Turning Curves: An Accountability Companion Reader

Overview

Authored by Mark Friedman, “Turning Curves: An Accountability Companion Reader” is a companion resource to “Trying Hard Is Not Good Enough.” Promise Neighborhoods can use this resource to strengthen their capacity to: implement a Results-Based Accountability framework, use data to improve outcomes, and learn how to use Results-Based Accountability to achieve collective impact.

Trying Hard Is Not Good Enough

Overview

Authored by Mark Friedman, “Trying Hard is Not Good Enough” details the Results-Based Accountability™ (RBA) framework. Results-Based Accountability (RBA) is a disciplined, data-driven approach to move from talk to action and improve outcomes for children and families, at the local, regional, and national level. Promise Neighborhoods can use this approach to: accelerate their achievement of Promise Neighborhoods results, measure the success of their strategies and utilize these measurements to improve performance, and move into highly aligned action to execute a cradle-to-career continuum of services and supports. 

Creating the Container to Achieve Results

Overview

Authored by Patton Stephens, this tool describes the stages involved in creating a container for results. Promise Neighborhoods can use a “container to achieve results” to accelerate their achievement of Promise Neighborhoods results, create a shared accountability to results, and increase partner buy-in. 

Effects of Proximity to Supermarkets on a Randomized Trial Studying Interventions for Obesity

Overview

This study assessed whether proximity to a supermarket modified the effects of an obesity intervention for participating children aged 6 to 12 years with a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile. Authors found that living closer to a supermarket is associated with greater improvements in fruit and vegetable intake and weight status in an obesity intervention. 

Profile: Virginia Fresh Food Loan Fund

Overview

In 2013, Virginia Community Capital (VCC) launched the Virginia Fresh Food Loan Fund to enhance access to nutritious foods in Virginia’s inner cities, small towns, and rural communities. As a community development financial institution (CDFI), VCC supports small businesses and community development projects by offering flexible capital, investment opportunities, and advisory services.

Running a Food Hub: Assessing Financial Viability

Overview

This report is volume 3 of USDA’s food hub technical report series and provides modules, best practices, and financial benchmarks for different stages of business development for food hubs to assess their own financial viability and assist in making strategic business decisions to maximize profits and control costs.

National Equity Atlas: April Update

Dear Equity Atlas users,

Since we launched the Atlas in October 2014, we have wanted to include data that better describes the incredible diversity within broad racial/ethnic groups and challenges the “model minority” myth that impedes action and progress toward racial equity and inclusive growth.

We are excited to be taking a first step toward that goal by adding two new breakdowns to our “Detailed race/ethnicity” indicator. Now, when you go to that indicator, you can select “By ancestry” and see more detailed breakdowns of the Asian, Black, Latino, Native American, and White populations (e.g. Filipino, Jamaican, Puerto Rican). You can also select “By nativity and ancestry” to get a breakdown of the share of each group who are immigrants versus U.S.-born.

The below screenshots show the type of data that is now available. Note that we share data for any given group if there are at least 100 survey respondents. To provide some more detailed data for smaller areas, we also created broader geographic categories (e.g. South Asian, Southeast Asian, East Asian, Pacific Islander) that combine a number of ancestries. For a large, diverse region like Los Angeles, you will get data for many ancestry categories, while for a smaller, less diverse region like Charleston, you will see fewer of the detailed ancestry categories.

We hope you enjoy digging into the data! Here is a blog post highlighting some takeaways from the new data. In a few weeks (on May 23), we will be adding these more detailed racial/ethnic breakdowns to several of our economic opportunity indicators, including:

·       Unemployment

·       Wages: Median

·       Wages: $15/hour

·       Disconnected Youth

·       Educational Levels

·       Homeownership

Also, please let us know if you would like to receive more information about how to participate in the data release (including a social media toolkit and other support for writing op-eds, blog posts, etc.). Email Abigail Langston at abigail@policylink.org to sign up.

Thank you!

 

The National Equity Atlas team at PolicyLink and the USC Program for Environmental and Regional Equity (PERE)

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