Thechild,Youth,Andfamilyindicators Newsletter

TheChildIndicator

THECHILD,YOUTH,ANDFAMILYINDICATORS NEWSLETTER

Summer/Fall,2003Vol.4,IssueNo.4

Publication#2003-22

OregonBenchmarks:SocialIndicatorsandPolicy inaTimeofFiscalDistress

InthisIssue...

In1989,theOregonlegislaturecreat-edtheOregonProgressBoardtofacil-itatedevelopmentofthestate'svisionforaprosperousOregon. TheOregonProgressBoard(OPB)isanindepend-entstateplanningandoversightagencythathasbeeninstrumentalindevelopingthestate'scapacitytomeasureandtrackitsprogressatthestateandlocallevels. OregonBenchmarks,asetof90highlevelindicatorsofwell-being,arethe

Board'sprimarytoolformonitoringsuccessinachievingthegoalssetoutinOregonShines,thestate's20-yearvision.TheoverallgoalsofOregonShinesincludequalityjobsforallOregonians;safe,caringandengagedcommunities;andhealthy,sustainablesurroundings.

Morethan10yearslater,theOregonProgressBoardisactivelyinvolvedintrackingOregon'sprogress,ascanbeseeninits2003benchmarkperform-ancereport. "Itisaverydifferenttimenow"tobeworkingwithstate-levelmeasuresandbenchmarks,saysJeffreyTryens,executivedirectoroftheOregonProgressBoard. When

theOPBstarted,itwasthefirststatetoarticulateitsgoalsinmeasurableterms. Therearenowmanymore

organizationsthataretrackingindica-torsatthestatelevel. Thishaspro-videdtheopportunitynotonlytocom-pareOregon'sprogresswithotherstates,butalsotobuilditsownabilitytodevelopbettermeasures.

ItisalsoadifferenttimeinOregon,fis-cally.Asustainedbudgetcrisishascausedmassivebudgetcutsinstatefunding. AtonepointthelegislatureeliminatedtheBoard'sstaffpositionsfromthebudget.TheBoardhassus-tainedfunding,butthecontinuingbudgetcrisishasmeantthattheProgressBoardhashadtogetbywithfewerstaffandwithlessfundingfordatacollection.

AnaturalprogressionintheworkoftheOPB,whichcouldfacilitatestatebudgetdecisions,istherecognitionoftheneedto"linkuppublicresourcestoresultsinamoremeaningfulway."Tryensexplainedthat,inordertomakeindicatorsmorerelevanttopoli-

cyleaders,itwouldbeusefultoknow,forexample,notjustwhetherteenpregnancyisgoingdown,butwhethertheactionsastateagencytakesplay

arolein'moving'therate.

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OregonBenchmarks1,6

SouthAfrica: SocialIndicators2intheServiceofSocialChange

VitalStatistics:NewQuestions3onBirth andDeathCertificates

IndicatorsofPositive4,5

DevelopmentConference

NewStudentSurveyfrom4,6

SearchInstituteand

America’sPromise

BaltimoreNeighborhoods5,7bytheNumber

Recently ReleasedReports1,7

Editedby:

BrettBrown

Written by:

DenaAufseeserSharonBzostekJulieDombrowskiSusanJekielek

Designed by:

SharonBzostek

JustReleased

Publishedby

WithfundingfromtheAnnieE.CaseyFoundation

Statement ofPurpose

ThegoalofTheChildIndicatoristocommunicatemajordevelopmentsandnewresourceswithineachsectorofthechildandyouthindicatorsfieldtothelargercommunityofinterestedusers,researchers,anddatadevelopersonaregu-larbasis.Bypromotingtheefficientsharingofknowledge,ideas,andresources,TheChildIndicatorseekstoadvanceunderstandingwithinthechildandyouthindicatorscommunityandtomakeallitsmembersmoreeffectiveintheirwork.

ChildTrends,anonpartisan,nonprofitresearchcenterthathasbeenactiveinthechildandyouthindicatorsfieldfor20years,.

