Creating Sustainable Social Services in Affordable Housing

1
Creating Sustainable Social Services in
Affordable Housing

• The Role of Evidence-based Practice and Evaluation

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Welcome Overview
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Panel Members

• George Searcy, Executive Director
• Hope Through Housing Foundation
• Susan Neufeld, Director of Youth Development
  Services
• Hope Through Housing Foundation
• Gina Rodriguez, Director of Community Services
• National Farm Workers Service Center
• Joelle Greene, Ph.D., Director of Research
  Evaluation
• National Community Renaissance

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George Searcy, Executive Director
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What are sustainable services?

• Services that are continuous and endure over time
• Financial sustainability
• Mission Relevance (the why question)
• Organizational commitment (competency vs. cost
  center)

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Challenges to creating sustainable services in
affordable housing

• Cross-discipline translation
• Capacity in management operations
• Patience

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Evidence-Based Services

• What they are
• Discipline-specific, research proven
• Why they matter to sustainability
• Credibility with funders
• Credibility within professional disciplines
• Success in achieving valuable change

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Leveraging funds to create sustainability

• Development process
• Set up budget
• Operating budget for properties
• Organizational support for overhead
• Organizational support for nonprofit fundraising
  model

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Evaluation as a tool to create sustainability

• Critical to creating a quality service
• Supports added value of services
• Evaluation is required to pursue external funding
  sources

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Susan NeufeldDirector of Youth Development
Services
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After School BeyondServing Kids Where They Live

• Grown from 12 sites in 2006-07 to 37 sites in
  2009-10
• Currently serving over 1,500 youth annually from
  grades K-12th
• Program components
• Homework assistance
• Educational enrichment activities
• Violence prevention
• Nutrition and physical activity

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CONDITIONS Low academic achievement Limited
access to learning resources Limited access to
quality OST programs Risk of violence Under-experi
enced OST workforce
ACTIVITIES Parent involvement School
connections Balanced literacy Social/life
skills Nutrition, physical activity Computer
access Violence prevention Staff training
development
OUTCOMES School engagement Reading
motivation Self efficacy, future
orientation Positive connections with
others Staff meet OST competencies Satisfaction Po
sitive behaviors
OUTPUTS High program quality Attendance threshold
(100 days) Low attrition Regular parent/school
communication
GOAL Children youth are healthy, stable, and
successful
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Program Evolution

• Year 1 Refocus partnership and program
• Year 2 Implement quality standards
• Year 3 Explore self-delivery
• Year 4 Build HOPE staff development system

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Evolution of Program Funding

• Property (per door social service fees)
• Private/corporate donations
• Site/region-specific grants
• Strategic in-kind contributions
• Federal/state grants

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Future

• High capacity partnerships
• Expansion of wrap around services
• Staff retention and leadership opportunities
• Awareness of housing based after school programs
• Recognition as a quality provider in the field

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Gina RodriguezDirector of Community Services
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Joelle Greene, Ph.D.Director of Research
Evaluation
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What is evaluation?

• The systematic study of a programs impact
• Does the program make a difference to those
  receiving services?
• Is the program cost effective?
• Can involve many types of information
• Involves many stakeholders

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Evaluation demonstrates the need for a program
Needs supported by data
Better descriptions of residents served
Needs Assessment
More strategic submissions
Better service alignment
Better conversion rate
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Evaluation demonstrates the value of the program
Stronger Program
Funding renewals
Demonstrates effectiveness
Evaluation Findings
New funding sources
Identifies Other/new needs
New/refocused Services
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Grant income growth over time(In thousands)
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How can you bring evaluation to resident services?

• Consultants
• University Partnerships
• Internal Evaluation

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How can you fund evaluation?

• From program operating funds
• Funds from grants
• Capacity building/technical assistance grants
• Partnering with University researchers who have
  grant funding

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Questions and Discussion
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For more information please contact

• Joelle Greene, jgreene_at_nationalcore.org
• George Searcy, gsearcy_at_hthf.org
• Susan Neufeld, sneufeld_at_hthf.org
• Gina Rodriguez, ginar_at_nfwsc.org