Session One-Applying Ideas at the Community Level

On Tuesday, we had an opportunity to hear critical elements of success and lessons learned from Michigan. Certainly, VECF is not requiring that Virginia “adopt the Michigan model.”  Rather, each session of the Leader Institute will provide opportunities to consider what practices might be relevant, useful, and contribute to success in Virginia and in each local setting.  You will find nine reflection questions posted to this forum.  Please click on each question and share your thoughts/responses.

Session One-Reflection 1

In light of Tuesday’s presentation and the critical importance of shared vision and goals, as well as continuous learning, for success in systems work, is there a need for your coalition to revisit the vision and goals for your work?  Why or why not?  (Please note:  this does not mean starting your planning over—rather, it is part of continuously revisiting, updating, and improving your plans.)

Session One-Reflection 2

What are the primary issues or problems impacting children which your community currently faces?  How well does your coalition do in analyzing root causes for these problems and needs affecting children in your community?

Session One-Reflection 3

Joan Blough outlined a number of foundational assumptions and values underlying the work on the Great Start System, including these:  the need to impact All children and their parents; core values of parent leadership, diversity, continuous improvement, and public/private aspects of the work; an emphasis on results-based indicators, the recognition that a combination of high quality programs and strong infrastructure brings positive child outcomes; the need to balance state-wide elements with local realities, and others.   Which of these appear to be assumptions for the work in your community? What other assumptions are foundational to your Smart Beginnings work?

Session One-Reflection 4

Based on the brief systems scan that you completed during Session One, where is your local initiative in the development of each of the following systems characteristics?

(1=Haven't worked on this at all, 2=Just beginning to focus on this, 3=Making good progress, 4=At a strong, advanced level)

• Components            
• Connections
• Regulations
• Resources
• Power
• Mindsets
• Interactions

Session One-Reflection 5

Do you anticipate conducting a systems scan with your initiative when you return to your community?  If so, how helpful will the questions provided on Tuesday for each of the characteristics be?

Session One-Reflection 6

Which of the system characteristics listed below are priorities on which you would like to begin focusing additional efforts in your community?  (You may choose one or more than one.)

• Components            
• Connections
• Regulations
• Resources
• Power
• Mindsets
• Interactions

Session One-Reflection 7

In light of your preliminary systems scan, how important/relevant do you feel each lever is to system development in  your community?

(1=being, not at all important; 2=not very important; 3=somewhat important; 4=very important; 5=extremely important)

• Shared goals
• Active Constituents
• Effective Partnerships
• Authentic Parent Voice and Leadership
• Interdependent Organizations
• Readiness for Change
• Local Champions
• Intentional Systems Change Actions
• Strong Relational Networks
• Equity Orientation
• Root Cause Focus
• Continuous Learning Orientation

Session One-Reflection 8

Of the following levers for change, list in rank order, your top three priorities for enhancing in your initiative’s work, beginning with what you see as most important.

• Shared goals
• Active Constituents
• Effective Partnerships
• Authentic Parent Voice and Leadership
• Interdependent Organizations
• Readiness for Change
• Local Champions
• Intentional Systems Change Actions
• Strong Relational Networks
• Equity Orientation
• Root Cause Focus
• Continuous Learning Orientation

Session One-Reflection 9

Of the following levers for change, which do you see as not applicable in your community, and why?

• Shared goals
• Active Constituents
• Effective Partnerships
• Authentic Parent Voice and Leadership
• Interdependent Organizations
• Readiness for Change
• Local Champions
• Intentional Systems Change Actions
• Strong Relational Networks
• Equity Orientation
• Root Cause Focus
• Continuous Learning Orientation