BrettBrown,Ph.D.,Editor

SouthAfrica: SocialIndicatorsintheServiceofSocialChange

TheChildandYouthResearchandTrainingProgramme(CYRTP)oftheUniversityoftheWesternCape,SouthAfricaisdevotingitsconsiderableenergiestoimprovingthecapacityofSouthAfricatomeasureandmonitorthewell-beingofitschildrenandyouth.

ByratifyingtheUnitedNations'ConventionontheRightsoftheChild,SouthAfricahasagreedtoworktoguaranteeasetofbasicchildren'srights,accordingtoRoseSeptember,theheadoftheprogramandamemberofthefacultyofCommunityandHealthSciencesattheUniversityoftheWesternCape.Dr.Septembersaysthatacommitmenttochildreniscertainlynotlackingin

SouthAfrica.However,withoutadequatemeasuresofchildwell-being,itisdifficulttomonitortowhatextentthatthenation'sgoalsforitschildrenarebeingmet.

TheChildandYouthResearchProgrammeisattemptingtofacili-tatethenation'sabilitytofocusonchildrenbyimprovingtheircapacitytomeasure,analyze,anddisseminateindicatorsofchildandyouthwell-being.Theprogramhasalreadycontributedtosomeconcretechanges.Ithassucceededinincludinganumberofquestionsspecificallyfocusedonchildreninthefirstpost-apartheidcensus.ItalsointendstoproduceareportonSouthAfrica'schildrenfeaturingthesenewcensusdatainthecomingyear.Inaddition,theprogramisseekinggovernmentpartnerstocreateanannualNationalChildSurveycoveringissuesaffectingchildreninaholisticmanner.

TheprogramisprovidingtechnicalassistancetotheNationalProgramofAction,agovernmentorganizationtaskedwithmoni-toringtheimplementationoftheU.N.ConventionontheRightsoftheChildandtheAfricanCharterontheRightsandWelfareoftheChild.ItisalsodevelopingatrainingprogramattheUniversityoftheWesternCapetocreateanewgenerationofindigenousresearcherswhoareadeptatmeasuring,presenting,andapply-ingchildandyouthindicatordata.

Recently,theprogramhasbeenrunningsessionswithchildreninthreedifferentprovincestoallowthemtotakepartindefiningindi-catorsofchildwellbeing.Itisfindingthatchildrenhavedifferentopinionsofindicatorsthandoadults.Dr.Septemberexplainedthat,althoughtheyarestillintheearlystagesoftheprogram,ithasalreadybecomeapparentthatchildrentendtofocusonrela-tionshipsratherthanspecificcontent.

Forexample,theyaremoreinterestedintalkingaboutwhethertheyliketheirmathteacherthanabouthowmuchmaththeyarelearning."Intime,wehopetohavethefirstchild-developedindi-cators,"Septembersaid.

Theseindicatorscanplayasignificantroleinidentifyingareaswherenationalresourcesshouldbeplaced.Followingthecon-clusionofthesesessions,thechildrenwillhavetheopportunitytopresenttheirviewsandfindingsdirectlytopolicymakers.

InternationalInvolvement

TheChildandYouthResearchandTrainingProgramhasactivelybeenseekinginternationalinvolvementtohelpthemformulatestrongmeasuresofchildwell-being.Inconjunctionwithorganiza-tionssuchasUNICEFandtheNationalDepartmentofSocialDevelopment,SouthAfrica,theyorganizedanInternationalConsultativeConferencelastyeartoreceiveinputonmeasuring,monitoringandevaluatingchildwell-being.

Atthesametime,itisimportanttoactivelyensurethatindicatorsofchildwell-beingareadequatelysuitedtoSouthAfrica,andnotjustthecountriesfromwhichtheyoriginated.TheHIV/AIDSepi-demic,forexample,affectsSouthAfricanchildrendifferentlythanitmightthoseinothercountrieswhereitislesscommon.Forexample,child-headedhouseholdsareanincreasinglywide-spreadphenomenoninSouthAfricanotcommontomostothercountries.

