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During 1998 and 1999 over 150 volunteers worked on a strategic planning process under the able leadership of the Cambridge Group. That process led to 50 Action Plans in six strategic categories, which were approved by a 33 member Strategic Planning Group representing most sectors and communities. Those plans are now being implemented by a variety of partnering efforts.
1. Comprehensive Information and Referral System
Representatives from many sectors came together to plan a comprehensive information and referral system. The group studied the technology and software for the system, the components of the system, the expertise available to engineer start-up, the budget and the scope of the system. Like many 21C efforts, this initiative benefited from the strong interest of a key partner or group of partners. Integrated County Planning (Rockland CARES) played a key role in advancing this effort and now is spearheading the project’s implementation in conjunction with an Advisory Board, which includes many Team members.
2. Early Education and Care
This team embarked upon a parent support needs assessment which has enabled Rockland 21C’s partners to better address the needs of families with young children. They studied Home Visiting models and their track record in helping families maximize the cognitive, emotional and social development of their children. With our partners’ buy-in of this approach, Rockland 21C was able to introduce Collaborative partners to successful models. As a result five school districts have implemented the Parent Child Home Program(PCHP) model and Head Start has implemented Parents as Teachers.
3. Family Resource Centers
Begun as a way to link the newly created FRCs with a host of community partners, this Team evolved into the Family Resource Center Coordinator’s Network. This group meets regularly to share expertise, learn together and support one another. Rockland 21C provides them with resources and expertise in a wide range of areas including: program development, outreach strategies, program evaluation, and time management. The Team is vital to sustainability of Family Resource Centers in their respective locations.
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4. Out of School Time
Intent on increasing the quality of School Age Care, this Team worked with the Rockland Institute for School Age Care to achieve accreditation in specific school age care programs. Additionally, they piloted an Artist-in-Residence program in an effort to provide children in school age care with an extensive and challenging arts immersion. To address staff shortages in School Age Care, this team sought the help of Rockland 21C in developing a systemic integration with institutions of higher learning, realizing that School Age Care programs could also provide a meaningful work and internship experience for those students. A Higher Ed-School Age Care Think Tank was formed to begin this process.
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5. Youth in Transition
Recognizing that, despite the concerted effort to achieve the optimal development of all children some children and youth will face serious barriers to success, this Team focused on the needs of Out of School Youth. They explored promising school-community models, like Youth Build, in the hopes of bringing them into our community.
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6. Professional Development
Recognizing that it is staff quality and commitment that has the largest impact on outcomes for children and youth, this Team surveyed the ways child-centered staff across all sectors can benefit from existing professional development resources. In the process, they increased awareness among partners about who among them are offering professional development opportunities, thereby increasing the choices, they minimized duplication of efforts, and they proved that when these opportunities are shared across professional sectors the learning experience is broader and richer. Rockland 21C now sponsors an annual Symposium as well as various other multi-sector professional development opportunities.
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