MCP Strategy & Evaluation Teams

Description

The Strategy and Evaluation Teams are groups of highly motivated individuals that have an interest and investment in understanding both current and future community goals and needs and develop strategies to measurably improve the welfare of Monument Community residents. The Strategy and Evaluation Teams are divided into five key focus areas that represent the community’s basic goals and needs. These include: (1) Resident capacity building and leadership development; (2) Economic development; (3) Education; (4) Health and Social Services and (5) Housing. The five teams will be represented on the MCP Steering Committee.

Purpose

The purpose of the Strategy and Evaluation Teams is to:
- understand the current and future goals and needs of residents
- evaluate both current and future projects and/or programs undertaken by MCP
- make recommendations for new or alternative strategies
- evaluate current projects and programs to determine whether the lives of residents is better as a result of MCP’s work

Team Members

Strategy and Evaluation Teams are comprised of individuals that have a high investment in community impact and include; residents, businesses, service provides, university faculty/students, policymakers and foundations. Members are designated as “Core” team members and “Associate” team members depending upon area interests, and availability. Associate team members attend the quarterly Strategy and Evaluation Team retreat. In addition to attending the quarterly retreats, core team members meet on a monthly basis.

Core Team Members

Core members are primarily concerned with identifying and dealing with the day to day issues that confront the community in one of the five focus areas. As issues or concerns become known, Core members use the partnership to network with their fellow team members and others in identifying appropriate responses to the emergent need facing the community. Core team members meet on a monthly basis to share information and report on the progress of projects that have been approved and assigned at the quarterly Strategy and Evaluation Team retreat. Examples of topics that would be discussed at the monthly meeting include:

• Discussing emerging developments

• Information sharing

• Progress reports on projects assigned at the Strategy and Evaluation Team retreat

• Obtaining updates on community projects already undertaken

Concerns identified by Core members are taken to the entire team on a quarterly basis and are evaluated in light of the 10 year goal, current initiatives, and the measurability standards set to gauge how well the community is doing.

Associate Team Members

Associate members are primarily concerned with the big picture as it relates to understanding the underlining trends and causes of detrimental community problems. Associate members are interested in developing/evaluating programs and initiatives that measurably increase the well-being of residents. Associate team members attend the quarterly Strategy and Evaluation Team retreat. Examples of topics that concern Associate members that would be discussed at the retreats include:

• Developing baseline assessments and community profiles

• Creating measurable indicators of success

• Identifying future goals and needs

• Evaluating new projects and programs

• Reviewing best practices

Measurability

The Strategy and Evaluation Teams are responsible for creating and/or identifying measurable indicators of success to evaluate whether an initiative, project or program is achieving the desired outcomes. Prior to drafting measurable indicators of success, the Strategy and Evaluation Teams are charged with becoming acquainted with the community’s current and future goals and needs.

Date approved by MCP Board: 7-08