1. Opportunities for Growth
Spark NH
Survey Summaries and
Opportunities for Growth
Peter Antal, Ph.D.
Antal Consulting, LLC

2. Committee Survey - Highlights
31 of 80 completed the survey (39%)
Multiple indicators of the collaborative work of Spark NH (active participation, valuing of opinions, well informed, effective structure).
Strong positive outcomes:
100% agreed that Spark NH was successful in creating a common message on the importance of early childhood
93% agreed that Spark NH was successful in raising awareness of the importance of early childhood
83% agreed that Spark NH was successful in contributing to cross agency collaboration
79% agreed that Spark NH was successful in creating an effective coordinating structure for the improvement of early childhood systems and services AND that Spark contributed to the development of an early childhood system in NH

3. Committee Survey Challenges - Family Representation
Ratings for family participation / representation are fairly low compared to other topics included in the survey. Among those responding, less than half (36%) had either moderately (33%) or greatly (3%) agreed with this statement.

5. Committee Survey Concerns & Recommendations
Committee Representation
I think that the committee needs more consistent representation from family support and health. We have only the voices of family members at the current table who are there serving other capacity and just happen to also be parents.
Inclusion of more field staff in groups, not just management level staff
Our committee needs more child care providers. It often feels like recommendations are being made without an understanding on their real world application in the field.
The Policy Committee would benefit from in depth knowledge of the budgets of the Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration, Bureau of Maternal Health, Behavioral Health etc. to effectively strategize for inclusion or support of its goals.

6. Committee Survey Concerns & Recommendations
Group Facilitation
Bios would help facilitate introductions - create a booklet for each committee to keep meeting time focused on content.
Provide the opportunity to attend meeting by ZOOM or some other tool. We have been able to join by phone but you often cannot hear all the members of the group. Guidance on strategies to include virtual members may be helpful.
Of note, 19% of respondents did not agree that they were well informed about Spark NH activities outside their committee

7. Levels of Collaboration - Highlights
Note: Limitations on survey tool
10 completions (56% response rate)
Participants desired a similar or greater level of collaboration with the agencies listed.
A number of agencies showed fairly low (<1) levels of current collaboration: NH Head Strat Parent Advisory, Pediatric Society, NH Association of School Principals, NH Head Start Assoc, NH College and University Council
A number of agencies showed a strong potential for growth as measured by differences between current ratings of collaboration against desired levels of collaboration (particularly for Behavioral Health, Head Start Parent Advisory, and NH Legislators)

9. Key Informant Survey - Highlights
Expansion in participant pool from last year, 17 of 36 participated (47%). Includes representatives from multiple state departments, foundations, parent groups, regional collaboratives, and advocacy groups
Strong support for there being an effective advocacy community (77%)
Three quarters of respondents suggest that early childhood service organizations address the need of the whole child
Yet…Limited perception that agencies share information to improve coordination, that there is equal representation in the early childhood system, that funding is effectively blended, or that families have one door access to services
Coordination of services is primarily seen at the organizational level (44%), less so at the family, local or regional level, and especially at the State level.

12. Discussion

13. Items for Discussion – Building Collaborative Partnerships
Among those agencies that are viewed with fairly low levels of collaboration (NH Head Strat Parent Advisory, Pediatric Society, NH Association of School Principals, NH Head Start Assoc, NH College and University Council), are there any that the Council wants to focus on and build stronger partnership with?
Some agencies (particularly Behavioral Health) showed a fairly substantive difference between current vs. desired levels of collaboration among partners. What steps can Spark NH take to help facilitate the achievement of higher levels of collaboration? What does a more integrated Spark NH / Behavioral Health system look like in terms of joint activities?

14. Items for Discussion – Systems Integration
Coordination among different geographic levels continues to be a challenge, with coordination among organizations appearing to be the most frequent based on respondent perspectives, and coordination at the state level is perceived as occurring only infrequently. Challenges identified in representation, coordination of services, blending funding, and offering comprehensive services to children.
Among the various elements that can define an integrated system (one door access, effective coordination, equal representation, blended funding, sharing of information, effective advocacy community, addressing needs of whole child, children’s outcomes improving), which aspects can Spark NH have an impact on? Of these, which are most critical to address?
What else can Spark NH be doing to build on and expand some of the successes experienced at the regional level among the different projects it supports?
Are there other areas that Spark NH can engage in to further strengthen the early childhood system?

16. Items for Discussion - Representation
Family representation has been a challenge discussed for several years now. For 2018/2019, what specific steps can Spark NH take to ensure that family needs are represented in the ongoing work of Spark NH?
What other groups does Spark NH need to seek out greater collaborations with? (e.g. Health?)

17. Items for Discussion – Progress on Framework for Action Policies at the State Level

18. Items for Discussion – Framework for Action
From these areas, are there any that you don’t agree with? Why?
Should we make any changes to Spark NH’s work based on that feedback?

19. Next Steps?