"Weneedtocreateaworldfitforchildren,"Septemberempha-sized."Wearejustatthebeginningofaveryhugetask.Wearebuildinganddevelopingasupportivegovernmentandanactivecivilsocietytobeadvocatesforchildren.WewanttokeepNelsonMandelaandourcurrentPresident'svisionalive.WecannotmaintainSouthAfricawithoutputtingchildrenfirst.Ifwe

donotinvestinchildren,SouthAfricawillnotbeabletokeepupwiththeinternationalcommunity."

FormoreinformationabouttheChildandYouthResearchandTrainingProgramme,pleasecontactRoseSeptemberattheUniversityoftheWesternCapebyphone(021-959-2603)

National Scene

VitalStatistics:NewQuestionsontheBirth andDeathCertificates

Every10to15years,theNationalVitalStatisticsSystem,whichisthebasisforthenation'sofficialstatisticsonbirths,deaths,marriagesanddivorces,undergoesareview. Whileindividualstatesareresponsibleforcollect-ingthisinformation,TheNationalCenterforHealthStatistics(NCHS)playsanimportantroleinimprovingthequalityofthedatacollectedbydevelopingastandardvitalstatisticsdatabaseandstandardreportingformsrecom-mendedforusethroughoutallthestates.

Therecentreview,conductedbyanexpertpanelcon-venedbyNCHS,uncoveredtheneedforsignificantchangesinthecurrentbirth,fetaldeath,anddeathcertifi-cates,whichhavebeeninusesince1989.Importantrevi-sionstothestandardbirthcertificateincludequestionsonwhethermothersarebreastfeedingtheirinfant,whichisagoaloftheHealthyPeople2010initiative;whetherinfertili-tytreatmentwasinvolvedinthepregnancy;infectionsdur-ingpregnancy;whetherWIC(theSupplementalFoodProgramforWomen,Infants,andChildren)serviceswerereceivedduringpregnancy;andtheprincipalsourceofpaymentforthedelivery.Anadditionalquestionaskingaboutthecircumstancesofmaternalmorbiditywillmakethesecertificatestheonlysourceforcorrelatingpregnancyfactorsandmaternalmorbidityonanationalbasis.

Otheritemsonthebirthcertificatehavebeenmodifiedsuggestingpromisingnewdata. Mother'sandfather'sracewillnowallowformultipleraceidentification;thefre-quencyofcigarettesmokingwillberetrospectivelyreport-

edpriortopregnancyaswellasbytrimesterofpregnancy;andmaternalbodyweightbeforepregnancy,weightatdelivery,andheightwillbecollected,whichwillmakeitpossibletocalculatematernalBodyMassIndex(anindica-torofobesity)andtoassesstheappropriatenessofmater-nalweightgainaswellasitsassociationwithinfantbirth-weight. Onehealth-relateditemthatwillbedroppedfromthestandardcertificatesisthefrequencyofalcoholcon-sumption,duetounder-reporting.

Examplesofnewitemsonstandardbirthcertificates

Breast-feedingInfertilitytreatmentsInfectionsduringpregnancy

Principalsourceofpaymentduringdelivery

Prenatalsmokingbytrimester

Multipleraceidentificationofmotherandfather

Examplesofnewitemsonstandarddeathcertificates

Hospicefacilitiesasaplaceofdeath

Contributionoftobaccousetodeath

Roleofdecedentindeathscausedbytrafficaccidents

TheU.S.Standardreportoffetaldeathincludesmanyofthenewitemsfromtheproposedbirthcertificates,asappropriate. Notably,thecauseoffetaldeathnowcap-turesboththesingleinitiatingcauseaswellasothersig-nificantcauses.

TheproposedU.S.StandardReportofDeathwillalsoincludenewitemsreflectingchanginghealthinformationandadministrationneeds.Hospicefacilitieshavenowbeenaddedasacategoryunderplaceofdeath.Thecon-

tributionoftobaccousetodeathwillnowbecollected.Theroleofthedecedentindeathscausedbytrafficaccidentswillbetracked,andtheactual/presumeddateofdeathwillbecollected(asopposedtodatepronounceddead),whichwillhelpepidemiologistsresearchintervalsbetweeninjuries,onsetofconditionsanddeath. Asinthebirthcer-tificateinformation,maternalmorbidityduringpregnancywillalsobeincludedonthenewstandardizeddeathcertifi-cates.

