The Short Answer Start with ends, work backward to means. What do we want? How will we recognize it? What will it take to get there? Be clear and disciplined about language. Use plain language, not exclusionary jargon. Keep accountability for populations separate from accountability for programs and agencies. Results … Read More
1.2 How is this different from all the other approaches we’ve seen over the years? Why is this not just the latest fad?
The Short Answer 1. Maybe this is just another fad. How well it is done will determine that. 2. But the results themselves (conditions of well-being for children, adults, families and communities) are here to stay. Results like “all children healthy and ready for school” will still be important in 100 years. … Read More
1.3 How do we get people to care about this work?
The Short Answer 1. Appeal to their sense of right and wrong. 2. Appeal to their self interest. Full Answer (1) Appeal to their sense of right and wrong: Improving the well-being of children and families is the right thing to do. Doing it in a disciplined way is the … Read More
1.4 Where do we start?
The Short Answer 1. Anywhere leads to everywhere. It doesn’t matter where you start, you will eventually get to everything. 2. Start where people are passionate. 3. Don’t let outsiders tell you where to start. Start where it feels right for your county, city or community. 4. The work can … Read More
1.5 How do we get people together to do this work?
The Short Answer (1) Organizational: (a) Build on existing forums: collaboratives, children’s cabinets, coalitions, family and child advocacy organizations and United Ways or similar convening organizations. (b) Create tables where people can work on what they are passionate about. Use the results framework to keep these processes disciplined. And make … Read More
1.6 Where do we start in a (state, county, city or community) that wants to do this? Where do we start in one that doesn’t want to do this?
The Short Answer 1. For a community that wants to do this, use the mainstream political structures in a broad based partnership. 2. For a community that doesn’t want to do this, use existing, or if necessary, new advocacy organizations or coalitions to get started, and seek mainstream political support. … Read More
1.7 What do we do with people who are cynical and burned out from the last time we tried this?
The Short Answer 1. Acknowledge that some cynicism is justified. 2. Get to action quickly. Taking action which makes a difference is the best cure for cynicism. 3. Jettison jargon. 4. Involve respected partners. 5. Recognize that some people will never come around. Full Answer This is a big problem. … Read More
1.8 How do we fit together different approaches when there is more than one approach to Results-Based Accountability being used in my area?
The Short Answer 1. Use a cross walk to let people see how different frameworks are related. While terminology and structure may vary, most approaches are actually trying to accomplish the same thing and differ principally in the labels used for ideas. 2. The crosswalk tool presented in this guide … Read More
1.9 How can we work on long term well-being in a political environment with term limits and demands for immediate success?
The Short Answer 1. “Doing things to get reelected”is a legitimate concern of elected officials. Look for ways in which work to turn the curves on child and family well-being can be “good news”for elected officials. 2. Short term progress vs. long term progress is a false choice. We need … Read More
1.10 How is this work different in the executive branch vs. legislative branch?
The Short Answer 1. The best work is a partnership between the executive and legislative branches. A results framework which starts with the well-being of children and families can provide common ground for political players and make executive and legislative partnerships easier to create. 2. Executive branch roles can include: … Read More
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