Communicating Public Value - Output, Impact or Oomph?
Consider the examples below. What are they communicating: Outputs (e.g., # of people reached) and activities (e.g., conducted programs)? Impacts that occurred because of the program? Do they communicate a public value (e.g. do they answer the “so what” question—how is the community better because of the effort)? How can we give these more oomph?
· In partnership with Plomo Community Health and Extension-trained volunteers, 1,306 Dermascan assessments have been conducted. Sun safety education is stressed at health fairs, senior centers, and other public events. The goal is to encourage participants to practice safe sun practices.
· OSU Extension, Your County started the Walk Across Your County program to encourage residents to become physically active. In 2009, one hundred ninety two people enrolled in the program and walked 26,638 miles. Information on physical activity and nutrition was shared with those enrolled.
· Post-class evaluation forms from Your County Dining With Diabetes participants showed that 100% of the participates reported making some changes since attending class, 100% said they experienced positive results after attending the classes, 93% said they were more aware of food safety practices, and 85% reported they had lost some weight. Dining With Diabetes is a series of three two-hour classes.
· Twenty OSU Extension 4-H youth have helped Head Start students learn more about healthy eating and being physically active through an OSU Extension Your County program. In the monthly program Head Start students learn a nutrition lesson and try different fruits and vegetables or whole grain foods the 4-Hers have helped them make for snacks. Results from pre and post surveys on children by their parents showed a 42% increase in consumption of fruits, 29% increase in consumption of vegetables, 29% increase in breakfast eating and 29% increase in physical activity.
· $160,000 – With the financial support of the Your County Commissioners, the OSU Extension Family & Consumer Sciences taught over 200 nutrition programs in 2009, reaching approximately 4000 residents. If you use an hourly rate of $40/hr (which is approximately half of the charge for a consultation with a dietitian), then you begin to see what the cost would have been for those Your County residents if they had each paid for an hour consultation with a nutritionist. Because many of these programs are over two hours long, the number listed above is actually a low estimate of the value of nutrition education provided by OSU Extension Family & Consumer Sciences. Participants report increasing consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, as well as reducing the amounts of saturated and trans fats they consume. One vocational teacher shared that her students made comments for over four weeks straight (after a presentation) that their parents had been purchasing better breads and cereals (whole grains) as a result of the students sharing the knowledge learned in the classroom with their families!
Public Value Statement Examples
Here are two examples of public value statements that begin to relay the larger community benefits of our educational programs. Notice the components:
1. Start with “When you support OSU Extension Family and Consumer Sciences.”
2. Describe the program effort.
3. Describe the program participant benefits.
4. Describe the larger community benefits.
5. Connect the dots, using compelling statistics and/or other financial data.
When you support the OSU Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Personal Finance education program for first time homeowners, consumers and homeowners will adopt better money management strategies through the practice of debt management, tracking spending and saving monthly. This benefits each individual’s saving plan and retirement options and lessens the negative impact on state and community resources allocated for bankruptcy, foreclosure and job losses. Your county has had 914 foreclosures in 2009.
When you support the OSU Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Nutrition education programs, consumers and participants that are food stamp recipients will adopt new habits in purchasing fruits and vegetables, consuming a daily minimum of 3-5 servings. This practice leads to a healthier body and weight control. Healthier workers take fewer days off from work and have lower overall healthcare. A recent study puts the costs of healthcare for Ohioans at ….
In groups, rewrite a couple of page 1 examples to transform them into compelling public value statements (or create your own).