This document summarizes a training session on youth-centered assessment and continuous improvement. The session covered using an Organizational Improvement Process (OIP) to engage in continuous assessment of youth programs to strengthen developmental experiences for youth. The OIP involves administering a youth survey, assessing practices and setting targets, creating action plans, implementing plans, and reassessing supports and opportunities. Participants discussed using the OIP for programs at Youth and Family Enrichment Services and Parks and Recreation. Presentations were given on what participants learned from the training series and how they will apply it. Coaching plans were also discussed.

1. Managing For QualitySession 5: Youth-Centered Assessment and Grand Finale In Partnership with Redwood City 2020 Thursday, March 3, 2011 9am – 12:30 pm Facilitator/Trainer: Lynn Johnson | lynn@cnyd.orgGuest: Kim Coulthurst, Pathways Consultants

2. 2 Overview of Training Series Session 1 | Nov 4 |Strengthening Vision and Leadership Session 2 | Dec 2 | Sustaining Quality through Community Connections Session 3 | Jan 13 | Supporting Staff Part 1: Hiring, Supervising, and Training Staff Session 4 | Feb 3 | Supporting Staff Part 2: Building Skills through Coaching and Mentoring Session 5 | Mar 3 | Youth-centered Assessment and Continuous Learning March – May 2011 | 5 hours of Coaching

3. 3 Agenda for Today’s Session Welcome and Review Presentation: The Youth Development Organizational Improvement ProcessKim Coulthurst, Pathways Consultants Discussion: Assessment in Action Short Break Presentations: Assessing Our MFQ Experiences Coaching Plans Celebrations and Evaluations

6. What ideas do I have now to improve these areas?

7. What kind of help would I need to make this happen?

8. Facilitate a meeting (problem-solving/brainstorming) with staff focused around the above questions

10. Workshop Goal OUTCOME: To understand the overall organizational improvement process

11. What is the Organizational Improvement Process (OIP)? The Organizational Improvement Process (OIP) teaches youth serving organizations how to engage in: a continuous organizational improvement process that strengthens the quality of the developmental experiences that young people have within their organizations.

13. Youth Involvement

14. Community Involvement

15. Safe, Reliable, Accessible Activities and Spaces

16. Continuity and Consistency

17. High, Clear, and Fair Standards

18. Ongoing Staff and Organizational

19. Improvement Process

20. Flexible Allocation of Available Resources

21. Range of Diverse, Interesting

22. Skill Building OpportunitiesImprove Early Adult Outcomes Economic Self-Sufficiency Healthy Family& Social Relationships Contributor to Community

24. Rigorous

25. Practical

26. They’re movable

27. Community-based programs can be expected to affect them

29. Youth Survey Customize Youth Survey Administer Youth Survey Review Youth Survey Report Share Youth Survey Report with Youth Share Youth Survey Report with Staff Highlight Findings Understand what’s working well Get youth input on areas for improvement Highlight Findings Identify areas for further exploration Make Decisions about Organizational Improvement with Staff Chart Course for Future Improvement Implement Action Plan Chart Course for Improvement Review youth survey findings Plan for next of cycle of continuous improvement ahead Put improvement strategies in place Reflect on the impact of improvement strategies Re-survey youth Develop action plan: O activities O who is involved O resources needed, and o when Review youth input on areas for improvement Assess organizational practices Prioritize improvement strategies Organizational Improvement Process

30. Step 1: Measure Supports & Opportunities What’s Involved? Customizing the Survey Creating a Survey Administration Plan Getting Trained on How to Administer the Youth Survey Preparing Staff to Administer Survey Administering the Youth Survey

32. Step 2: Assessing Practice &Target Setting What’s Involved? Reviewing Survey Findings Sharing Survey Results with Staff and Youth Set Initial Targets for Improvement

33. Step 3: Action Planning What’s Involved? Prioritize Actions Complete Plans for Priority Actions Finalize Targets

34. Step 4: Implementation What’s Involved? Implement the Action Plan Periodic assessment of actions

35. Step 5: Reassess S&Os What’s Involved? Re-administer the Youth Survey Review survey findings to assess progress in reaching targets PLAN FOR FOLLOWING YEAR

36. What is the Organizational Improvement Process (OIP)? The Organizational Improvement Process (OIP) teaches youth serving organizations how to engage in: a continuous organizational improvement process that strengthens the quality of the developmental experiences that young people have within their organizations.

37. Discussion: Assessment in Action Youth and Family Enrichment Services (YFES) City of Redwood City Parks and Recreation How are you using the OIP process to improve practice in your programs? Where have you seen changes? Where have you not? What is the effect of a process like this on the young people themselves? How do you communicate your successes to current an future funders? 20

38. Presentations: Assessing Our MFQ Experiences What have I learned over the past 5 months as a participant in this Managing for Quality? How have I already incorporated these learnings into my work as a youth development leader? What else do I plan to do? What kind of support do I need to move this work forward? 21

39. Presentations: Assessing Our MFQ Experiences Creating Your Presentations: Give us a Headline – Why should we listen? Give us an outline – What will you be talking about and in what order? Be clear with your transitions . Show Passion and Enthusiasm…like the leader you are. Wow Your Audience – What’s one thing you can do to surprise us? Make it Visual. But simple. Give us a show. Build up to a memorable moment. Rehearse! 22

40. The Work Ahead: Coaching Given your plans ahead, what are the ways that you can imagine using 5 hours of coaching? How will this coaching improve your work as a youth development leader? How will it improve the overall experience for the staff and/or youth you work with?