1. October 23, 2007 “ We are stronger when we work together.” The Watsonville Community Connections Collaborative Presents: Community Connections II: Strengthening Services for Families in Watsonville
Welcome; introduce self Give away first raffle prize (MB Aquarium tickets); must be present to win (2 nd set MBA tickets at end)
WCCC’s most recent accomplishment is its web site; want to thank Cruzio Internet for donating web site hosting and domain name; also donated coupons for half-priced dial up service in folders, give to families you serve Home page: overview of WCCC and recent accomplishments, meeting times, funders Merger b/w HelpSCC and CID: centralized resource info, convened agencies with existing web-based resource directories (F5SC and SCPL), feedback from staff who would use such a directory, resulted in decision to merge HelpSCC and CID Members: list of members, membership agreement WCCC Blog: another accomplishment, tool to promote interagency communication, Contributors sharing info re: events, services, emerging issues; instructions for joining WCCC Blog in folders Community Calendar: shared calendar to post meetings, trainings, events that support the WCCC’s mission anyone who request authorization to access the calendar and has Google account can add events; instructions for using calendar in folder Service Map: list of agencies in WCCC, locations/contact info; working on creating printable map in Disneyland-style; available on web site to download/print for families; must be member of WCCC to be included in map membership agreement on web Resource Fair in Spring Education on indigenous Oaxacan communities: AG focused on increasing awareness of translation/outreach services for indigenous Oaxacan clients, led to realization that need more education re: indigenous migrant communities; presentation from CRLA for WCCC, efforts led to topic for First 5 Brown Bags; audio recording and power points on web; additional resources will be added to web
All activities and accomplishments from the past year originated from Summit held last fall input and participation from you, our partners, has been vital. Which brings us to today… WCCC hosting this Summit to request your help with providing direction for the coming year Will start off with keynote speech by Diego Navarro from Cabrillo College’s DBA, will get us thinking about making shifts in the way we think about and approach services Break Come back for small-group discussions; will ask you to give us your input about how we as service providers can work together to strengthen services for families in Watsonville Call to Action prioritize issues to work on, ask you to get involved Closing, evaluation (in folder); MBA tickets raffled at end
Break Give away Spa Fitness gift certificate, A’s Carpet Cleaning certificate Want to build on WCCC’s theme of “We are stronger when we work together” and strengthen connections between the organizations that make up “the system” that serves families in Watsonville; also want to build on theme of paradigm shifts from Diego’s speech (15 min)
Formula learned in communication training: Event + Response = Outcome Event meaning action that occurs or words that are said; Response is what is said or done because of the Event; Outcome is end result
Going to change formula slightly so that instead of Event, will insert Challenge Challenge = common problems/needs experienced by families in Watsonville (poverty, lack of legal immigration status, illiteracy, unemployment, homelessness, physical and mental health issues, language barrier, family violence, isolation, substance abuse, lack of transportation, hunger, etc) Typical Response by organizations in “the system” is to provide services; this Response (the services) is intended to address the Challenge, but the services are usually developed/delivered based on certain requirements and criteria set by funding sources and the known universe of resources; which means services often provided in “silos”; perception that can’t change way provide services b/c of own agency requirements/mandates What Outcome do we get?
The Outcome we want is individuals and families thriving economically, socially, emotionally, educationally, physically (i.e. do more than just get their basic needs met), but often the Outcomes we get are barriers to accessing services, families slipping through the cracks, agencies/programs competing for resources, treating symptoms of Challenges vs causes, inadequate Responses to Challenges, barriers to communication and information-sharing, duplication/wasted resources
End up in cycle where Challenge reoccurs, same Response, same Outcome definition of insanity It’s not that individual agencies are Responding the wrong way; services are needed; it’s more a matter of how “the system” of organizations in Watsonville is Responding to these Challenges
If the Challenges exist and we want a different Outcome, our option is to change our Response Diego’s speech was about shifting paradigms when we Respond the way we’ve always responded, we get what we’ve always gotten and end up missing opportunities; when we change the way we Respond, we create a new set of possibilities and get a different Outcome The WCCC wants your help with improving “the system’s” Response to Challenges in order to get the Outcome we want – individuals and families thriving in Watsonville; when we say “the system,” we mean the groups, agencies and institutions in Watsonville that work with families – family resource centers, non-profit agencies, city and county programs, churches, schools, etc. some of you have already made paradigm shifts in your organizations, so it’s a matter of sharing your philosophy/approach with other agencies in “the system”; others may want to examine ways to make a paradigm shift in your organizations (and with each others’ organizations) that will impact the way “the system” Responds.
Going to have you work in smallish groups to discuss some of the most common Challenges (problems, needs) experienced by families in Watsonville; each group will discuss a particular Challenge, how the system currently responds and then brainstorm and prioritize ways the system can respond differently; want to end up with priorities for WCCC to focus on in coming year, will form Action Groups to develop specific goals/activities Small group instructions: divide into 10 groups (#s assigned on name tags); each group will have a particular Challenge to discuss (lack of housing, poverty, family violence, etc); introduce selves; select facilitator, recorder, timekeeper, discuss/answer questions, record group responses Group 1: Lack of housing (unaffordable, unsafe, overcrowded, unavailable) Group 2: Poverty/Insufficient Income (unemployed or unable to earn livable wage) Group 3: Lack of legal immigration status Group 4: Family violence (child and elder abuse, domestic violence) Group 5: Health problems (physical and mental health) Group 6: Substance abuse Group 7: Crime/Legal issues (violent crimes, gangs, juvenile crimes, fraud) Group 8: School Issues (illiteracy, drop-outs, schools/students unable to meet “standards”) Group 9: Lack of childcare (unaffordable, unavailable, inconsistent caregivers) Group 10: Disabilities (physical, learning, developmental)
WCCC Helpers read top picks from each group; Nicole record on flip charts Clarify, add context Combine/condense if obvious duplicates Have participants place sticker/dot next to own priority; WCCC helpers count dots; separate top 2 “vote getters” and circle, re-write top 2 on flip charts Give away SBDC workshop certificate and Swingtime Café certificate during counting. Ask participants to raise hand to show which action item they are interested in working on in an Action Group (ok to raise hand if plan to have rep from agency participate); fill out colored Interest Card in folder (leave on tables)