|
Glossary
of Terms
AGENCY
A public or private organization acting for others.
AICC
American Indian Children's Council.
COLLABORATION
Joint efforts to achieve common purposes by sharing resources,
responsibilities, and risks across agency lines.
COMMUNITY
A place, or a class of people having something in common that
may transcend geography.
COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT
Is both a "process" and an "outcome":
- A process that builds the capacity of a neighborhood-or
population-to set priorities and control resources essential
for increasing self-determination.
- The outcome is increased access to and control over resources-including
organizational resources by local residents.
COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIES
A multi-faceted, holistic-not categorical- approach to solutions.
DIVERSITY
A range of characteristics around which people differ, such
as race, language, class, culture, age, gender, sexual orientation,
physical and mental ability/disability.
EVALUATION
Includes qualitative and quantitative activities that offer
an independent, impartial assessment about what changes actually
occurred and the extent to which agreed-upon outcomes were
achieved. It provides judgments about the process by which
those results were obtained.
GOALS
Broad directional targets to carry out the purpose; the end
result.
INDICATOR/BENCHMARK
A measure, for which data is available, that helps quantify
the achievement of a result.
MISSION
A brief, clear statement of purpose; tells "why"
the organization exists.
NETWORK
A loose-knit group of interconnecting individuals or organizations
exchanging information for mutual benefit.
OBJECTIVES
Specific measurable actions by which
the goal is achieved, consistent with
the purpose, and is time-limited.
OUTCOME OR RESULT
A desired end result and/or change stated in measurable, attainable
terms. A condition of well-being for children, families, or
communities. 5
PERFORMANCE MEASURE
A measure of the effectiveness of agency or program service
delivery. 5
PLANNING
The process through which an organized scheme to get something
done is developed; decisions that set a course of action.6
POLICY
A guideline statement.
PRINCIPLES
Basic standards or set of beliefs that shape behavior or influence
choices.
SERVICE INTEGRATION
The allocation of resources by multiple providers of service
from similar or different sectors to address the multiple
needs of a group of people served in common.
SPA
Service Planning Area.
STAKEHOLDERS
The sum total of individuals and formal and informal networks
with a vested interest in the quality of life-social, economic,
physical, and spiritual-of a community, population, or neighborhood.
[Formal networks = libraries, unions, service agencies, advocacy
groups;
Informal networks = resident associations, block clubs, consumers]
SYSTEM
Organizations that are linked together in
the provision of services/products (e.g. transportation system,
K-college education system, child welfare). An interdependent
linking of organizations that rely on each other for the exchange
of resources.
SYSTEMS CHANGE
A change in the way that people and institutions think and
behave to affect
fundamentally the types, quality, and level of resources and
services available to individuals, families, and communities.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Can be "substantive" and/or "process-oriented."
It includes a wide range of activities performed by an outside
person or group, professional or non-professional, that can
help a collaborative meet its objectives.
Technical assistance can fill knowledge gaps of individuals,
organizations, or communities (short term) and/or improve
competencies, i.e., individual skills, knowledge, values,
attitudes, and orientation (longer term).
VISION
A statement that expresses what a group is trying to build-aspirations
to be realized. It conveys an image of the future.
5Mark Friedman
6 Strategic Planning refers to
the creative process in which an organization can close the
gap between its vision and where it actually is now. It is
long-range planning that examines external environmental trends
and internal organizational trends, identifies specific strategic
issues fundamental to the organization's future, and formulates
strategies to address those issues with a conscious focus
on change. The what.
An operational or "business" plan
should result from a strategic plan, and provide a chronology
of specific actions/tactics to be taken to accomplish goals
identified in the strategic plan. The how. It includes the
identification of responsible parties, timelines, resource
allocations, and an evaluation plan that identifies specific
measurable outcomes to be achieved.
|
