ACTION
PLAN
October, 1991
In
establishing the All University-Community Consortium on Children,
Youth, and Families, the University of Minnesota acknowledged
that its impressive pool of talent must be more effectively coordinated
and linked with community expertise to maximize impact on the
lives of children, youth, and families. The timing for this consortium
is ideal right now because of heightened public interest and available
external funding in the area of children and families. For the
University to delay addressing the pressing human problems evident
in Minnesota and across the United States would be to forego an
unprecedented opportunity to translate our knowledge into action.
The mission of the consortium is to bring together the varied
competencies of the University of Minnesota and the vital resources
of Minnesota communities to enhance the ability of individuals
and organizations to address critical health, education, and social
policy concerns in ways that improve the well-being of Minnesota
children, youth, and families. A key strength of the consortium
is its ability to link with agencies throughout the state that
already serve children, youth, and families and to create synergy
in the service of achieving their goals. The goals of the consortium
address both general and specific issues. In order to build a
strong base of support, early efforts will include at least some
activities that have broad general appeal; as the consortium matures,
more focused activities might be targeted for specified time periods.
This Action Plan outlines an agenda of short-term and long-term
activities that will be undertaken by the consortium next year
and for the following four academic years. The plan grew out of
developmental activities during 1990-91, notably a planning retreat
that brought together 50 University and community leaders for
intensive discussions. Following the retreat and the preparation
of a proposal for President Nils Hasselmo, an expanded Steering
Committee was appointed in order to clarify the Consortium's long-range
goals and launch its program of work. As one of its first acts,
the Steering Committee developed this Action Plan to guide the
Consortium's actions and policy decisions. The intent of this
document is to focus and channel energies rather than restrict
or constrain them in any way.
Because the consortium grows out of a University context, this
plan will reflect the three facets of the University's mission;
teaching, research, and outreach. In addition, because the consortium's
actions are fueled by the passion of individuals both in the University
and the community committed to make this state, nation, and world
a better place for children, youth, and families, a fourth component
of the consortium's plan will be advocacy.
This action plan will be presented in four sections, each including
short-term and long-term goals: Teaching, Research, Outreach,
and Advocacy. This division is, of course, arbitrary; it is anticipated
that many of the Consortium's activities will serve multiple functions.
The report will also include discussion of actions necessary in
order to establish, maintain, and nurture its infrastructure.
TEACHING
The University of Minnesota already offers a broad array of courses,
both through day school and continuing education programs, that
focus on children, youth, and family (CYF) issues at levels ranging
from introductory undergraduate through advanced graduate work.
In addition, teaching is one of the key activities of the Minnesota
Extension Service, a vital outreach arm of the University. One
of the goals of the Consortium is to make University teaching
efforts more visible to the University and community and bring
already existing talent to bear on focal issues with which the
Consortium will be concerned.
This section of the Action Plan also includes public presentations,
panels, and forums to which both University and community audiences
are invited. (Of course, such events may also serve outreach,
research, and advocacy functions as well).
Short-term
Co-sponsor visit of economist David Ellwood for presentation on
September 25, 1991 (invitation from Center for Early Education
and Development; approved by Steering Committee 8/6/91). Consider
audiotaping presentation for use in Minnesota Extension Service
training.
Recommend that Senator John D. Rockefeller IV be invited by the
University to present a Carlson lecture (letter of request to
Dean Edward Schuh, 8/12/91; referred by Schuh to committee 8/20/91).
Investigate the possibility of a Consortium-sponsored panel on
"The Margin of Excellence in Schools": dramatic strategies that
work in schools for turning children at risk around (co-sponsor
with appropriate units such as the College of Education) {see
8/6/91 Steering Committee minutes for details}.
Long-term
Serve as a resource to the University administration when decisions
regarding programmatic CYF issues are being considered.
Establish task force to consider ways in which University CYF
curricula could be better coordinated or improved. The task force
should consider a number of recommendations, including but not
limited to the following:
a) Develop a brochure with CYF course-listings, majors, and key
contact persons;
b) Examine the University curriculum relevant to CYF issues in
order to identify both strengths and gaps; make recommendations
as needed on the basis of this examination; c) Examine ways to
develop closer linkages between the efforts of the Minnesota Extension
Service and resident teaching at the University;
d) Consider development of one or more all-University courses
on CYF issues at different levels, perhaps for general education
requirements, honors students, and graduate students. Explore
the use of appropriate technology, including the possible development
of a televised course for CEE/Independent Study that could truly
bring the University into living rooms across the state and make
University credit available for those desiring it.
