MINUTES

Blueprint for Mansfield’s Children

Leadership Work Group Meeting #3

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Mansfield Town Hall, Council Chambers

5:30-7:30 PM

PRESENT: M. Baker, M. Barton, F. Baruzzi, S. Baxter, G. Bent, T. Berthelot, M. Capriola, R. Fields, K. Grunwald, C. Guerreri, R. Miller, R. Mocanu J. Osleeb, K. Paulhus, K. Russo, M. Sieve, J. Stoughton, B. Tanner, L. Young

REGRETS:  M. Feathers, J. Greene, M. Kelly, M. LaPlaca, J. McLaughlin, P. Michalak, M. Perkins S. Renfro, S Zacharie,

Item	Discussion	Outcome
Dinner, Announcement, Minutes	The meeting was called to order by co-chair, Raluca Mocanu at 5;35 p.m. The minutes of July 24 were reviewed.	Minutes were approved as written. (moved by B.Tanner, second, R. Fields)
Agenda Overview	R. Mocanu reviewed the agenda. Discussion: T. Berthelot asked for goals clarification, stating that she feels a bit at sea.  K. Grunwald suggested that feeling is a reflection of where we are in the process. S. Baxter reviewed the grant intention – to plan for unmet needs of children 0-8yrs and their families, To identify those needs and to determine who needs to be involved in meeting them (town, state, etc.)
Results Based Accountability Overview	M.Sieve distributed handouts on Results Based Accountability and reviewed them. RBA – a disciplined way of thinking and taking action to improve the lives of children and their families. RBA starts with the outcome and works backward, step by step, to the means. It moves from talk to action.	F. Baruzzi, S. Baxter, G. Bent and R. Mocanu will attend the four session RBA Institute in Hamden, CT.  First session is on 9/5/08
Creating a Common Language	M. Sieve distributed “Results Accountability Basics” and reviewed definitions:      Result – conditions stated in plain language that everyone can understand. (All children will be ready to succeed. In school.)      Indicator – measure that helps quantify the achievement of a result.      Performance measure - measure of how well a program, agency or service system is working.  How much did we do? How well did we do it? Are people better off? M. Sieve distributed a “Population Accountability” chart, which illustrates the steps taken to get from talk to action. S. Baxter asked where we are on the chart. We have identified the population and are ready to state our desired results. F. Baruzzi offered a summary of the population we have identified: Within 40 sq. miles, we have approximately 1200 children between the ages of 0 – 8.  We need to know where they are and how to find them. The number reflects individual children, not households. R. Mocanu asked if this number includes children who are home schooled. The number does reflect some of them, but not all.	The group will use this common language as we move through the process.
From Vision to results	M. Sieve reviewed state of CT vision (Ready by 5, and Fine by 9) and the state’s results: young children will Reach appropriate developmental milestones from birth to age 5. Begin kindergarten with the knowledge, skills and behaviors needed for success in school. Have K-3 education experiences that extend birth to 5 learning and ensure consistent progress. She asked if the group will adopt the state’s vision and results or create our own. Discussion points: State goals seem more appropriate to an urban community. These results don’t speak to Mansfield  issues and concerns. Rural communities have specific issues to be addressed – i.e. transportation, isolation. We need to look at the assets we do have i.e. working farms. State results are too narrowly school focused- should be more about well-being and nurture. State results don’t imply all that is necessary to be ready by 5 and fine by 9. RBA does not limit our vision or yoke us to the state vision and results. Its objective is for us to do more with what we have. T. Berthelot asked if we risk funding by not aligning our vision and results with the state. Will a unique set of results be fundable? R. Miller suggested LWG should do anything we can to be competitive for grants. C. Guerreri noted that other groups have taken the state’s results and modified them to fit their community. She also noted that neither the Graustein Fund, nor its partnership with the Early Childhood Cabinet require us to adopt the state vision and results. The group used three open-ended statements to generate ideas for the development of our vision statement and our results. We want children who are: In safe, adequate housing. Healthy physically and mentally. Well nourished with access to good food, health care, dental care. Loved, wanted, nurtured. Happy, tolerant, socially integrated. Curious, confident, peaceful. Well educated. Prepared to be educated to their highest ability. Unique, have their individualized needs met. Passionate about learning. Connected to the community. We want families that are: Supported. Aware of how to access services. Functioning well. Economically secure. Safe, non-violent, free from violence. Free from fear (of accessing community services). Ready to be families. Connected to other families and the larger community. Accepted for who they are (culturally, gender) Free from addictions and behavioral health issues. Optimistic about the future. Hopeful. Contributing. Confident they have something to contribute. Confident they and their contributions will be welcomed. We want to live in a community that (is): Open minded. Tolerant. Embracing diversity. Values families and children. Clean and green. Concerned about families and children. Inclusive. Accessible (resources and communication). Promotes healthy lifestyles and behaviors. Provides cultural opportunities. Responsive and cooperative. Vibrant with opportunities. Organized to provide what its citizens want. Values volunteerism. Integrated and open. (Events are clearly visible. i.e. 3^rd Thursday). Providing quality education. Caring. Friendly. Access, communication, connectedness and isolation are recurring themes. The next step will be to look at what it will take to achieve this. M. Sieve suggests we develop 3-5 results and 3-5 indicators per result. We want indicators that will speak to more than one aspect of the results. We need to give ourselves permission not to do it all in this plan. Possible vision statement: Families in Mansfield are connected to the community with a means to communicate their needs and an ability to access resources and activities.	The results of this brainstorming will be used by the group attending the RBA institute to develop our vision statement and our results.
Data Committee Update	K. Grunwald reported the amount of data received was overwhelming and raised more question for the Data Committee. M. Sieve noted that the way data is collected can give a misleading impression. She said there is nothing striking in the data reviewed thus far. A question was raised about data for parent involvement. K. Paulhus reported that information is hard to get.	Data Committee has scheduled another meeting for 9/11/08 at 5:30-7:30PM in Conference Rm. B
Next Steps	M. Sieve suggested the need to establish a Communications Committee. K. Paulhus asked for clarification of the committee’s role. To communicate with the wider community, letting them know what we are doing. To obtain the perception checks we need – are the issues we have identified what the community sees as significant issues? Are the unmet needs we have identified accurate? How does the community react to our results statements and indicators? S. Baxter noted the Advocates for Children group that has been doing one on one parent interviews is looking forward to meeting with  LWG to share the results of their work and to hear about ours. The question was asked – will this committee’s task be simply communication or will it involve data collection? Some of each.	Communications Committee decision tabled.
Wrap-up	K. Grunwald noted the recent establishment of an online newspaper for Mansfield. Mansfield Today can be found at http://mansfield.htnp.com
Next Meeting	Meeting Adjourned at 7:45 p.m. September 18, 2008 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. in Town Hall, Council Chambers Light dinner provided.	Note this is a change in date from the original schedule. Please RSVP for food count.

Respectfully Submitted,

Gloria Bent