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Developing a Framework for Evaluating Policy and Advocacy Activity at the Foundation Level
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| Presenter(s):
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| Charles Gasper,
Missouri Foundation for Health,
cgasper@mffh.org
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| Leslie Reed,
Missouri Foundation for Health,
lreed@mffh.org
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| Abstract:
Grant making foundations are increasingly involved in assessing various levels of governmental policy as one strategy to fulfill their missions. Recently, there has been an emergence of interest among foundations in understanding what activities are effective in changing policy. Critical to this evaluation is awareness of the operational model and how the various policy related activities support the overall goals of the foundation. Theory-based evaluation is used as a framework to link the activities and programs of the policy arm of the Missouri Foundation of Health to organizational goals and ultimately to the mission. In turn, selected activities, grants, and programs are further evaluated using the program logic model. Lastly, measures of process and outcome are developed based upon these frameworks at the master and lower levels. This presentation shares the process of developing these frameworks, discusses the successes and difficulties, and provides sample results of the experience.
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The Role of Policy Advocacy in Assuring Comprehensive Family Life Education in California
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| Presenter(s):
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| Claire Brindis,
University of California, San Francisco,
claire.brindis@ucsf.edu
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| Sara Geierstanger,
University of California, San Francisco,
sara.geierstanger@ucsf.edu
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| Adrienne Faxio,
University of California, San Francisco,
adrienne.faxio@ucsf.edu
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| Abstract:
As part of their 10-year $60 million Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Initiative in California, The California Wellness Foundation funded organizations to conduct policy advocacy to strengthen the types of policies developed at the local and statewide level. This paper describes evaluation data on a subset of these advocacy grantees that focused on California's Family Life Education policies. They accomplished noteworthy goals, including the passage of the California Comprehensive Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Prevention Education Act (AB 71), the prevention of California's pursuit of federal “abstinence-only-until-marriage” funding, as well as the passage of local school district CFLE policies. Grantee progress is presented through a five-stage policy change framework: Institutional Capacity and Leadership Building; Policy Issue Recognition; Policy Prioritization; Policy Adoption; and Policy Maintenance. Implications and lessons learned are also shared for advocates, policymakers and funders of other initiatives aimed at improving the health of adolescents.
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