Campus Network Planning and Technical Assistance Overview WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A NETWORK? Networks are part of the California College Pathways (CCP) Initiative s strategy to expand college and career pathways for foster youth. The purpose of a network is to leverage expertise and resources within each campus, between campuses and across the region in order to achieve greater impact more efficiently and effectively by aligning efforts. Successful networks continue to collaborate beyond the life of the grant. Networks are one component of a broader statewide strategy designed to achieve two key goals: 1000 foster in California will earn a college degree or certificate by 2018. Foster youth will achieve important educational milestones at rates equal to, or better than, the general student population. This is accomplished through a common agenda of supporting foster youth with achieving four important milestones: Equip with essential resources Enroll in a college or training program Earn a college degree and/or certificate Embark on a career path WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN A NETWORK? The idea behind a multi- campus network is that by working together, network partners can create an educational pathway for often educationally- delayed foster youth, from remediation to credit- earning classes to vocational certificates, Associate s Degrees and finally Bachelor s degrees and beyond. A network includes: Three to four college campuses, including at least one community college and one 4- year public or private college or university, located within a proximate geographic area Local child welfare and probation agencies Local secondary education, including Foster Youth Services programs Community- based organizations who are actively engaged in achieving the network s goals SELECT FOR SUCCESS: CONSIDERATIONS FOR IDENTIFYING STRONG NETWORK MEMBERS. The funded college and university campuses will make up the core of the network, but participation by external partners is vital as well. Selecting effective partners for the regional network is a key aspect of creating a strong collaboration. The following guidelines should be considered when identifying strategic partners: Consider which agencies in the community play a significant role in impacting the lives of foster youth. Obvious examples are the child welfare agency, juvenile probation agency, Independent Living Skills Program (ILSP) and Foster Youth Services (FYS) program through the County Office of Education. Page 1 of 5
Cast the net wide and be inclusive rather than exclusive. Involve representatives from a range of sectors that can extend beyond the obvious players to mental health providers, foster youth housing providers, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), dependency attorneys, court representatives, FKCE programs, Department of Rehabilitation, Workforce Investment Agencies, local school districts and other community based organizations. Consider who within each agency is the best person to have at the table. Considerations should include availability to actively participate in meetings, authority to make decisions regarding implementation of ideas that emerge from the network and personal commitment to supporting the collaboration. If there are foster youth groups such as California Youth Connection chapters in your community, this can be an effective approach to including current foster youth and foster youth alum as part of your team. NETWORK ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES. The foundation of a successful network includes: committed partners with the ability to make decisions on behalf of their campus or organization, a common agenda, shared measurement, mutually reinforcing activities, continuous communication, and sufficient resources (time and staff). Additionally, networks thrive when they adhere to at least four key principles: 1. Trust and transparency. Network partners make a concerted effort to build confidence within the group, consistently share resources and information, and provide opportunities for input and feedback. 2. Mission critical collaboration. Network partners direct their time, attention and resources toward activities and products that have the potential to advance the network s progress toward their goals. 3. Data informed and solution focused. Data is used to frame the issue and inform strategies and activities. If there is evidence that a policy, practice, or product isn t achieving the desired effect, network members focus on identifying and implementing solutions. 4. Shared success and struggles. Improving the college and career outcomes of foster youth is complex work. Network partners share successes and challenges collectively and offer each other support. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDER? Technical assistance (TA) is provided to funded network campuses by the John Burton Foundation. Participation in technical assistance activities is a condition of funding and is provided during both the planning and implementation stages of the grant. The TA provider is available to help network members: Develop a shared understanding of the issues, common language, and shared vision for success. Learn from other campuses with effective practices/models. Engage in a comprehensive planning process. Engage foster youth in meaningful ways during both planning and implementation. Page 2 of 5
Establish structures and systems that foster collaboration, facilitate decision- making, and support sustainability. Develop and implement Campus and Network Action Plans that are adaptable, achievable and scalable. PLANNING GRANT ACTIVITIES Once a network has been selected through the Letter of Inquiry (LOI) process for a planning grant, the network will negotiate a grant agreement with the designated funder and then embark upon a planning process. During the planning grant phase of the project, the TA Provider is available to assist network campuses with the following planning activities: Stage 1: Laying the groundwork This stage of the planning grant includes four specific steps. Identify Leadership Team: In collaboration with funders, assist campuses to identify a leadership team that includes at least one high- level leader from each campus who has the authority to make important decisions; this could include the college president, chancellor, dean, or an influential faculty member. The leadership team should also include the point person on each campus who is responsible or will be responsible for coordinating direct services to foster youth students if known. Set Expectations: Define and clarify expectations as outlined by funders in the grant agreement with the network members