Strategies for Improving Response Rates Minnesota’s First Year Success Family Outcomes Surveys

We are home to… The Mall of America The first professional wrestler to hold the office of Governor The headwaters of the Mississippi River The world’s largest ball of twine Yes, that says “twine”

Why am I up here today? 76%

Key Decisions What tool to use? How often to distribute it? To who? By whom? How to get it back? Follow up?

Which Tool? Considered –NCSEAM –ECO –Developing our own Minnesota’s adopted the ECO Survey –Length –Readability –Question Format

Distributed to…..? Considered –Sample –Universal Distribution Minnesota surveys all families

Survey Format Considered Web-based Scantron Pencil/Paper MN uses a paper version of the ECO survey. Child’s MARSS number is printed on survey

Frequency of Distribution Considered –Pre/post –Annually –One time per family Adopted a one-time approach –Families receive a survey at exit from Part C –Turn 3 or exit for another reason

Distribution Methodology Surveys are handed to families during a home visit around the time of exit from Part C. Given by the family’s service coordinator or Primary Service Provider Provided training on “talking points”

Talking Points Each family’s answers are private They will not be shared directly with program staff Responses will be combined with responses from other families to create a statewide and local picture of the early intervention system Information will be used to help make programs stronger

Language or Literacy Barriers Districts use interpreters when necessary** When literacy is a barrier, districts use a staff member who is NOT a service provider to gather responses through an interview (**Now available in multiple languages)

Available Languages Arabic, Cambodian, Croatian, Hmong, Laotian, Simplified Chinese, Oromo, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Vietnamese & English.

Method of Return Family given an envelop with proper postage Addressed to the MN Department of Education Minnesota utilizes an intentional lack of follow-up

First “Year’s” Data Implemented the survey process on April 1, /2007 SPP included 3 months’ worth of data 530 families eligible to receive the survey 403 surveys returned