Research & Planning HomeHealth & Human Services - Research and Planning Division
Research and Planning Division
Publications, Presentations,
& Planning Efforts
New! 2010 Report
Mission
The Research and Planning Division will promote the health, well-being and self-sufficiency of all residents by providing information as well as planning, evaluation, and program development expertise to integrate and mobilize community and department efforts across issue areas, leverage and develop resources, and assure the quality of new and existing programs.
Our Team Approach
Because so many human service issues overlap, it is critical to have an intermediary team capable of creating comprehensive solutions. The Research and Planning Division uses a flexible, dynamic team approach to inform our community, find solutions, and foster action. Team members use their knowledge, skills, and community connections, developing intermediary strategies to address departmental and community needs in the most effective way.
A professional focus on community problem-solving uncovers innovative, collaborative solutions to our community’s complex human services issues. By analyzing the issues, establishing ownership of the problem, developing solutions, and ensuring the sustainability of solutions, the Research and Planning team builds practical solutions to complex problems.
The Roles of the Research & Planning Division
Inform Our Community
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Researching and analyzing community issues
- Identify evidence-based programs and solutions
- Identify emerging trends and legislative issues
- Compile secondary, authoritative data
- Conduct surveys
- Convene focus groups
Developing planning and resource development products and tools
- Create graphic representations of data
- Develop and support grant proposal processes
- Write community assessments and other analyses of community conditions and issues
Presenting and disseminating information
- Make presentations to policy makers and stakeholders
- Distribute products and tools through established community networks
- Partner to offer continuing education opportunities for professionals acting in the intermediary role throughout the community
Ensure Effectiveness
Our team evaluates programs, processes and outcomes to maximize impact. Related efforts include:
Conducting reviews of programs within our department
- Assess program policies and procedures
- Analyze program outcomes
- Recommend program policy and process improvements
Supporting local investment in social services
- Establish measurable outcomes and outputs
- Monitor performance measurement process
- Report findings to local policy makers
Developing evidence-based methods for evaluating community-level change
- Research evaluation tools and practices
- Focus attention and action on community-level indicators
- Collaborate with stakeholders to evaluate the impact of local efforts on community problems
Find Solutions
Our team promotes collaborative solutions to community problems by:
Building partnerships among diverse stakeholders
- Identify and engage key stakeholders
- Foster shared ownership of solutions
Facilitating group processes
- Manage ongoing collaborative planning and problem-solving
- Facilitate group problem solving sessions and retreats
Building community capacity for intermediary work
- Convene professionals who work in the intermediary role for peer development and consultation
- Train social service professionals in theories and practices applicable to work in the intermediary role
- Offer hands-on learning opportunities through professional mentoring and academic internships within the Research and Planning Division
Last Modified:
Thursday, February 9, 2012 9:53 AM
