Kids Count is a project of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, KIDS COUNT is the premier source for data on child and family well-being in the United States. Access hundreds of indicators, download data and create reports and graphics on the KIDS COUNT Data Center that support smart decisions about children and families.
Today The New Mexico KIDS COUNT Profile outlined this data for NEW MEXICO based on 4 domains and 16 indicators and indicated where there had been movement in the indicators up or down. This was also tied to a campaign including policy, funding and other indications to improve the comparative data for New Mexico.
Lisa Hamilton from the Annie E Casey foundation told us a story about 6 blind people in a room with an elephant. Each one touched a different part of the elephant and then later were asked to describe what an elephant is like.One said it was like a fan because he had touched the ears.One said it was like a tree trunk because he had touched the legs and one said it was like a wall because he had leant against the body…you get the picture… A person who could see listened to this and then said you are all right but you are also all long in order to understand an elephant you need to see all the pieces together.
Lisa then challenged us to consider that our own professional perspectives can be like a blind person describing an elephant we can miss other important information and unless we put all the perspectives together we can miss the elephant in the room. When we focus on education or health or children’s services or adult services we miss the big picture.
Lisa went on to describe 2-generation strategies, which see children in the context of a family and a family in the context of a community. She explained that 2 –Generation strategies focused on families AND children/students. And that this approach has a focus on intentionally coordinating and integrating programs and strategies. – Her experience is that this approach improves outcomes for everyone.
Lisa outlined the connection between housing stability/mobility and educational outcomes as just one example of how everything is connected to everything else. Her concluding remarks were that kids don’t live in isolation and that a family centred community change model characterizes 2 – generation approaches.
Next we heard from Marjorie Sims from the Aspen Institute who built on this theme. Marjorie challenged us to work at breaking down the siloed approach to supporting children and families. The goal of a 2 Generation approach was to make sure programs work together she further stated:
Social Capital is the secret sauce of 2 Generation success!
She went on to say that the thinking needs to be about asking How are we addressing the needs of the family?
The ASCEND program measures outcomes for children and adults together. She spoke about place based strategy in areas such as the New York Early Care and Education Department. This approach is focused on breaking down silos and asking how are you measuring outcomes.
Next we heard from Richard Noriega.Currently CEO of ADVANCE
He spoke about 2 generation approach and how it was essential to ensure that parents had the skills to both identify issues and concerns in regards to their childs development and to be effective advocates.
He showed the movie – Click link below and scroll down to video at the bottom of the page( Get you tissues ready!)
Vroom website
He also references the Stanford Community Impact Modelwhich provides a comprehensive model for system collaboration.
After lunch we heard from REV DR William J Barber,11 – Founder of the Moral Monday Movement in north Caroliner – His presentation was called A Call to Action.
This was a passionate presentation where Rev Williams outlined that High School segregation in the US is happening faster than in the 1960s. It is interesting to note the parallels with the recent Mitchell report which says the same thing is happening in Australian schools.
He finished by suggesting that advocacy needs to be build from a grass roots campaign to build connections across a range of different interests, a similar idea to the earlier suggestion to move away from silos. He suggested that to achieve change there needs to be a sustained campaign for justice/funding across a range of ears.
We then saw a screening of a film about the impact of a home visiting program on child and family development. You can view the trailer at safeteen.net
The program outlined how home visits to young families from pregnancy to when I child is 3 years old provides a trusted community resources to support families and children. – very inspiring.
This was a great conference providing a whole list of new reading and exploration for me that fits in so well to out work in the cluster and in the City of Greater Dandenong.
e reading my notes from the SMAG PL day on July 19th with Maggie Farrar and has been inspired all over again.
You know you are getting it right when people tell you things you don’t want to hear.
SMAG Cluster 