Continuation Reports: What Does Quality Have to Do with It

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Continuation Reports What Does Quality Have
toDo with It?

• Jeanne Bowman, Region 6 Regional PTAC
• Rene Swink, Region 2 Regional PTAC
• Carmen Sanchez, OSEP
• Gretchen Godfrey, National PTAC

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Introductions

• Who are we?
• Who are you?
• Who has written a continuation report before?
• Who will be writing one for the first time?

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Workshop Objectives

• Build on your strengths as parent centers
• Translate the narrative and the main purpose of
  the grant into the report
• Take the ambitious, abstract goals articulated in
  your grants and put them into operation
• Use quantitative data wisely
• Use qualitative data
• Involve others

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The Basics on Data

• Do you have numbers?
• Do you know how to collect data?
• Are you collecting it?
• How do you report it?
• How do you use data you already have? (i.e.
  Alliance data)

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Remember

• Must always include program measures (aka GRPA
  measures)
• At least one per objective
• Be honest about your accomplishments and your
  difficulties
• Must get approval from Project Officer before
  making wholesale changes to report
• Proofread

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Litmus Test for Objectives or the 4 Questions
for Parent Centers

• Does it make sense?
• Do you have control over it?
• Is it measurable?
• How would you measure it?
• Also known as performance measure on the
  project status chart.

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Example 1

• The State Department of Ed will require all
  special education teachers to take our training,
  How to Talk to Parents with Respect, at least
  once during our 5-year project period.
• Does it make sense?
• Do you have control over it?
• Is it measurable?
• How would you measure it?

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Example 1 - Redone

• During the first year of the project period, in
  collaboration with the State Department of
  Education, develop a dissemination plan for
  increasing awareness among educators of the
  availability of PTI trainings.

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Example 2

• To develop and implement culturally competent
  intervention strategies that enable educators,
  parents, and service providers to understand the
  socio-economic, language and cultural difference
  affecting the performance of Laotian-speaking
  students.
• Does it make sense?
• Do you have control over it?
• Is it measurable?
• How would you measure it?

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Example 2 Redone

• During the second year of the project period, in
  collaboration with the Laotian Community Group,
  develop a presentation to increase awareness of
  the issues facing Laotian infants, toddlers, and
  children with disabilities.

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Example 3

• Staff will document interaction with 150 parents
  and public in public situations in 5-minute
  increments.
• Does it make sense?
• Do you have control over it?
• Is it measurable?
• How would you measure it?

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Example 3 - Redone

• Participate in 3 community resource fairs in 3
  different regions of the state each year of the
  project period, leading to 100 contacts with
  families of children with disabilities and
  community members.

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Example 4

• Improved coordination of services by agencies
  serving Laotian families.
• Does it make sense?
• Do you have control over it?
• Is it measurable?
• How would you measure it?

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Example 4 - Redone

• Refer 10 of Laotian families contacting the CPRC
  to the local Laotian Community Center.

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Example 5

• Staff will revise documents in a timely manner.
• Does it make sense?
• Do you have control over it?
• Is it measurable?
• How would you measure it?

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Example 5 - Redone

• In year 3 of the project period, newsletter
  content strands, organization, and layout will be
  revised based on evaluation conducted in year 2
  of the project period.

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Playing with Objectives

• Abbreviated goals and objectives
• Derived from actual 1st time application but
  changed
• Strong, fundable application -- intent and focus
  meet requirements and shows meaningful focus on
  families
• Weaknesses stem from wanting to serve families
  and make a difference
• Look at report based on redesigned goals!!!

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• Any ah ha moments?

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Resources

• Management Manual
• Strategies for Success
• Improved Continuation Report
• Larry letter
• Crosswalks
• People

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Keep In Mind

• Asking questions can be more important than
  having answers
• Struggling with questions is the only way to get
  to answers
• Families are helped best when parent programs
  work on continuous improvement

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Last but not least ..

• Your Regional and National TA Staff!!!