Community Resource Mapping This training was developed by

Community Resource Mapping This training was developed by the Project 10: Transition Education Network, a special project funded by the Florida Department of Education, Division of Public Schools, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services, through federal assistance under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B.

Community Resource Mapping This training is based on the following publication: Crane, K. , & Mooney, M. (2005). Essential tools, improving secondary education and transition for youth with disabilities: Community resource mapping. Retrieved from http: //www. ncset. org/publications/essentialtools/map ping/ Published by the National Center on Secondary Education and Transition (NCSET). 1

Permission Statement Permission is granted to duplicate this publication in its entirety or portions thereof. To purchase additional copies of this publication, or to request an alternate format, please contact: ICI Publications Office 109 Pattee Hall, 150 Pillsbury Drive SE Minneapolis, MN 55455 612. 624. 4512 publications@icimail. umn. edu (Crane & Mooney, 2005, p. 4) 2

Objectives Participants in this training will be able to: Engage in pre-mapping Prepare a community resource map Use a community resource map to identify available resources and needs 3

What is Community Resource Mapping? Community resource mapping is often referred to as: Asset mapping Environmental scanning A strategy for promoting interagency collaboration A tool for aligning services for youth and families during transition planning A means for providing youth and families with greater flexibility and choice A tactic for improving school and post-school outcomes 4

What are the Steps to Community Resource Mapping? There are four distinct steps to community resource mapping: Step 1: Pre-Mapping Step 2: Mapping Step 3: Taking Action Step 4: Maintaining, Sustaining, and Evaluating Mapping Efforts 5

Step 1: Pre-Mapping In the pre-mapping step, it is important to: Identify key stakeholders with expertise Put strategies in place to keep stakeholders engaged 6

Potential Stakeholders Agencies Faith-based organizations Business and industry Law enforcement Disability support services providers Juvenile Justice Parents/family Youth Educators Postsecondary institutions School administrators, counselors Workforce development 7

Recruiting, Operating, and Sustaining Effective Partnerships Activities that are key to Step 1 Pre-Mapping include: Recruiting partners Operating the partnership Sustaining the partnership 8

Recruiting Partners In recruiting partners, be sure to: 9 1. Prepare yourself 2. Develop a common vision 3. Be clear on the role you want the partner to play

Operating the Partnership During the operation of the partnership: Involve top-level people Involve the community Get organized 10

Sustaining the Partnership To sustain the partnership: 11 Support all partners Make work meaningful Rotate leadership Recognize contributions

Tool 1: Identify Stakeholders/Partners Task: Identify key partners Process: Brainstorm potential partners and identify what will keep them involved Partnership Building Worksheet, p. 8 Potential stakeholder/ partner What do they What is their Steps to bring? self-interest? elicit involvement 12 Role in the process

Setting a Vision Before beginning the community resource mapping process, determine what it is that you want to accomplish. “A well-defined vision statement is the cornerstone of any well-planned endeavor” (p. 9) 13

Tool 2: Developing a Vision Statement Task: Create or reaffirm stakeholder’s vision. Process: 1. Create or draw vision for developing an ideal system. 2. Translate creation or drawing into key words or themes. 3. Using key words, write collective vision statement. Note: Vision statement may be further refined at subsequent meetings. (p. 10) 14

Setting Goals After reaching consensus on the vision statement, write clear and accurate goals. Specific Measurable Action-oriented Realistic Time-constrained 15

Tool 3: Setting Goals Task: Develop goals for the mapping process. Process: 1. Review vision statement. 2. List area(s) to change, if any, to move towards vision. 3. Prioritize area(s) listed. 4. Write priority area(s) into goal statement(s). (p. 12) 16

Communicating Continuously Send thank you note Award certificate of appreciation Publish newsletter Sponsor public event Create “good news” reports Share success stories 17

Step 2: Mapping Vision statement and goals are used to identify and evaluate usefulness of current and potential resources. The usefulness of resources is determined by evaluating the extent to which they assist in meeting strategic goals and objectives Efficient organization can make this one of the simplest tasks 18

Mapping Tasks 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Reach consensus on parameters of map Select data or types of resources to collect Develop tools to collect your data Collect data with help from stakeholders Conduct a community scan Synthesize, analyze, and interpret your data Communicate findings Set priorities Develop related products 19

Tool 4: Scanning Resources Task: Produce comprehensive list of community resources. Process 1. Top of chart: identify domains for improved outcomes 2. Left-hand column: list community resources 3. Columns: indicate services or supports provided Targeting Community Resources to Improve Outcomes for Youth Worksheet, p. 17 Community Secondary Resources education / graduation Postsecondary education/ training Career Youth Supportive preparation development / adult /employment / leadership services 20

Environmental Scans Environmental scans can: Enrich the strategic planning process Energize people to take action Encourage public and frank discussions of issues Contribute to regular, ongoing monitoring efforts Identify new resources and potential threats to existing resources Help organizations avoid surprises (p. 18) 21

Tool 5: Defining Resources Task: Identify and define each resource. Process 1. Pick a goal to map and identify key investors for the goal 2. Use table to further define key investors Identifying Resources Worksheet, p. 23 Organization, program Purpose Funding source Service delivery Target population Activities / services Partnering agencies Expected outcomes Other 22