StephanieVentura,ChiefoftheReproductiveStatisticsBranchoftheDivisionofVitalStatisticsatNCHS,antici-patesthatoneofthemostimportantresultsoftherevi-sionstothebirthcertificateswillbe"substantiallyimproveddataquality,becausethe2003revisionrecommendationsfocusonthecollectionofdatafromappropriatesourcesthroughtheuseofstandardizedworksheetsforthemotherandthebirthfacility,usingstandardizeddefinitions.Thenewguidelinesalsocallforeditingdataatthesource.Improveddataqualitywillgreatlyincreasetheutilityandreliabilityofthedataforawidearrayofresearchandmon-itoringpurposes."

EffectiveJanuary1,2003,PennsylvaniaandWashingtonStatehaverevisedtheirbirthcertificates,anddatashouldbeavailablewithinaboutayearaftertheendofthe2003datacollectionperiod,inthewinterof2004-2005(personalcommunication,Ventura,August2003). AdditionalstateswillberevisingtheircertificateseffectiveJanuary2004andthereafter.

Beginningin2003,reviseddeathcertificateshavebeenimplementedinNewYorkCity,Idaho,Montana,NewYorkState,andCalifornia,andsomestatedataonnewitemsareexpectedtobecomeavailablein2003;about19otherjurisdictionshopetoimplementreviseddeathcertificatesbytheendof2004(personalcommunication,Hoyert,August2003).

Forfurtherinformationsee: DivisionofVitalStatistics.ReportofthePaneltoEvaluatetheU.S.StandardCertificates.Hyattsville,Maryland:NationalCenterforHealthStatistics.2001.AvailableontheInternetat:

Research:IndicatorsofPositiveDevelopmentConference

TheIndicatorsofPositiveDevelopmentConferencewasheldonMarch12and13,2003,inWashington,D.C. Theintentoftheconferencewastobringtogetherresearchersfromacrossthecountrywhohavepreviouslybeenworkingaloneorinsmallgroupsonpositivedevelopment. Fromascientificpointofview,abroadervisionneedstobedevel-opedthatincludesnotonlywhatsocietydoesnotwantforchildren,butalsowhatsocietydoeswantforchildren. Theconferenceispartofalong-termefforttoconceptualize,develop,andrefinepositivemeasuresthatcouldeventual-lyappearinfuturesurveysatthenational,state,orlocallevel,inresearchstudies,andinprogramevaluations.

Twenty-threepaperswerecommissionedonthesubjectareasofCharacterandSpirituality;LifeSatisfactionandHope;PositiveBehaviors;Relationships;TimeUseandHealthyHabits;MasteryMotivation,AchievementTaskValues,andSchoolSelf-Regulation;ConnectednesstoSchoolandSchoolEngagement;ConnectiontoCommunityandCivicEngagement;andSocialIdentityandEconomicBehavior. Ineachofthepapers,theauthorsreviewedexistingmeasuresofpositivedevelop-mentthathadbeenusedintheirfield,presentedmeas-

uresusedintheirstudies,andpresenteddataontherelia-bilityandvalidityoftheirmeasures. Eachauthorwaschargedwithassessingwhetherornotthemeasureisreadytobeincludedinnationaldatabasesandinthe

Manyofthemeasurespresentedattheconferencehelpedtofillgapsthatexistincurrentlyavailablesurveysonimportantconstructsofchilddevelopment. AninventoryofcharacterstrengthsbyDrs.ChristopherPetersonandNansookPark,forexample,isanaspectofdevelopmentthatisnotemphasizedincurrentstudies. Thestudyofspirituality,asdiscussedbyDr.PeterBensonandcol-leagues,isanareathatiscurrentlyoverlookedinmanymainstreamsurveys. Measuresofpositivementalhealthsuchaslifesatisfaction,aspresentedbyDr.Scott

Huebnerandcolleagues,andthepresenceofhope,aspresentedbyDr.C.R.Snyder,wouldbewelcomepositiveadditionstoamentalhealthindicatorsystemthatismainlyfocusedonindicatorsofnegativementalhealth.

