report on differences in strategies • Vermont Research Partnership at quarterly meetings to identify and report on related research

  17. New Directions: Documents • Annual report on Vermonters • (a Sourcebook on Well-being) • Incorporates all available indictors for ten outcomes • National and state comparisons • References to Community Profile data • Highlights AHS Report Card Data • Brief narrative about indicators and interpretation of trends • Includes Vermont Research Partnership findings re: effective strategies / programs Social Well-Being Outcomes-based Planning Specialized Performance Documents: Community Profiles AHS Scorecard Regional Report Cards

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