Structural Supports
Susan Besio, Ph.D.
Director of Planning
Vermont Agency of Human Services
1
Statutory Framework
1998 - Vermont Legislature provided
statutory authority for :

Ten Outcomes of Social Well-being for
Vermonters

Regional Partnerships

State Team for Children and Families

Vermont Research Partnership

Reports on Well-being
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10 Outcomes

FAMILIES, YOUTH, AND INDIVIDUALS ARE ENGAGED IN
THEIR COMMUNITY’S DECISIONS AND ACTIVITIES

PREGNANT WOMEN AND YOUNG CHILDREN THRIVE

CHILDREN ARE READY FOR SCHOOL

CHILDREN SUCCEED IN SCHOOL

CHILDREN LIVE IN STABLE, SUPPORTED FAMILIES

YOUTH CHOOSE HEALTHY BEHAVIORS

YOUTH SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD

ADULTS LEAD HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE LIVES

ELDERS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES LIVE WITH DIGNITY
AND INDEPENDENCE IN SETTINGS THEY PREFER

COMMUNITIES PROVIDE SAFETY AND SUPPORT TO FAMILIES
AND INDIVIDUALS
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Regional Partnerships

Purposes:


Develop and implement local strategies for improving
the social well-being of Vermonters,
Advise the agency of human services and the
department of education re: effective implementation
of state and local health, human services, and
education programs.

Twelve across the state

Part-time Coordinators

Membership: consumers, family members, state and
local agencies, economic development representatives,
business leaders, and any other interested citizens and
parties
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Regional Partnerships, Cont.

Complement and work closely with state
government in the regions

Facilitate inclusive community process

Focus on outcomes

Monitor local data

Support local decision-making

Develop strategies to meet local strengths
and needs

Evaluate change
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State Team for Children, Families
and Individuals

Purposes:



Support the activities of the regional partnerships
Participate in the development and implementation of
state policies and programs designed to improve the
well-being of Vermonters.
Co-chaired by AHS Director of Planning and
Regional Partnership Coordinator

Membership: regional partnership coordinators;
representatives of state departments which serve children,
families and individuals; directors of private sector service
and advocacy organizations; institutions of higher
education, and any other interested parties
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State Team, cont.

Sub-committees for each of ten
outcomes to identify:



Heartening and troublesome indicators
Recommendations
Actions / Strategies for improvement

Monthly meetings focused on one of ten
outcomes

Annual Outcomes-based Planning
Report
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Vermont Research Partnership

Purpose:



To study and make recommendations for
improving the effectiveness of state and
local health, human services, and education
programs.
Chaired by UVM
Membership: UVM faculty, Agency of Human
Services Planning Division staff, Department of
Education Staff
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Vermont Research Partnership, cont.

Each year, faculty identify 8 to 10 human service
or education programs for research and
evaluation regarding effectiveness, best practices
re: ten outcomes

Monthly meetings to report on progress

Annual report to legislature on research project
findings

Annual legislative day

All day forum for state staff regarding studies,
findings
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Tools
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Indicators for Outcomes

AHS Senior Policy Analyst Dedicated to Outcomes

4 to 12 indicators for each outcomes

Multiple sources:

Criteria for Selection:
US Census, Vital Statistics, Schools, AHS
Administrative Data, Youth Risk Behavior Survey, etc.





Reliable
Valid
Updated routinely
Reflect statewide population (not program-specific populations)
Examples:
% Low Birthrate
% of kindergartners fully immunized
Rate of teen violent deaths
Rate of adult abuse and neglect victims
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Annual Performance Documents

Social Well-Being of Vermonters



Outcomes-Based Planning



Selected state comparisons over time
Detailed narrative with recommendations and strategies
Community Profiles



All available national comparisons over time
“Top-level” narrative
All available Supervisory Union level data over time
No narrative
New Tool: AHS Scorecard


Selected AHS indictors over time
No narrative
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Document Purposes







Inventory of data (descriptive)
Education/Information sharing
Monitoring trends
Needs Assessment/Grant Writing
Strategic Planning
Advocacy
Accountability/Focus on Outcomes
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Recent Observations

State Team “preaching to itself” – leaders
not involved

Research Partnership not well-integrated
with State Team, Regional Partnerships
or State Managers / Programs

Published Documents not widely used at
state level for strategic changes /
performance-based management
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Overarching Question
How do we achieve better alignment between
our tools, partners and processes
to actualize the intent of the
Outcomes Legislation
(i.e., to improve the well-being of Vermonters by
increasing effectiveness of state and local
health, human services, and education
programs)?
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New Directions: State Team

Point of Accountability for Cross-Cutting Key
issues (e.g., Incarcerated Women’s initiative)

Quarterly meetings with data presentations on key
indicators, trends, regional comparisons

AHS, Education Leaders at quarterly meetings to
focus on results

Regional teams present to report on differences in
strategies

Vermont Research Partnership at quarterly meetings
to identify and report on related research
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New Directions: Documents
Social Well-Being
Outcomes-based Planning
Specialized Performance
Documents:
Community Profiles
AHS Scorecard
Annual report on Vermonters
(a Sourcebook on Well-being)
• Incorporates all available indictors
for ten outcomes
• National and state comparisons
• References to Community Profile
data
• Highlights AHS Report Card Data
• Brief narrative about indicators and
interpretation of trends
• Includes Vermont Research
Partnership findings re: effective
strategies / programs
Regional Report Cards
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