Anumberofmeasureswerepresentedthatdealwithrela-tionships.Measuresofintrapersonalfunctioning,includingself-esteem,perspectivetaking,andempathy;interperson-alfunctioning,includingpeerrelationsandsocialinitiative;andcommunicationwithmotherandfatherweredevel-opedbyDr.BrianBarber.Analysesofayouth-reportedscaleonpositiverelationshipswithparentsintheNationalLongitudinalSurveyofYouth-1997werepresentedbyDr.

overlookedworldofsiblingrelationshipswascapturedinascalebyDr.BrendaVollingandcolleagues.Thescalespresentedshowthatpositiverelationshipswithpeers,par-ents,andsiblingscanbemeasuredandarelinkedtoposi-tivefunctioninganddevelopment.

Attentionwasalsofocusedonmeasuresrelatingtoado-lescentfunctioninganddevelopmentwithinschools.Measuressuchasmotivationalgoals,aspresentedbyDr.RobRoeserandcolleagues,adolescents'self-perceptionsoftheirabilitiesandtaskvalues,aspresentedbyDr.JacquelynnEcclesandcolleagues,andacademicself-assessments,aspresentedbyDr.ChristopherWolters

andcolleagues,arevaluableinassessinghowadoles-centsfeelabouttheirabilitiestosucceedaswellastheirstudyandself-regulationskills,andhowthoseabilitiesandskillsrelatetoschoolachievement. Interpersonalmeas-uressuchasstudents'perceptionsofclassroominterac-tion,aspresentedbyDrs.HelenPatrickandAllisonRyan,students'connectednesstoschool,aspresentedbyDr.CleaMcNeely,andschoolengagement,aspresentedbyDr.JenniferFredericksandcolleagues,helpbroadentradi-tionalmeasuresofschoolprocessesandoutcomestoencompassthefactthatschoolisacriticalsocialenviron-ment. Satisfactioninallaspectsofthatenvironment,aca-demicaswellasinterpersonal,isanimportantpartofanadolescent'ssuccessinschool.

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SearchInstituteandAmerica’s

Promise TeamUpforNewSurvey

LocalschooldistrictsandorganizationshaveanewopportunitytomeasurehowwelltheircommunitiesareprovidingsupportiveandnurturingenvironmentsforyouththroughtheSurveyofStudentResourcesandAssets.ThesurveywascreatedthroughapartnershipbetweentheSearchInstituteandAmerica'sPromise:TheAllianceforYouth,andisbasedonresearchbybothoftheseorgani-zationsabouttheimportantcomponentsofnurturingenvi-ronmentsforyouth.

ThequestionsinthesurveycovertheextenttowhichlocalcommunitiesprovidethefivefundamentalresourcesidentifiedbyAmerica'sPromise(ongoingrelationshipswithcaringadults,safeplacesandstructuredactivitiesduringnon-schoolhours,ahealthystartforahealthyfuture,mar-ketableskillsthrougheffectiveeducation,andopportuni-tiestolearn)andthe40"buildingblocksofhumandevel-opment"thattheSearchInstitutehasfoundtobeimpor-tantinencouragingyouthtothrive(suchasfamilysupportandcommunication,perceptionsofsafety,positiveadultrolemodels,youthprograms,schoolengagement,andpeacefulconflictresolution).

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IndicatorsofPositiveDevelopmentConference(continued)

OtherpapersincludedtopicssuchaspositivebehaviorsbyDr.SilviaEppsandcolleagues,prosocialorientationandcommunityservicebyDrs.PeterScalesandPeterBenson,leisuretimeactivitiesbyDrs.SandyHofferthandSallyCurtin,healthyhabitsamongadolescentsbyDr.

KathleenMullanHarrisandcolleagues,adolescentactivityparticipationbyDrs.BonnieBarberandMargaretStone,civicengagementbyDr.ScottKeeterandcolleagues,fru-gality,generosity,andmaterialismbyDr.TimKasser, aswellasaracelessnessscalebyDr.VelmaMcBrideMurryandcolleagues,andanethnicidentityscalebyDr.AdrianaJ.Umana-Taylor.

