On Supporting Families Kansas City, MO May 2014

1. Brief Discussion on Evaluation John AgostaYoshiko Kardell Jagosta@hsri.orgYkardell@hsri.org Human Services Research Institute 7690 SW Mohawk Street Tualatin, OR 97062 503-924-3783 www.hsri.org On Supporting Families Kansas City, MO May 2014

2. Working Premises Regarding CoP

3. Challenges in evaluating the CoP • The evolving nature of a CoP requires patience awaiting actual “practices” to emerge. • The notion of “supporting families” is not well-defined so that there is learning regarding the actual target of the CoP (i.e., the Lifecourse framework). The learning, in turn, alters the intentions and actions of state teams. • Each state has its own unique history, circumstances and politics to negotiate. • The policy context nationally and in states changes on its own (e.g., the new CMS rules) so that the intentions and actions of state teams again may be altered. Bottom Lines: The particular objectives of states are taking form but have not yet solidified. Even so, we expect that objectives, and associated activities for achieving these objectives, will likely evolve. To the extent states focus on particular objectives and activities, then the CoP will be easier to assess and replicate. But this presently seems an unlikely scenario.

5. Quarterly calls to check in with you • Goals and objectives that are consistent with the Lifecourse framework • The promising practice(s) you are pursuing that are consistent with the Lifecourse framework • Lessons learned and challenges encountered • The status of inputs, activities and outputs associated with the practice(s)in relation to: • Leadership • Training and technical assistance • Interagency collaboration • Particulars pertaining to exact strategies for supporting families • Resources and financing • Communication and framing • Performance measurement undertaken