RESEARCH
The conduct of research is a central part of the mission of the
University of Minnesota. Its faculty already include a substantial
number of CYF scholars with impressive international reputations.
The Consortium can work to magnify the effects of their individual
efforts and serve as a catalyst to stimulate synergy across disciplinary
and administrative boundaries. For many faculty, their strongest
link to the Consortium may be around research; thus, attention
to this component of the plan will be critically important in
order to attract widespread faculty involvement.
Short-term
Develop a link with the University's Office of Research and Technology
Transfer Administration (ORTTA) to stimulate faculty awareness
of RFAs and RFPs regarding CYF issues.
Develop brochure highlight CYF-relevant research being conducted
at the University.
Long-term
Select an action-oriented research project based on priorities
identified jointly by University and community leaders. Seek funding
for the project, take an active lead in conducting it, and disseminate
the results widely.
Prepare a catalog of existing CYF-relevant research data bases
on campus that have potential to stimulate secondary data analysis
and new collaborative research.
Consider the establishment of a "Center for the Advanced Study
of Children, Youth, and Families" which could attract and sponsor
or co-sponsor visits of scholars from around the world. This could
be as structured as a center with a physical location and staff,
or it could be more of a "concept" or informal mechanism that
would facilitate visits, publicize lectures and seminars, inform
departments about availability of visiting scholars, and inform
visiting scholars about relevant faculty with whom they might
want to interact.
OUTREACH
Relations between the University of Minnesota and the many communities
(broadly defined) outside the University are quite varied both
in content and effectiveness. Nevertheless, it is fair to say
that University-community relations certainly have room for improvement.
Meetings to day with community leaders have uniformly pointed
to the many difficulties associated with accessing the University
and its resources. They call the University "another planet" and
consider it not "user-friendly." The challenges range from mundane
(albeit very real) issues such as parking to difficulties involved
in locating faculty or programs that have specific types of expertise.
We view the Consortium as the community's "gateway" to the University
of Minnesota for issues concerning children, youth, and families.
The Consortium office and its staff can be a "first call for help"
through which CYF-serving agencies throughout the state can access
the University and its wealth of resources. In addition, the Consortium
can work in cooperation with the Minnesota Extension Service,
whose mission is to ring the University's research knowledge to
the people of the state.
Short-term
Prepare letter of intent for Kellogg Foundation regarding a proposal
to bring research-based information in the areas of health, education,
and welfare to the Minnesota community' coordinate closely with
Minnesota Extension Service.
Explore strategies for a University-sponsored CYF "presence" at
the Mall of America (discussions initiated 8/5/91). Develop brochure
highlighting CYF-relevant outreach group and services already
existing at the University (e.g., International Adoption Clinic
at pediatrics at U Hospital).
Develop an inventory of existing departments and programs on campus
that have CYF-related internship opportunities; publicize both
within the University and the community.
Identify key statewide organizations with whom we should communicate;
attempt to get on their agendas so that they are aware of the
Consortium and can communicate accurately about its existence
and mission.
Long-term
Sponsor a mechanism through which University faculty and community
professionals can "share" each other (e.g., through short-term
"loans," sabbatical swaps, formal evaluation of community-based
programs, collaborative grant proposals, etc.)
Constitute a task force to lay the groundwork for a Summit Meeting
on CYF issues in Minnesota to be held in 1995. The purpose of
the meeting would be to bring together key leaders of statewide
organizations concerned with CYF issues and in order to look across
their agendas for the common ground, to share experiences, and
to identify possible solutions. A key goal of the task force would
be to attempt to match the identified community needs to existing
and anticipated University resources.
Examine the feasibility of obtaining a toll-free number through
which citizens across the state could access the University regarding
CYF issues.
ADVOCACY
The rubric of advocacy encompasses work done on behalf of children,
youth, and families as well as advocacy with the administration
of the University of Minnesota on these issues. Because the Consortium
is an official component of the University of Minnesota, its advocacy
activities must be conducted within the appropriate state and
University guidelines. However, the issues confronting children,
youth, and families in today's society are so compelling, that
members of the University community should not in good conscience
remain silent when their expertise is relevant to decision-making.