Reactiontotheconferencebyparticipantsaswellaspaperauthorsanddiscussantswasverypositive.KatherineWallman,chiefstatisticianfromtheOfficeofManagementandBudget,indicatedthatthefederalgovernmentisreceptivetotheideaofincludingnewpositiveindicators.Sheaskedtheresearchcommunitytoincludehercolleaguesinthefederalstatisticalsysteminthedialogue,andtoshareknowledgethatisbeingdevelopedonbothsidesonhow

toimprovesurveysandmeasuresofchilddevelopment.Dr.KristinMoore,ChildTrendsPresident,expressedherhopeduringthewrap-upforcontinuedcollaborationwithandamongthepaperauthorsinordertocompletepsycho-metricwork,examineconstructsindiversepopulations,andassesstheirprospectivevalidity,withtheultimategoalofemphasizingthepositivedevelopmentofchildren.

ChildTrendsisplanningtopublishthepaperspresented

atthisconferencewithinthenextyear.AspecialeditionofTheJournalofAdolescentandFamilyHealthwillhighlightfivepapersfromtheconference,andaneditedbookofconferencepaperswillbepublishedinearly2004byKluwerAcademic/PlenumPressentitledConceptualizingandMeasuringIndicatorsofPositiveDevelopment: WhatDoChildrenNeedtoFlourish? Awrittenconferencesum-marycanalsobeobtainedbycontactingChildTrends.

Thissummaryincludespsychometricdetailsaboutthepapers,aswellasaudiencediscussionandcomments.

TheBureauofLaborStatisticsprovidedconferencespace.Inaddition,fundingfortheconferencewasprovidedbythefollowingorganizations:ChildandFamilyResearchNetworkoftheNationalInstituteofChildHealthandHumanDevelopment;EdnaMcConnellClarkFoundation;FederalInteragencyForumonChildandFamilyStatistics;MacArthurNetworkonSuccessfulPathwaysThroughMiddleChildhood;JohnTempletonFoundation;theOfficeoftheAssistantSecretaryforPlanningandEvaluation;

andtheFamilyandYouthServicesBureau,AdministrationforChildrenandFamilies,U.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices.

Formoreinformation,ortoobtainacopyofthewrittenconferencesummary,

BaltimoreNeighborhoodsbytheNumber

TheBaltimoreNeighborhoodIndicatorsAllianceiscom-posedofdiversegroupscommittedtopromoting,support-ing,andmakingbetterdecisionsusingaccurate,reliable,andaccessibledataandinformationforimprovingthequalityoflifeinBaltimoreCityneighborhoods.

ThisuniqueAlliancebuildsonandcoordinatestherelatedworkofcitywidenonprofitorganizations,cityandstategovernment,neighborhoods,foundations,businessesanduniversities.Thegoalistosupportandstrengthentheprincipleandpracticeofwell-informeddecisionmakingforchangetowardasharedlong-termvisionofstrongneigh-borhoodsandathrivingcity.

TheAlliancerecentlylaunchedanewprogramthatwillhelpBaltimoreresidentsstayupdatedabouttheconditionoftheirneighborhoodsandcity.TheAlliancedevelopedVitalSignsforBaltimoreNeighborhoodstomeasureprogressovertimetowardcommonneighborhoodout-comesandgoalsthatcharacterizestrongneighborhoodsandathrivingcityusingspecificindicatorsastheVitalSigns.

TheseVitalSignsweredevelopedthroughacomprehen-sivecommunity-drivenprocessusingstandardcriteriaforgoodindicators,andbringtogethertheworkofseveralindicatoranddataprovidersinBaltimoreCity—suchastheFamilyLeague/BaltimoreCityDataCollaborative,cityagenciesandothersinaneighborhoodframework.

Likethe"vitalsigns"adoctorusestodetermineapatient'shealth,theseindicatorsareBaltimore'sVitalSigns—usefulmeasuresofthehealthandstrengthofBaltimoreneigh-borhoodsovertime. Theprojectprovidesdataabout

manyimportantindicatorsofneighborhoodquality,suchaspopulationandresources,asarticulatedbynumerousstakeholdersincludingresidents,agencies,businesses,

andothers.Indicatorsincludedintheprojectaredividedintoseventopicalareas:housingandcommunitydevelop-ment;childrenandfamilyhealth,safetyandwell-being;workforceandeconomicdevelopment;sanitation;urbanenvironmentandtransit;educationandyouth;andneigh-borhoodactionandsenseofcommunity.

