Vibrant Communities Calgary (VCC) Evaluation Response Report To the Recommendations in the 2016 Enough for All Evaluation Report

Transcription

1 Vibrant Communities Calgary (VCC) Evaluation Response Report To the Recommendations in the 2016 Enough for All Evaluation Report October

2 VCC Evaluation Response Report Executive Summary The following document is an official report in response to the recommendations held within the 2016 Evaluation Report of the work related to Enough for All, Calgary s poverty reduction strategy. The 2016 Evaluation Report, completed and written by third-party consultants and required by signatories to the Memorandum of Agreement, simultaneously evaluated the work of 1) all Enough for All collaboratives, 2) population-level changes in poverty-related areas, and 3) the effectiveness of Vibrant Communities Calgary ( VCC ) as the backbone organization to the overarching strategy. The recommendations from the 2016 Evaluation Report were meant to guide the future work of VCC and Enough for All collaboratives as they embark on an ambitious collective impact initiative aiming to cut poverty rates by 50% by Enough for All and the 2016 Evaluation Report 2016 Evaluation Report belongs to all Calgarians and the hundreds of 10 Recommendations stakeholders advancing their piece of this complex puzzle. As the backbone organization, it is VCC s role to receive the 2016 Evaluation Report on behalf of the VCC Evaluation Response Report greater community and Enough for All collaboratives. Furthermore, it is the role of the backbone Proposed Outcomes Indicators of Success Actions organization to move the work forward, by evaluating work-to-date, areas of greatest momentum and best practice. This is what informed the VCC staff and Board of Directors in identifying the areas of each recommendation with the potential for greatest impact, relevance and engagement. This Evaluation Response Report is VCC s presentation to the poverty reduction community of actions the organization will take based on the 2016 Evaluation Report. It is the pleasure of the VCC Board of Directors that they receive the 2016 Evaluation Report and accept all of the recommendations proposed. The VCC staff and Enough for All collaboratives have already made strong progress on a number of the recommendations. With the support and participation of the Implementation Leadership Council, 2018 Implementation Plan was crafted in 2017, leading the work in an exciting direction for the next 12 months, and applying the many learnings we have acquired since being gifted the task of guiding the implementation of Enough for All. The Shared Measurement Pilot Project, another recommendation of the 2016 Evaluation Report, has been initiated and is undergoing its first assessment and analysis of impact. Lastly, VCC is pleased to publish and share with the community the 2016 Evaluation Report and the associated Evaluation Response Report from VCC held within these pages. There will always be a degree of unpredictability in the emergent work of collective impact and systems change. However our accountability to stakeholders, funders, partners and low-income Calgarians remains the same. We hope that in sharing our successes and our failures with you we maintain the transparency and accountability that you have asked for. We are excited to share with you our plans for the coming year, the preceding documents and themes that have informed these plans and the tremendous amount of time and talent individuals have contributed to make them happen. 2

3 Vibrant Communities Calgary (VCC) Evaluation Response Report To the recommendations in the 2016 Enough for All Evaluation Report Background: Creative Theory, the evaluators of the implementation of Enough for All, submitted Movements to Change, the 2016 Evaluation Report for the implementation of Enough for All. The Vibrant Communities Calgary ( VCC ) Board of Directors adopted the report at its May 31 st meeting. The Evaluation Report made detailed recommendations which can be found in Section 5 of the document. This Evaluation Response Report aims to fulfill one of the 2016 Evaluation Report s recommendations; to publish and share the 2016 Evaluation Report to the Enough for All community alongside VCC s response with associated actions. To respond to the recommendations, VCC reviewed the Evaluation Report s content and desired impacts. Through discussion and analysis of existing and potential resources, feasible timelines and ongoing activities and projects, VCC staff and Board prepared a response. The Board and staff team have reviewed and approved the recommendations in full. The following is a detailed response. Overall: The VCC Board and staff team appreciate the work of Creative Theory and the thoughtful recommendations. Given the number and complexity of the recommendations, we are unable to action all of them in their entirety in We have identified the following common themes to help us achieve impact: The Enough for All community is growing: there are 20 collaboratives working in a variety of poverty reduction efforts. They are at different points of development in their evolution of work. For the most part, each collaborative, although working on an aspect of Enough for All, has limited or no awareness of the work being done by other collaboratives. There is a desire to increase awareness and engagement among all the collaboratives, as all the work is interdependent. There is a sense of urgency. There is a growing broad-based alignment for poverty reduction politically, locally and nationally. We need to leverage the opportunity to achieve more. The community s awareness for Indigenous and Non-Indigenous reconciliation is growing. The 94 Calls to Action in the Truth and Reconciliation Report is a foundation on which to build in all collaboratives. Those living in poverty need to be meaningfully engaged in the development of solutions and interventions to minimize and mitigate unintended consequences. We need to increase awareness among all in the community, leading to their buy-in into the strategy. Communication and engagement through story telling is one important approach. We need to simplify messages and language and use them consistently. There is a recognition that we need to focus on areas and issues that have the greatest impact in achieving Enough for All s aspirational goals. The conditions since the Enough for All strategy was developed have dramatically changed: high unemployment and a downturn in the economy. The strategy needs to be reviewed and updated. Recommendation: Update From Ideas to Action Implementation Plan. Greater alignment between Ideas to Action ( I2A ) Implementation Plan and Enough for All ( E4A ) working groups. Opportunity for enhanced collaboration and partnerships. 3

