Environmental Scan

Update #1 - November 30, 2012
Preliminary Patterns
These preliminary patterns have emerged from programs that have shown to be effective in engaging target audiences and promoting behavioral change.
  1. Expectant Mothers: Pregnancy is the ideal time to reach and educate mothers with early childhood messages since they have the intrinsic motivation to do what is best for their unborn child and they have a purpose larger than themselves, e.g. their child’s health and well-being. At this stage, you are attempting to promote generational change and break the cycle of the effects of poverty.
  2. Sustained Effort over Time: The effort needs to be supportive, regular, and sustained over an established period of time. Establishing a routine takes sustained practice. This allows the organizations to develop longer-term relationships with the participants.
  3. Active Involvement: The participant needs to be actively involved in the process. The participant must have control and the ability to make his or her own choices. The participant decides if they have the capacity to do the behavioral change.
  4. Partnerships: The programs have partnerships with multiple organizations.
  5. Assessments: Evaluations or assessment data is available showing a history of success at changing parental behaviors.
  6. Individual Attention: The participants work one-on-one with the professional in a mutually-respectful relationship.
  7. Group Dynamic: The participants are part of a supportive group with all working towards the same goals.
  8. Cultural Proficiency: The program respects and accommodates other cultures.
  9. Work through Existing Infrastructures: The program understands that they can reach families effectively through existing infrastructures where families already have long-standing relationships with trusted advisers.
  10. Fun or Gaming Element: Including a gaming element makes the learning into a fun challenge.
Programs
These programs share and exhibit many of the preliminary patterns that have emerged from the environmental scan.
  1. Colorado Migrant Education Program
  2. Cooking Matters by Share Our Strength (National)
  3. Cool Culture (New York)
  4. Dental Aid and Cavity Free at Three (Colorado)
  5. Family Place Libraries (National)
  6. Nurse-Family Partnership by Invest in Kids (Colorado)
  7. Nurturing Healthy Bodies and Brains: Allen County Public Library’s Partnership with WIC (Indiana)
  8. Raising a Reader (National)
  9. Reach Out and Read Colorado
  10. Ready to Read Corps (Columbus Metropolitan Library, Ohio)
  11. Ready to Read Resource Center (Alaska)