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Family Outcomes Surveys. Strategies for Improving Response Rates. Minnesota’s First Year Success. We are home to…. The Mall of America The first professional wrestler to hold the office of Governor The headwaters of the Mississippi River The world’s largest ball of twine
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Family Outcomes Surveys Strategies for Improving Response Rates Minnesota’s First Year Success
We are home to… • The Mall of America • The first professional wrestler to hold the office of Governor • The headwaters of the Mississippi River • The world’s largest ball of twine • Yes, that says “twine”
Key Decisions • What tool to use? • How often to distribute it? • To who? • By whom? • How to get it back? • Follow up?
Which Tool? • Considered • NCSEAM • ECO • Developing our own • Minnesota’s adopted the ECO Survey • Length • Readability • Question Format
Distributed to…..? • Considered • Sample • Universal Distribution • Minnesota surveys all families
Survey Format Considered • Web-based • Scantron • Pencil/Paper MN uses a paper version of the ECO survey. Child’s MARSS number is printed on survey
Frequency of Distribution Considered • Pre/post • Annually • One time per family Adopted a one-time approach • Families receive a survey at exit from Part C • Turn 3 or exit for another reason
Distribution Methodology • Surveys are handed to families during a home visit around the time of exit from Part C. • Given by the family’s service coordinator or Primary Service Provider • Provided training on “talking points”
Talking Points • Each family’s answers are private • They will not be shared directly with program staff • Responses will be combined with responses from other families to create a statewide and local picture of the early intervention system • Information will be used to help make programs stronger
Language or Literacy Barriers • Districts use interpreters when necessary** • When literacy is a barrier, districts use a staff member who is NOT a service provider to gather responses through an interview (**Now available in multiple languages)
Available Languages Arabic, Cambodian, Croatian, Hmong, Laotian, Simplified Chinese, Oromo, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Vietnamese & English.
Method of Return • Family given an envelop with proper postage • Addressed to the MN Department of Education • Minnesota utilizes an intentional lack of follow-up
First “Year’s” Data • Implemented the survey process on April 1, 2006 • 2/2007 SPP included 3 months’ worth of data • 530 families eligible to receive the survey • 403 surveys returned