The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #69483

Shari Golan, PhD, Policy Division, SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Ave, Menlo Park, CA 94025, 650-859-4007, shari.golan@sri.com

Improving the lives of California's young children and families is the ultimate goal of First 5 California (Proposition 10). First 5 California generates approximately $700 million annually from a tobacco tax, allowing California, for the first time, to provide major noncategorical resources to help its youngest children and their families. County Commissions use these funds to support the healthy development of young children in their counties based on strategic plans developed with extensive community input. Funds are invested in a range of strategies, including direct service provision, provider capacity building, infrastructure improvements, systems change efforts, and community-strengthening efforts (e.g., building social capital).

To support more effective funding decisions, program planning, service delivery, and policies, the First 5 California State Commission contracted with SRI International and its partners to develop and implement an outcome-based accountability system. This paper discusses the vision and goals of First 5 California, including the guiding principles and components of its evaluation framework. SRI International, its partners, the First 5 California State Commission, and numerous County Commissions designed the evaluation framework collaboratively. We will discuss First 5 California's theory of change and its parallel outcome-based accountability system, including state-, county-, and community-level infrastructure investments for data collection and capacity building.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Articulate goals, objectives, and guiding principles of First 5 California.
• 2. Define "outcome-based accountability system."
• 3. Describe major components of statewide evaluation of First 5 California.

Keywords: Evaluation, Infrastructure

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: First 5 California State Commission
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: consultant