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The health and safety of the community is our top priority. Given the rapidly changing context of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are in the process of determining when the next in-person engagement may be possible. We are also actively exploring alternative ways we might make the content of the training available, such as online offerings, and we will share news about that when we have it. If you are interested in learning more, please fill out the short form at the bottom of this page [1] and we will contact you when we have more information.
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Decades of research have shown it is possible to improve outcomes for children and families facing adversity. However, on average, the impacts of early childhood programs are modest [2], and they have not improved over time. So, how can we build better programs that achieve greater outcomes for more young children and families?
To answer this question, we created the IDEAS Impact FrameworkTM [3], a new approach to program development and evaluation.1 This framework enables us to go beyond simply asking whether a program works, on average, because the usual approaches to evaluation don’t tell us enough. What about the program works? How does it make a difference? Who benefits most?
That’s where the IDEAS Impact Framework comes in. It helps us understand the specifics of how a program works, for whom it works (and does not work), and in what contexts it works. It enables us to continually learn about and improve programs in order to make a bigger difference in the lives of children and families.
What will this training do for me?
Since 2016, the IDEAS Impact Framework Training has helped people in a variety of roles gain critical skills and knowledge. The training is ideal for anyone involved in the development, implementation, or evaluation of programs for children and families who is interested in learning how to go beyond the best of what the field has achieved so far. Past participants have come from a wide range of settings, including community-based organizations, non-profits, universities, philanthropic organizations, and policy/systems settings. Among other take-aways, participants have learned how to:
- improve the impact of their interventions,
- understand the underlying mechanisms of an intervention by co-creating an evaluation plan with multiple stakeholders,
- identify programs with the greatest potential to impact kids and families facing adversity,
- redefine how they evaluate program effectiveness, and
- orient their businesses around impact and reach.
What does the agenda include?
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- Opening Presentation: Three Principles to Improve Outcomes for Children and Families [4]
This presentation will cover three design principles that we can use to create and improve policies and programs for children and families. - An Overview of the IDEAS Impact Framework [3]
An introduction to the framework designed to help innovators overcome barriers and go beyond the status quo to increase impact.
- Opening Presentation: Three Principles to Improve Outcomes for Children and Families [4]
- IDEAS Impact Framework Component #1: Theory of Change [5]
Successful and impactful programs have a Theory of Change, a practical tool that pinpoints why, how, and for whom an intervention works or doesn’t work. - IDEAS Impact Framework Component #2: Program and Materials Development [6]
Programs should be grounded in science, made to be delivered in the real world, and continually improving to better meet the needs of those they serve. Developing high-quality materials to use in those programs is essential to achieving these goals. - IDEAS Impact Framework Component #3: Evaluation Plan [7]
To understand and measure your program’s impact, you need a feasible Evaluation Plan that will answer the questions raised in your Theory of Change.
In addition to these presentations, you’ll have opportunities to network with fellow training participants throughout the day.
Are you ready to create or improve an impactful program in your community?
How much does the training cost? What does the fee include?
The training registration fee is $550 (nonrefundable) and includes:
- All materials/handouts
- Morning coffee and continental breakfast
- Lunch
- Snacks
- Refreshments
Participants are responsible for their own travel and lodging. See below for more information.
Have questions?
Contact developingchild_foi@harvard.edu [9].
Post-training opportunity
Attendees who complete the IDEAS Impact Framework One-Day Training will have the opportunity to apply to participate in a future two-day, hands-on workshop that will help them apply the IDEAS Impact Framework to their particular program.
FAQ and Logistical Information
Location
Lodging
Parking
Sign Up to Receive Information About Our Next Training
The health and safety of the community is our top priority. Given the rapidly changing context of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are in the process of determining when the next in-person engagement may be possible. We are also actively exploring alternative ways we might make the content of the training available, such as online offerings, and we will share news about that when we have it. If you are interested in learning more, please fill out the short form below and we will contact you when we have more information.
Information on the Next IDEAS Impact Framework One-Day Training
1 The IDEAS Impact Framework was originally developed in partnership with the University of Oregon Center for Translational Science, and the University of Washington College of Education.