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OregonBenchmarks:SocialIndicatorsandPolicy inatimeofFiscalDistress(continued)

Whilerecognizingthatindicatorscannotestablishcausali-ty,theOPBhasworkedtowardslinkingpublicresourcestoresultsinamoremeaningfulway. Stateagenciesarerequiredtolinktheirresults-basedperformancemeasurestoOregonBenchmarks,manyofwhichareatthecoreofthemissionofstateagencies. Anevaluationofwhethertheseperformancemeasuresmeetspecifiedcriteriaisconductedduringthebudgetprocess.TheOPBhasbeeninstrumentalindevelopingguidelinesforthestateagen-ciestocreateperformancemeasuresandtargets(theseguidelinesareavailableonthewebsite),whichwerenec-essaryforbudgetapproval.

OneweaknessinOregon'sapproachisthatstateagen-cies(andnotjustinOregon)tendtodeveloptheirbudgetsandperformancemeasuresinisolation,eventhoughtheirgoalsmaybesimilartothoseofotheragencies. Tocount-erthisweakness,OPBwillproposethatafewkeyadmin-istrationpriorities,likechildwell-being,receivespecialtreatmentinthenextbudgetcycle.Underthisapproach,relevantagencydirectorsandstatepartnerswoulddevel-opkey"drivers"andprioritiesforchildwell-being,overall,

inadvanceofthenextbudgetprocess.Illuminatingthegoalsandbenchmarksofeachagencyconcernedwithchildwell-beingwill,theBoardhopes,shedlightonareasofchildwell-beingthatoverlaporreceivetoolittleatten-tion.Thegoalofthisexerciseisnotoneof'totalintegra-tion,'butratheragoalofcooperationforimprovingchil-dren'swell-being. Ifthisexerciseprovesfruitful,otherareaswillbeidentifiedforsuchareview.

Tryensexpressesenthusiasmforthepotentialofthisprocesstodevelopindicatorstoinformpolicydecisions,butalsoemphasizesthatitisimportantthatwe"notlosesightoftheoriginalvision"intheprocess,whichincludesqualityjobsforallOregonians;safe,caringandengagedcommunities;andhealthy,sustainablesurroundings.

ThemostrecentassessmentoftheOregonBenchmarks,releasedinMarchofthisyear,canbefoundalongwithotherresourcesmentionedinthisarticleat

BaltimoreNeighborhoodsbytheNumber(continued)

TheAllianceintroducedtheVitalSignsinitsbaselinereport,theVitalSignsforBaltimoreNeighborhoodsReport,launchedinNovemberof2002. Ratherthanmeasuringspecificprograms,theVitalSignsattempttoprovideacommonframeworkbywhichallstakeholderscanknowthechangingconditionsofBaltimoreneighbor-hoodsovertime;understandthepotentialimpacttheiractions,strategies,andinitiativeshaveonthosecondi-tions;andaddresstheneedsstrategicallyandcoopera-tivelyforlong-termneighborhoodimprovement.

Thisreportincludesanoverarchingvision,generalizedgoals,andspecificindicatorsforeachoftheseventopicalareas.Thesevisions,goals,andindicatorscanalsobeviewedontheAlliancewebsite(

Overtime,TheAlliancewilltrackchangesintheseVitalSignsattheneighborhoodlevel,allowingresearchers,citi-zensandpolicy-makerstobetterunderstandtrendswithinBaltimore'sneighborhoods.Themid-cycleupdateoftheVitalSignsforBaltimore'sNeighborhoodsisexpectedto

bereleasedinOctoberofthisyear,andwillprovidethefirstopportunityforuserstotracktrendsinthemeasuredindicatorsovertime.

Formoreinformationaboutthisproject,pleasevisitthe

Alliancewebsiteat

Theinitialreport,VitalSignsforBaltimoreNeighborhoods,isavailablefordownloadat

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