regarding participation in TA. Define Roles and Responsibilities: Ensure that there is consensus on how the network will operate, the responsibilities of the lead agency and that all members have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities. This includes establishing a clear meeting schedule for the leadership team, identifying key engagement points that will include the TA Provider and determining responsibility for preparing required grant reports and other deliverables. Conduct Training: Provide training in two areas to the degree necessary: Ø Provide guidance regarding what it means to be a network and the essential elements that define a network. This training will also include the opportunity for network partners will to visit successful campus support programs. Ø The challenges that foster youth face while pursuing their education and employment goals, including information about existing promising practices. Stage 2: Taking stock The second stage of the project includes three key activities. Internal Audit: Assist network to perform an internal audit of each participating campus that outlines existing programs and services available to support college access and success for foster youth, as well as gaps. The TA Provider will provide specific tools to assist networks to complete the audit. The audit will also include an assessment of capacity related to data requirements including: Page 3 of 5
1.) Identifying campus capacity for tracking data regarding milestone and momentum points; 2.) Determining any additional assistance needed to meet funder data tracking requirements and 3.) Assisting network to evaluate any existing data regarding foster youth on participating funded campuses or in the broader local community to inform planning process. Environmental Scan: Assist network to conduct an environmental scan to develop a better understanding of the regional context surrounding high school and college- aged foster youth and potential network partners. The TA Provider will provide specific tools to assist networks to complete the scan. Collection of Stakeholder Input: Assist campuses to conduct focus groups and/or surveys with foster youth on participating campuses, as well as foster youth who are still in high school or who are not currently enrolled in college. This also includes conducting focus groups, interviews and/or surveys with external partners and key stakeholders in the community. Focus group and/or surveys will be designed to inform the determination of specific strategies regarding engagement, program elements and strategic linkages. Stage 3: Engaging partners Once the Leadership Team is established and has a shared sense of expectations and an understanding of their roles and responsibilities, additional partners will be introduced into the network. Expand participation in the network to include local representatives from secondary education, child welfare, juvenile probation and non- profit sector. The TA Provider will assist networks to: Ø Articulate how the network will be described and promoted in the community. Ø Identify organizations/agencies that are critical to advancing the network s goals and facilitate participation by organizational representatives in planning activities. Ø Articulate the roles and responsibilities of external partners so that they have a clear understanding of their involvement and commitment to the network. Assist leadership team to identify other campus personnel to engage in planning efforts beyond the core leadership team. The TA provider will work with campus network representatives to complete Stage 3 within six months of receiving the grant. Stage 4: Creating and executing a plan The fourth stage of the project includes three key activities. Network Action Plans: The final stage of the planning grant is the creation of a Network Action Plan based on information gathered during stages 1-3 in order to help structure and streamline their activities during implementation. The TA Provider will provide specific tools to assist networks to complete the plan. The Network Action Plan will: Ø Articulate a shared vision for success and outline aligned activities. Page 4 of 5
Ø Clearly define ways in which campuses will partner and connect amongst one another and with external partners during implementation. Ø Define systems for data collection and tracking. Ø Outline a planning process for sustainability after the completion of the implementation grant. Ø Ensure that milestone markers that make up the CCP Common Agenda are integrated into the network s programmatic activities. Ø Provide a timeline for activities. Ø Define a process for periodic reevaluation of the Network Action Plan during implementation and monitoring of progress towards plan goals and objectives. Ø Include Campus Action Plans that define each campuses individual program model including staffing, data collection strategies, program eligibility, systems for identification and outreach, on- campus partnerships and specific program elements and services. The plan will include information regarding which components are already in place and which must be developed. Ø Articulate specific objectives for each of the four milestones that make up the CCP Common Agenda. Memorandums of Understanding: Assist campuses to create formal Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) to guide work across all three campuses. Implementation Grant Application. In collaboration with funder, provide guidance on preparation of implementation grant application. IMPLEMENTATION GRANT ACTIVITIES During the implementation grant phase of the project, the TA Provider will do the following: Assist campuses to utilize the Campus and Network Action Plans to track the team s progress towards agreed upon goals and activities articulated in the plan. Provide ongoing assistance with individual campus program development and refinement. Assist each campus to cultivate additional supporters and advocates for foster youth. This may include the delivery of the Foster Youth Staff Development training by the TA Provider in collaboration with campus personnel. Link network to CCP fundraising consultant to develop and execute a plan for long- term sustainability that may include both external fundraising and embedding of the programs within their respective campuses with direct campus support. Assist network to broaden involvement of external community partners in network activities. Assist network to engage in ongoing evaluation of the effectiveness of project activities towards shared goals and objectives and periodic reevaluation of the Campus and Network Action Plans. Assist network to monitor progress towards goals and objectives defined by grant agreements. Page 5 of 5