Determining and Sharing the Public Value of 4-H: Helping Decision-Makers Get it! Nancy Franz Iowa State University Extension

The Hills in Their Glorious Heights The hills in their glorious heights Surround us by day and by night Sing praise to the hills

The Hills in Their Glorious Heights… The hills Challenge us Guide us Watch us Protect us Comfort us

Embracing the Public Value of 4-H The why and what of the public value of 4-H Current public issues and 4-H responses Determining the top ten 4-H public values Examples of 4-H public value Sharing 4-H public value

The Why and What of the Public Value of 4-H The Push for Public Value AEA 6,000 members Measuring Excellence databases Program planning and reporting Evidence-based movement Return on investment movement The political context Getting to more than feeling good about 4-H

What is Public Value? The value of a program to those who do not directly benefit from the program. Laura Kalambokidis University of Minnesota Extension

What is Public Value Service – No Facilitation – No Content transmission – No Transformative education – Yes

4-H Public Value Stories Teen Court Private – youth stay out of court Public – reduced court and human services costs Youth Leader Council Private – gain public speaking skills Public – sustain civil society through leadership development

Examples of Public Value Decrease in Medicare/Medicaid and other health care costs Increase number of public leaders Reduced need for public assistance Decreased use of human services Increased effective use of public funds Decreased public debt Decreased crime rates

Current Public Value Issues What are the emerging and current issues? Increased health care costs Economic recovery Public infrastructure decline

In Twos Discuss one current public issue that 4-H addresses List 2-3 strategies 4-H is using to respond to that public issue Select someone to report to the whole group

Determining the Top Ten 4-H Public Values Group discussion on top ten Group prioritization of the top ten

MEASURE THE END CHANGE, NOT THE JOURNEY TO GET THERE + new programs (1-3 years) show knowledge change + established programs (3-5 years) show behavior change + mature programs (5-10 years) show condition change

Measuring Public Value Potential Impact Questions: What did participants learn that will change conditions? How have participant aspirations or motivations changed that impacts conditions? (i.e. intent to change behavior) What are participants doing differently that impacts conditions? How much has a condition changed due to our program? Over time, how have communities changed due to our programs (longitudinal)

Measuring Public Value Collect and Analyze Data: Case Study Observation Focus Group/Interview Secondary Data Survey/Questionnaire

Measuring Public Value Collection and Analysis Best Practices: Hold data parties Volunteer and paid staff analyze data together for multiple perspectives Work for objectivity – fight bias Discuss negative and unintended findings Ensure confidentiality

The Basics of Public Value Story Telling Writing Effective Impact Statements: Who Cares? So What? Why Impact Statements? What is Impact? Writing an Impact Statement An Impact Statement Audience for Impact Statements Impact Statements Follow a Simple Formula atements.html

Creating Public Value Statements – The Public Value Story Template The magic formula: Title – short public value Relevance – why (match with results) Response – what Results – so what (economy, social, environment-cost/benefit, longitudinal) Contact information - who

We Have Succeeded When: People who are not directly participating in our programs understand and share our public value and we prevent further organizational decline.

Q&A Nancy Franz