We support our local 100% Community initiative through a rigorous process of evaluation. We will be supporting a process of capacity-building in each county that is meant to be both measurable and meaningful. This evaluation process, guided by the questions below, provides a way to assess our progress toward family-friendly, child-centered and trauma-free communities and counties.  

Our team has the expertise to support the evaluation of all your vital work focused on decreasing childhood trauma.                        

Evaluating Progress

Below we share ten questions that inform our evaluation of the countywide 100% Community Initiative.                     

  1. To what degree do parents and youth have access to the following ten vital services?
    1. Behavioral Health Care
    2. Medical/Dental Care
    3. Housing
    4. Food
    5. Transportation
    6. Early Childhood Learning Programs or Affordable Childcare
    7. Family Centered Schools
    8. Youth Mentor Programs
    9. Parent Supports
    10. Job Training
  2. To what degree are family services rated as family-friendly and youth-friendly by parents and youth?
  3. To what degree do county stakeholders (local government management, non-profit agency leadership, foundation staff) use a data-driven framework to strengthen and align services for family members and address ACEs?
  4. To what degree do schools and campuses have trauma policies and programs in place to ensure that students are not marginalized due to trauma and given the support to achieve academically?
  5. To what degree do the education systems (K-12, college) align with job markets?
  6. To what degree do residents, service providers and lawmakers have access to technology to strengthen education, communication, collaboration and problem-solving?
  7. To what degree do local child welfare offices have the capacity to use data, quality improvement and technology to collaborate with county partners, refer parents and youth to vital services, and decrease child maltreatment?
  8. To what degree are the public given the opportunity (through face-to-face and online forums) to share their concerns, ideas and questions related to creating resilient families and communities?
  9. To what degree is the private sector engaged in the strengthening of community systems of family health, safety, education and economic development?
  10. To what degree are the public aware of historical trauma, adverse childhood experiences, and health disparities?

In addition to assessing prevention and treatment efforts, the Anna, Age Eight Institute will support the use of the adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) survey to measure the magnitude of ACEs in youth and adult populations. Our long-term goals in each county follows.

TEN GOALS

  1. Lower population ACEs scores in youth and adult populations
  2. Increased elementary and high school attendance, performance and graduation rates  
  3. Increased enrollment and attendance at local community colleges, vocational programs, or colleges
  4. Increased use of youth and family services               
  5. Decreased substance use and misuse
  6. Decreased violence (bullying, harassment, intimate partner violence, domestic violence, child abuse, gun violence)
  7. Agencies in ten sectors have data-driven plan to serve 100% of residents
  8. Funding for ACEs prevention secured locally
  9. Increased public/private partnerships ensuring 100% of county residents have access to 10 vital family-focused services
  10. Increased reports of health, safety and resiliency in children and youth documented through school based survey such as the Youth Risk and Resilience Survey, and adult surveys such as the Dept of Health’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).

OUR COUNTY SURVEY FOR PARENTS AND YOUTH

We make New Mexico the safest place to raise a child by ensuring that all children, youth, parents and caregiving grandparents have access to family-friendly services. The Resilient Community Experience Survey, first published in Anna, Age Eight: The data-driven prevention of childhood trauma and maltreatment, helps the leaders of each county know how accessible services are. This survey is being conducted in the New Mexico counties of Doña Ana, Socorro and Rio Arriba. The survey also asks respondents to share why a service may be difficult to access (such as expense, hours of operation, transport issues, language challenges, etc.).

RESILIENT COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE SURVEY

How do you rate the following services in your community? The term “accessible” means affordable and/or not a burden to get to, and not subject to long waiting lists.

  1. Mental health care services to provide counselors to speak with about emotional problems, treat depression and untreated mental health challenges, and address adverse childhood experiences and trauma.

    Very accessible / Accessible / Not very accessible / Not Accessible / Don’t know

  2. Medical and dental care to increase health, resiliency and longevity.

    Very accessible / Accessible / Not very accessible / Not Accessible / Don’t know

  3. Housing programs to prevent homelessness and provide a safe place if a home is unsafe.

    Very accessible / Accessible / Not very accessible / Not Accessible / Don’t know

  4. Food pantries and programs to reduce hunger.

    Very accessible / Accessible / Not very accessible / Not Accessible / Don’t know

  5. Public transport that ensures residents get to vital social services, work or school.

    Very accessible / Accessible / Not very accessible / Not Accessible / Don’t know

  6. Job training to provide access to jobs with livable wages.

    Very accessible / Accessible / Not very accessible / Not Accessible / Don’t know

  7. Early childhood programs that strengthen early learning.

    Very accessible / Accessible / Not very accessible / Not Accessible / Don’t know

  8. Family-centered Community schools. (Schools that offer support with academics, tutoring, family support, and health and social services, and do so before, during and after school, on weekends, and over summer break. They also offer counseling services and can screen students and family members for emotional trauma and mental health challenges, or refer them to local behavioral health care agencies.)

    Very accessible / Accessible / Not very accessible / Not Accessible / Don’t know

  9. Parent supports, including home visitation and respite programs, to strengthen families and reduce the chance of childhood injury, trauma or maltreatment.

    Very accessible / Accessible / Not very accessible / Not Accessible / Don’t know

  10. Youth mentors to provide strong role models and support for every boy and girl.

    Very accessible / Accessible / Not very accessible / Not Accessible / Don’t know

     

WE CAN PROVIDE THE SUPPORT TO EVALUATE PROGRESS

Our team has the expertise to support the evaluation of all your vital work focused on decreasing childhood trauma and increasing the health, safety and education of your residents.

Contact Us

Please reach out with any questions about the survey process. Contact: Katherine Ortega Courtney, PhD, Co-director of the Anna, Age Eight Institute katherine@annaageeight.org.