Ways to Collect Information Environment or community scans Analysis of documents Interactions with groups Interviews, surveys Training evaluations Site visits Questionnaires, rating scales Case studies 23

Determining Meaning of Information Analyze Synthesize Interpret 1. Review original purpose(s) for collecting information 2. Describe information in narrative or tables 3. Examine trends or patterns 4. Assess comprehensiveness of information, in light of goals – any gaps ? 24

Tool 6: Analyzing Resources Task: Identify gaps and overlaps in resources identified. Process 1. Continue with goal from Tool 5; list the goal. 2. Review map for overlaps/duplications, gaps/missing resources and list implications. Analyzing Resources Worksheet, p. 17 Goal: Overlaps Gaps 25 Implications

Communicating and Using Mapping Results It is important to engage stakeholders in results of mapping; recommendations include: Reports, summary sheets, fact sheets User friendly, brief Highlights major aspects, conclusion, and significance to audience 26

Step 3: Taking Action Once data has been collected analyzed, it is necessary to act on the information resulting from the mapping process. What is the team going to do with the information? 27

Achieving Consensus What helps people reach consensus? Express ideas and logic behind them Listen and be open to ideas and logic of others Explore ideas versus debate them Ask, “Can I or the team support this? ” 28

Tool 7: Formulating Action Steps Task: Translate information into action steps. Process 1. Identify actions needed to align resources and needs 2. Work across the action plan; additional information, if necessary Formulating Action Steps Worksheet, p. 27 Action steps/ strategies Lead organization Target dates Milestones / measures 29 Potential challenges How to respond

Implementing the Action Plan There are three critical roles that members play in implementation: 1. Leadership role Decision-making power, visionary, change agent 2. Planning role Organizer, manage of daily implementation activities, resourceful advocate 3. Implementation role Designer of strategies to carry out action plan 30

Sharing the Action Plan Appropriate communication pathways must be identified and timing of dissemination should be carefully planned to maximize its impact. Consider the following about the target audience: Characteristics, e. g. , reading level, language, accessibility Information needed and resources to receive it Most effective format and any technical assistance needed to use product 31

Tool 8: Identifying Technical Assistance Needs and Next Steps Task: Identify next steps to sustain mapping efforts. Process: For each goal/action step, identify technical assistance (TA) needs; identify who can provide the TA. Technical Assistance Needs and Next Steps Worksheet, p. 30 Goal / action step Brainstorm TA needs Brainstorm who can help Sustaining the Effort: (list steps to sustaining planning efforts) 1. 2. 3. 32

Step 4: Maintaining, Sustaining, and Evaluating Mapping Efforts The final step in the community resource mapping process – maintaining, sustaining, and evaluating – allows the team to step back and take a critical look at the process, the achievement toward goals, and the impact of efforts to date. 33

Tool 9: Identifying Dissemination Infrastructures and Resources Task: Identify mechanisms for communicating and disseminating action plan and technical assistance strategies. Process: 1. For each product, identify mechanisms available at the national, state, regional, and district levels for sharing information. 2. Consider the feasibility of each available mechanism as it pertains to the larger plan, and select a variety of mechanisms that meet your needs and the needs of your targeted audience. 34

Tool 9: Identifying Dissemination Infrastructures and Resources Worksheet, p. 34 Mechanism National State Regional Internet strategies Outreach opportunities Media vehicles 35 District

Evaluating Progress Evaluation must be an ongoing process that facilitates change as needed. Formative evaluation is one way to judge the process and worth of the action plan as it is happening. Formative evaluation allows the group to keep all stakeholders up-to-date on progress, challenges, and results. 36

Maintaining Momentum The organization must continually nurture and expand partnerships. Review vision, goals, and outcomes and recruit new stakeholders to achieve them. Regular communication is key to keeping stakeholders aware of needs and expectations. Be flexible enough to meet challenges and modify plans with input from stakeholders. 37

Sustaining the Effort Sustaining the effort is critical. Community resource mapping is not easy, nor is every truly completed; however, it can lead to long-term system change. Long-term commitment of stakeholders for change and “re -mapping” is key to sustainability. Continue to look beyond usual resources for nontraditional means of funding and support to find new resources, combine current resources, or use current resources in new ways. 38

Summary By building on a community’s assets and shared goals, this community resource mapping tool assists stakeholders in their work to achieve and sustain positive outcomes for youth with disabilities. 39

Resources Project 10 Transition Education Network, www. project 10. info National Center on Secondary Education and Transition (NCSET), http: //www. ncset. org/ National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center (NSTTAC), http: //www. nsttac. org/ 40

References Crane, K. , & Mooney, M. (2005). Essential tools, improving secondary education and transition for youth with disabilities: Community resource mapping. Retrieved from http: //www. ncset. org/publications/essentialtools/mapping/ 41

Questions and Thank You! Questions, concerns, or recommendations? Thank you for your attendance and input today! 42

Presenter Contact Information (RTR Name) Project 10: Transition Education Network Region ( ) Transition Representative Email: Office: www. Project 10. info Updated March 2014 43