Strategic Plan Summer 2014
Mission The North Texas Alliance to Reduce Teen Pregnancy (The Alliance) is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that seeks to improve the quality of life for children, families, and communities by preventing unintended teen pregnancies. Vision Our vision is that every young person in our community has the opportunity to set goals, plan education and careers and become self-sufficient before entering into parenthood. Values Our values are to be strategic, innovative and culturally sensitive. The North Texas Alliance to Reduce Teen Pregnancy The Alliance is a new collaborative entity which will take an innovative, strategic, and culturally-sensitive approach to reducing the teen pregnancy and teen birth rate in North Texas. In early April, 2014, founding members of the Alliance came together to develop a plan of action. Recognizing the start-up status of the Alliance, members set their horizon at the next two years, and proposed strategies that would both strengthen the foundation of services for parents and teens that will reduce teen pregnancy, as well as grow the collaboration to create a stronger voice for teen pregnancy prevention in the region. Strategic Plan to Reduce Teen Pregnancy in North Texas: Logic Model 2
Alliance Goals and Strategies for 2014-2016 The following goals and objectives will guide the work of the Alliance for the next two years. ENGAGE & COORDINATE GOAL 1: Raise the level of awareness about the rate of teen pregnancies and births, and engage with diverse stakeholders to work together to reduce teen pregnancy rates. Utilize our network of member contacts (including the Texas Campaign s) to identify potential partners Hold strategic individual meetings with key players in the community and invite them to join the Alliance, making sure the right person makes the ask to key stakeholder participants Define clear roles for each stakeholder (or stakeholder group) participating in the Alliance Develop a strategy for responding to people who don t agree EDUCATE GOAL 2: Engage and train parents and adults in using the language (and building relationships with teens) Define a language for talking about teen pregnancy that avoids politicization Conduct research or find pertinent research to identify negative trigger words and why those words are stigmatized. Change the stigma or use different vocabulary Hold teen and adult focus groups to help develop the language Define the words that Alliance members will use; develop an elevator speech Develop how to and quick tips handouts Identify/train great trainers to work with parents/communities Conduct training sessions with parents and other adults Understand the communities before going in to meet/talk/work Reach parents where they are: beauty shops, barber shops, day cares Utilize alternative modes of communication including social media and other technology Use multi-disciplinary and innovative approaches to provide information about effective, age a Identify what curriculums are currently used in districts; ask diverse stakeholders for input 3
Using current research, develop a list of current evidence-based curriculums and find common criteria within these, including content and activities (e.g. delivery approaches) Develop recommendations for delivering evidence-based programs with fidelity to the programs (e.g. address the issue of good curriculums being delivered by those who don t want to teach them.) Offer consultative services to school districts and organizations who want to identify an effective curriculum or train teachers in the delivery of that curriculum. Create a video of a mock classroom with parents and teachers that can be used to train others in delivering programs effectively RESEARCH & ASSESSMENT GOAL 3: Provide a common assessment tool for use by Alliance members who educate youth with evidence based programs. Gather and report on multiple datasets pertaining to reducing teen pregnancy in North Texas. Create uniform templates for evaluations of training and programs. Create systems to track referrals by NTARuPT among its members. BUILD A COLLECTIVE VOICE GOAL 4: Expand the network of providers engaged with the Alliance and build relationships among them to increase capacity and strengthen our voice. Identify providers that are not yet at the table and meet with these providers to start a relationship. Nurture these relationships by Sending emails, newsletters, calendar of events Regularly inviting to meetings Asking for their input Identifying specific opportunities to collaborate Creating a resource guide to help make connections Utilizing social media Host quarterly meetings to educate collaborators Invite speakers Feature different agencies to raise awareness about agency efforts Host a networking luncheon/happy hour 4
Have member organizations be accountable for consistent participation ADVOCATE GOAL 5: Identify key issues (drivers) of teen pregnancy and build the political will to find solutions to these issues Reach out to other successful Alliances (in CA and SC) to understand their strategies and approaches. Research and publicize statistics and other information about the issue in North Texas and the state. Listen and work with Alliance members and community stakeholders to identify local issues that affect teen pregnancy Conduct a needs assessment to identify gaps and sleeper issues. Conduct research to understand the economic impact of teen pregnancy. Identify laws that are barriers to access to care. Support and advocate issues that: All members of the Alliance support Are solidly researched Have the potential to raise funds Represent an unfilled niche Are winnable Are useful for reducing teen pregnancy rate 5
MEMBERSHIP Values: Innovative, Strategic Culturally Sensitive Work together to: Reduce Teen Pregnancy Learn and educate prevention and best practices Build Partnerships Plan Activities with other organizations Fundraising Broaden public conversations. Action in ISD s Make resources available to partner agencies/guide Referrals. Get adults and teens talking more about the issue of teen pregnancysexuality as a whole. Increase access to healthcare. Broaden access to members services. Support and establish the same educational materials and message as an Alliance. Provide Education/Lessons/Training Member Agreements: Have been distributed and some signed (most) Respect different points of view, perspectives, and opinions. Overall promotion of healthy lifestyles- for all ages: teens, parents, small children, etc. Holistic approach for all those we serve. Focus on productive conversations. Stick to facts. Create standards for Alliance products/offerings. Listening to the needs of the youth- Polling, focus groups, surveys, and questionnaires. Culturally sensitivity- Remain consistent. Role for multiple voices. Compromise with alliance members. Member Expectations: Participation- attend most meetings, attempt to send at least one representative. Participation in community outreach- 2X a year, at least? When representing the Alliance wear Alliance Badges. Support other Alliance health fairs, and meetings. 6
Recruitment of more Alliance Members- 25% increase in two years. Strategic and consistent elevator speeches, languages, and mission statements. Develop and utilize printed materials. Follow through and accountability on Alliance commitment. Create an environment for an open dialogue, and express and receive differences of opinions respectfully. Defined difference between Members and Partners: Programatic Partners- a program or resource that utilizes the Alliance Members. Work together with the Alliance on side projects, health fairs, etc. Alliance Members- Alliance Work, follow Alliance expectations, and agreements. Funding Partners- Local Businesses, individuals, organizations who can donate. resources, funds, location space, sponsor events, etc. Universities, Junior Colleges, Law Enforcement, Adoption Agencies, Foster Homes, Runaway Shelters, Churches, Health Education, Social Services, and Prevention Organizations will be given the opportunity to become an Alliance Member or a Community Partner. Community Partners- groups, individuals, organizations, etc who support the mission but are unable to be a full-fledged member at the moment. Members who have a relationship with the mission of Alliance. Board Members? Steering Committee? Subcommittees? Alliance committee meetings overall. Partners support the work of the Alliance Members, by facilitating the message. Community Leaders. STRUCTURE General: Four Committees: Project/Finance Outreach/PR/Branding Education Data There will be one task force The Start Up task force Committees will have chairs who will: Send email reminders for events and meetings Meet often/at least monthly Sit on the Alliance Steering Committee Steering Committee: Will meet monthly face to face or conference calls as needed 7
Make Recommendations Alliance Members Will approve Steering Committee recommendations with a 66% majority Will meet quarterly Establish Board of Directors Fall 2014 Establish Advisory Board- tbd Establish Youth Council- Spring 2015 8