Furthermore, the University of Minnesota administration itself
regularly makes decisions that have an impact on children, youth,
and families: for example, regarding faculty/staff/student benefits,
child care, family leave policies, promotion and tenure "clocks,"
etc. In addition, because many University students are considered
"youth," decisions affecting student welfare can be considered
relevant to the Consortium. This Action Plan proposes that the
Consortium serve as a consulting group to the administration as
it goes about considering such decisions.
Short-term
Constitute a working group to develop a set of principles (policies)
to guide programming for children, youth, and families in Minnesota.
Facilitate the activities of working groups that are addressing
conceptualization, restructuring, and delivery of services to
children, youth, and families in Minnesota.
Long-term
Commission periodic background papers regarding timely issues
for broad distribution, using models already in place under the
auspices of the Center for Early Education and Development, the
Minnesota Extension Service, Project Fact Find, and others.
IMPLEMENTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE
Despite the lengthy list of substantive goals outlined above,
the Consortium must invest some initial energy into establishing
itself and organizing in order to confront its goals. Progress
has already been made in the Consortium's planning year, but several
organizational tasks remain:
Establishing
the Consortium: Hire coordinator and support staff once budget
is approved. Develop working relationship between the new staff
and the chair, and executive and steering committees. Announce
and promote Consortium membership to University and community
people interested in the well-being of children, youth, and families.
Disseminate this Action Plan to the participants in fall, 1990
planning retreat. Draw on these people to play key roles in the
staffing of subcommittees and working groups.
Building
a Public Presence: Communicate the official establishment
of the Consortium through appropriate channels: a) to the University
community: through the Brief, the Daily, Update, the MAA alumni
magazine, etc. b) to the broader community: through a press conference,
a series of staggered press releases, etc. Work closely with External
Relations and the University Relations on this. Communicate our
mission to professional organizations in the state Establish strong
links to University External Relations office so that Consortium's
activities can contribute to the "good news" that the University
wants to communicate. Develop slide show for use in public presentations.
Produce and distribute a monthly calendar of events; distribution
can come from the Consortium office and by encouraging other agencies
to include the calendar in their own newsletters. Make brief presentation
on the Consortium to the Dean's Council, making sure to highlight
projects it has already facilitated (e.g., Multiethnic Research
Center). Invite interested Deans to attend a follow-up meeting.
Make Community Outreach presentation to Vice President's meeting
and to Board of Regents. Present an annual award to the effort
that best epitomizes the mission of the Consortium {If possible,
include a cash stipend with the award, specifying that the funds
be available for the work of the project.}
Creating
a Data Base: Develop data base ("THE ROLODEX") of the University
faculty and staff involved in teaching, research, or service relevant
to CYF issues {explore appropriate text- database software for
this; e.g., "Notebook II"}.
Organizing
for Action: Establish focused working groups for implementation
of key aspects of this Action Plan.
STEERING COMMITTEE, January, 1993
Robert W. Blum
Professor and Director, Adolescent Health Program, University
of Minnesota
Geraldine Kearse Brookins *
Professor, Child Welfare and Youth Policy Gamble-Skogmo Land Grant,
University of Minnesota
Robert H. Bruininks
Dean, College of Education, University of Minnesota
Richard Byrne
Assistant Director, Minnesota Extension Service 4-H Youth Development
Paul Carrizales
Director of Advocacy, Family Service of Greater St. Paul, and
Chicanos, Latinos, Unidos en Servicio (CLUES)
Martha Farrell Erickson
Consortium Coordinator
Donald Fraser
Mayor, Minneapolis
Harold D. Grotevant *
Professor and Head, Department of Family Social Science, University
of Minnesota
Marilyn Larson
Executive Director Action for Children Commission, St. Paul
Lee Luebbe *
Consultant and Member, Minnesota State Extension Advisory Committee,
Winona
Jeanne Markell
Associate to Vice President of Agriculture, Forestry, and Home
Economics, University of Minnesota
Jane Ranum
Senator, Minnesota State Senate
Richard Weinberg *
Chair, Professor and Director, Institute of Child Development,
University of Minnesota
