The Network’s objectives focus on how stakeholders work together to improve ECD outcomes as well as on what is achieved. To assess the 'how' and the 'what', the Network continually evaluates its activities to ensure that it is functioning as a Collective Impact & Network entity influencing social change to improve ECD outcomes. Adaptive learning is one of the strategies for the Network to achieve intended objectives and it also underscores its philosophy.
The Network has identified the Strengthening Families framework developed by the Center for the Study of Social Policy as a Shared Measurement ‘lens’ with which to understand progress toward social change in the ECD system. The rationale for using the Strengthening Families framework as a guide for Shared Measurement is because it:
• Is researched and evidence-based
• Supports mid-term, proximate measures for progress in Early Childhood Development
• Supports the population-level outcomes of the EDI
• Is reflected in Alberta’s ‘Together We Raise Tomorrow” ECD strategy
• Is used by a variety of local community organizations for their own assessments and is already recognized as a legitimate tool.
The Strengthening Families approach will help the Network to measure the steps that need to be taken in order to achieve population-level change. The network intends to use this approach in two distinct ways:
1. Use the five factors outlined in the framework to determine whether there is movement (at the organizational, community and agency level) toward our ultimate goal. This will allow the network to tell a story of the ECD landscape in Calgary and Area using consistent, meaningful language.
2. Use the resources developed by the Center for the Study of Social Policy to guide organizations, community groups or agencies to build capacity in moving towards a more aligned approach to measurement.
It is essential to note that given the Network’s current stage of organizational maturity, we are primarily using the Shared Measurement component of the Collective Impact framework as a driver for engagement and capacity building efforts.
We are happy to share our Learning and Evaluation plan. Please contact Blythe at info@2000days.ca for more information