Participatory Framework Knowledge, skills and dispositions to create and sustain change are distributed across groups, settings and levels of the system. 1

Participatory Framework for Advancing Research and Policy to Practice The Learning and Doing Factor Decision-makers, practitioners and intended beneficiaries build a shared agenda Create dialogue across groups around issues Create dialogue across levels of scale around issues Build Communities of Practice around issues Measure progress on a variety of indicators The Knowledge Factor Research and policy information is communicated to practitioners and intended beneficiaries Connect to federal and state agencies Connect to federally supported TA Assess stakeholder information needs Coalesce stakeholders around common issues The Reflection Factor Stakeholders communicate what has been learned and what should be done to close the research/policy-to-practice gap Create forums for practice informed dialogue and learning Craft new approaches based on the learnings Increase the capacity to advance effective practice by building a collaborative culture across TA, states and stakeholders The Relationship Factor Key stakeholder groups leverage new opportunities to build understanding Engage national organizations Connect to state affiliates Develop tools to translate information to target audiences Utilize high value communication vehicles and venues Articulate the perspectives of these audiences 2

Why a ‘Participatory Framework’? Grounded in the belief that the knowledge, skills and dispositions to create and sustain change are distributed across groups, roles, settings and levels of the system. Seeks to learn what works through engagement Seeks to learn why certain interactions build deeper understanding and value to the individual and the organization Seeks to learn how deeper understanding can influence behavior change 3