4 Increased stakeholders confidence that E4A outcomes can be achieved. Integration of the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Actions across the work of all E4A collaboratives. Continued and enhanced alignment between the plan and the evaluation. The E4A collaboratives participate in the revision of the Implementation Plan and adopt the outcomes and objectives. Collaboration opportunities are identified. Collaboratives report increased understanding of their alignment with E4A. VCC work incorporates Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Actions. Simplified E4A Evaluation Framework for 2017 (to be completed in 2018). 1. Complete the 2018 Implementation Plan. 2. Host two of the four community conversations as pan-collaborative meetings. 3. Adapt and implement a cultural audit tool, and co-design training to support VCC staff and board on a reconciliation journey. 4. Assist collaboratives in facilitating Indigenous awareness and learning and in applying the cultural audit tool. 5. Design the 2017 Evaluation Framework to report on the Levers of Change identified in the 2016 Evaluation. Recommendation: Prioritize efforts for system change. System change efforts and initiatives addressing the root causes of poverty in advancing Enough for All are leveraged and scaled up for greater impact. Enough for All stakeholders indicate an increase in their appreciation for the value of VCC as a backbone in the implementation of Enough for All. The Basic Income Calgary collaborative has built community awareness and support for the need of a principlesbased basic income, mobilized Calgarians to actively support basic income, and gained formal City Council support to advance a basic income pilot at the Provincial and Federal Government levels. Basic income is in the platform of some provincial parties in the 2019 election. The Shared Policy Service pilot is successfully concluded. Its relevance is established and the members of the collaborative adopt a longer-term plan. The Social Policy Collaborative has determined its foci and is actively advocating on specific policy changes. 1. VCC continues to allocate appropriate support to Basic Income Calgary. 2. VCC continues to allocate appropriate support to the Shared Policy Service and staffing to the Social Policy Collaborative. 3. VCC will develop a protocol to assist in clarifying a focus on systems. 4

5 Recommendation: Prioritize additional resources and support for collaboratives and working groups. There are no additional resources in VCC. The priorities and appropriate resourcing to implement the actions in the Evaluation Report and the 2018 Implementation Plan are reallocated and shared with the community. A Additional resources in the communities have been realized and identified to assist in the implementation of Enough for All. Indicator of Success: The Enough for All stakeholders are informed and knowledgeable of the priorities identified in the 2018 Implementation Plan and Response Report. Resourcing plans are shared. 1. VCC will share the Evaluation Response Report and the 2018 Implementation Plan, noting the priorities and resources with all stakeholders. 2. VCC will assist collaboratives in identifying and securing additional resources. 3. VCC will continue to grow the Enough for All Catalyst Fund. Recommendation: Assess the possibility of creating common language and shared measurement between UWCA and FCSS. Outcome United Way of Calgary and Area and FCSS (Family and Community Support Services) work together to develop a comprehensive plan to move toward shared measurement. Actions 1. United Way and the City FCSS will meet, develop a process and timetable to achieve the outcome. 2. United Way and the City FCSS will review current reporting structures to identify reporting barriers and opportunities for common definitions and measures and streamlining reporting process. 3. An update is provided at the quarterly MOA partners meetings. Recommendation: Ensure coordinated efforts lead the work of the Indigenous poverty reduction strategy. Non-Indigenous organizations engaged in the implementation of Enough for All have deepened their understanding of Indigenous world views and values, and delivery of services align with this new understanding. Non-Indigenous organizations have deepened their awareness of the Calls to Action within the Truth and Reconciliation Report. Elders are recognized, honoured and compensated for their work. The implementation of Enough for All has earned a song. Opportunities for Indigenous and Non-Indigenous conversations are to be found across the community. Engagement of Indigenous youth and families has increased. The Enough for All Indigenous goal is reflected all aspects of Enough for All implementation. Trust and credibility between Indigenous and Non Indigenous communities has grown. Our learnings are being shared nationally. Organizations budget for the engagement of Elders and lived experience. 5

