The Larry King Center for Building Children’s Futures Laura Y. Clark 1 , M.A., Ryan P. Kilm er 2 , Ph.D., Jam es R. Cook 2 , Ph.D., and Brett A. Loftis 1 , J.D. 1 Council for Children’s Rights, Charlotte, NC 2 University of North Carolina at Charlotte 1
Today’s Presentation • History of Charlotte’s initiatives for children • Roles of the Larry King Center • Selected Accomplishments • Current initiatives & staffing • Evaluation of the LKC • Partnership with UNC Charlotte • Challenges & Opportunities
History of Charlotte’s Children’s Initiatives • For nearly three decades, Charlotte has attempted to prioritize children’s needs and create plans to address those needs – Children’s Sum m its (1980s and 1990s) – Blue Print for Children (late 1990s) – Core Values for Children (2000) – United Agenda for Children (2004) – United Way prioritization process (2007)
Past Community Efforts… • Identified core community issues that warrant attention to ensure children are safe, healthy, and educated • Created reports that heightened awareness of children’s issues • Stimulated desire in the community to take action
But… They failed to develop the necessary infrastructure to drive change…. • No single point of accountability for developing strategies to change public policy • Disjointed engagement and education of the community about children’s issues • No collection and dissemination of data to help inform decision making • No ‘driver’ for the work to create change at the overall community level
Roles of the Larry King Center Research & Evaluation Catalyst Public Public for Relations & Policy Awareness Change Strategic Planning
‘ Connecting the Dots’: Selected Key Objectives • To improve programming and outcomes for children and families, the Center works to – Bridge the science-practice gap by collaborating with providers and researchers – Connect local agencies with research resources – Identify research-based practices to implement locally – Identify systemic issues to target via advocacy and community-building efforts – Use data and evaluation research to inform decisions regarding training, the allocation of funds, community practices, and policy
Role Descriptions Public awareness/ Strategic planning & Research & Public policy Community convening data engagement In-house activities In-house activities In-house activities In-house activities • Support planning process • Build a research repository • Develop annual policy • Develop relationships with around children’s issues, agenda and identify key stakeholders to support – Internal project including evidence-based strategies to move agenda work of LKC manager: Create the plan practices forward • Educate and engage – External project • Develop community • Work directly with community around LKC manager: Provide a draft structure and relationships policymakers to shift activities: plan or planning to increase use of research in legislation and other – Actively participate in template decision making policies to support LKC existing community • Incorporate evidence-based activities • Build community capacity forums practices in strategies for effective program • Convene stakeholders to – Leverage focused • Keep stakeholders bought in evaluation speak as one voice to partner and informed policymakers • Manage evaluation of LKC; communications to • Work behind the scenes to ensure reporting to • Provide policy support to target key populations assure progress, identify stakeholders planning activities • Engage media to influence obstacles, and provide • Support planning, policy, policymaking solutions and awareness roles with • Develop and support • Coordinate LKC roles relevant research community governance • Support process tracking structure • Facilitate meetings • Host community forums • Create or manage budget related to LKC activities
Roles of the Larry King Center Exam ple: Free/ Reduced School Lunch Policy Researched the num ber of children im pacted by the problem Utilized m edia outlets to raise awareness of issue Wrote new school policy to allow students to continue to receive hot lunch Convened group of com m unity partners to address issue
Initial Priority Areas • Improve school readiness • Reduce the incidence and impact of child abuse and neglect • Increase access to and utilization of quality health & mental health services
Intended Impact & Theory of Change Target Ultim ate population Approach Interm ediate outcom es goal Work with community Program quality Shorter-term and use research to improves goals met set community agenda • Select priorities • Organizations adopt evidence- • Select indicators • Process based practices • Interme- • Funding shifts diate Work with community to evidence- indicators to develop plans based practices to attack each initiative • Plans will encompass four roles: Longer-term A – Policy goals met Mecklenburg – Public awareness All youth aged County where – Research and evaluation Program mix 0-21 in all children – Strategic planning and convening improves Mecklenburg • Priority grow up safe, County • Service indicators healthy, and providers improve Drive plan execution educated change offerings • Funder/ • Execute on plans using policy, public community awareness, and research and data. ROI Broker in resources where needed Policies change improves • Project manage on three levels • Citizen 1. Internally, across all three priority • Government awareness of areas children’s funding shifts 2. Internally, leading, coordinating, linking 4 roles for each priority issues • Other policies 3. Externally, leading, coordinating, increases shift to support linking work of convened groups priorities 11
Current Staffing • Executive Director – 80% of time dedicated to Larry King Center • Director of Research & Evaluation • Director of Strategy & Policy • Strategy & Policy Associate • Nurse-Family Partnership Expansion Coordinator • Graduate Student support • By end of year 3, plan to have 12 FTEs
Selected Accomplishments to Date • Collaborated with state partners to lobby legislation for the 2009 NC Legislative Session • Responded to over 2 dozen agency requests for assistance with research and evaluation • Completed outcomes training for United Way agencies • Served as local affiliate for Child Abuse Awareness & Prevention Month • Hosted multiple community forums • Participated in joint human services planning for Housing Authority and Department of Social Services
Current Initiatives • Expansion planning for Nurse-Family Partnership • Development of a public policy agenda for priority areas • Community Indicators Project • Evaluation capacity building with several local non- profits
Evaluation • Need to evaluate both process and outcomes • Need external evaluator • Skeleton process evaluation is in progress • Overarching objectives of outcome work: • Document the LKC’s value to the community • Demonstrate LKC’s association with better outcomes for children • One challenge: limited extant research on intermediaries
Partnership with UNC Charlotte • University faculty - partners/ collaborators in multiple departments (psychology, social work, education, public policy) • Opportunities for interns • Research committee • Helps inform and guide decision-making • Brings additional expertise to the complex issues involved
Partnership with UNC Charlotte - II • Urban Institute – Indicators project • Institute for Social Capital – Creating a database that can be used to inform the LKC
Challenges & Opportunities • Balancing long-term planning with immediate community needs (e.g., projects vs. mission) • Evaluating our progress • Developing the community relationships necessary to sustain change • Communicating our work clearly to stakeholders • Sustainable funding
Contact Us Laura Y. Clark, M.A. Laura@cfcrights.org Ryan P. Kilmer, Ph.D. rpkilmer@uncc.edu Jim Cook, Ph.D. jcook@uncc.edu Brett A. Loftis, J.D. Brett@cfcrights.org
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