6 1. Support the Indigenous Advisory Committee in successfully completing the Reconciliation Journey Catalyst Project. 2. Support the work of VCC s Indigenous Advisory Committee. 3. Support the Indigenous goals as outlined in the 2018 Implementation Plan: developing and implementing a cultural audit tool and co-design training to support each collaborative on a reconciliation journey. 4. VCC demonstrates its alignment with Elder Engagement protocols. Recommendation: Implement a Shared Measurement Pilot Project. Outcome: The learning of the shared measurement project is shared and applied to more Enough for All implementation activity. The shared measurement project is completed. The learning is documented and shared in all Enough for All implementation materials. 1. The 2017 Catalyst data project is successfully completed. 2. A new data collaborative drafts a proposal and submits proposal for funding. Recommendation: Strengthen strategic leadership from VCC. Strengthened and explicit alignment of Enough for All implementation initiatives in the community with Enough for All outcomes in the 2018 Implementation Plan. The role of the Enough for All Implementation Leadership Council has been clarified and is understood. The importance of VCC as a backbone organization in the implementation of the strategy is recognized as enabling collaboratives to achieve their objectives. Strengthened alignment, engagement and trust amongst all the Enough for All collaboratives. More agencies and organizations are aligning their work with Enough for All. Improvement in the annual Backbone Survey. Increase in the number of stories and submissions. An increase in the number of followers on social media. Increase in the number of board-to-board presentations and conversations. More organizations adopt Enough for All. 1. Strengthen and clarify the role of the Enough for All Implementation Leadership Council. 2. Use the current communication tools more effectively to share stories, provide progress reports and underscore learning and collaboration demonstrating that Enough for All is becoming a community movement. 3. Introduce VCC Board to community by organizing Board conversations. 6

7 Recommendation: Launch and make public the evaluation results and respond with an action plan. Outcome: The 2016 Evaluation Report and Evaluation Response Report is shared with the community. Indicator of Success: The 2016 Evaluation Report and Evaluation Response Report is shared with the community by October 31, The VCC Board reviews and approves this Evaluation Response Report. 2. VCC prepares a summary. 3. The summary and report is shared broadly with the community. Recommendation: Align VCC s role and work with the new conditions of collective impact. Outcome: VCC and the Enough for All community keeps abreast of the developments in collective impact and adopt enhancements as appropriate. An annual review of new learning and enhancements in collective impact work. New learning and evolution of collective impact enhancements is considered when the future review of the Enough for All strategy. Participating in national and international communities of practice discussions. Participate in annual Poverty Reduction conferences. 1. Participate in the collective impact communities of practice with Vibrant Communities Canada and FSG and keep abreast of community impact literature Recommendation: Leverage and enhance internal skills and capacity of VCC staff. Required competencies are documented; staff team skills and competencies are documented; gaps have been identified and a process for filling them is in place. Regular reporting always includes an outcome and impact focus. Communication within the Enough for All community has improved. Lived experience is an integral component in all Enough for All implementation. The Enough for All community appreciation for VCC s role as a backbone organization has improved and is reflected in the annual Enough for All evaluation. The engagement of those with lived experience is visibly reflected in the annual survey. The VCC staff team has deepened its capacity and competencies as reflected in the annual performance evaluations and the surveys on the collective impact roles. 7

8 1. Complete staff competencies profile, needed competencies and identify gaps by November 30, Reaffirm a learning culture by creating an organizational learning agenda 2017_10_30 8