Boosting the Impact of a Foundation
Community Science helps measure progress
 How does the work of Community Science directly impact a foundation's efforts to help its grantees? We talked to Jane Mosley, PhD, Program Officer for The Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City (HCF), which works to eliminate barriers to quality health care for the uninsured and underserved in its service area.
The Change Agent: What particular obstacles does HCF face in working with grantees?
Jane Mosley: One of our key issues, a key obstacle, is in our ability to report on what the grantees are doing. Grantees are great at providing services, but collecting data and information to actually quantify their impact - that's a challenge for them. That's a need for them and not just for us.
To find out how Community Science is helping HCF overcome data reporting challenges, click here to read the full Q&A with Jane Mosley. | |
A New Model to Fight Childhood Obesity
Community Science completes evaluation for SHIRE |
Among the more challenging issues facing our poorest communities is childhood obesity. Marginalized communities face formidable barriers to healthy dietary habits and lifestyles including access to healthy foods and to recreational spaces for exercise.
Community Science has just completed an evaluation of a public education campaign intended to combat childhood obesity, managed by the Summit Health Institute for Research and Education, Inc. (SHIRE) and supported by the Office of Minority Health, a part of The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
Community Science's evaluation documents the effectiveness of SHIRE's participatory process in recruiting residents as 'peer counselors' for youth and adults to share critical information with the community -- to increase knowledge and change dietary attitudes. The public education campaign was significantly informed by resident input that shaped the program's messaging and implementation strategies.
For more information about the campaign and the evaluation, contact CommunityScience. |
Currency through Diversity
Realizing greater effectiveness through inclusivity |
 Foundations that believe in a just and equitable society must do more to address diversity and equality issues -- or risk failing in their missions.
Community Science's Dr. Ricardo A. Millett recently prepared a case study for Diversity in Philanthropy, a group committed to increasing field-wide diversity through open dialogue and strategic action to increase effectiveness and impact.
The report, Evaluation With A Diversity Lens: Exploring Its Functions And Utility To Inform Philanthropic Effectiveness, reveals practical insights to help foundations realize greater effectiveness through more inclusivity. To read the full case study, click here. |
A SenseofCommunity.com
Virtual community brings together scholars & practitioners
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Community Science offers a virtual meeting place for people with a scientific or professional interest in the study or application of a sense of community. Community Science has relaunched SenseofCommunity.com, bringing together international scholars and practitioners to post and exchange ideas. To make a connection or share an idea, click here for SenseofCommunity.com. |
| Conferences of Note |
American Public Health Association Meeting & Exposition November 7-11, 2009 Philadelphia, PA For information, click here.
The American Evaluation Conference
November 11-14, 2009
Orlando, Florida
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At Community Science, our mission is to develop and use the knowledge that can change communities and other systems. Our group practice of social change professionals is committed to building healthy, just, and equitable communities.
- Advisory Services
- Capacity Building
- Products and Services
- Initiative Management and Support
To discuss how Community Science can collaborate with your team, contact us at 301-519-0722 or info@communityscience.com.
Connecting Knowledge with Social Change | |
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"Community Science knows the foundation world. They bring their research skills and translate that work into the real world." |
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- Jane Mosley, PhD, Program Officer, HCF |
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"We appreciate working with Community Science because the staff understands our 'bottoms up' approach to behavior change. We listen to the community, take what the residents have to say, and incorporate their ideas into programs. Community Science understands our philosophy." |
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- Canary Girardeau, M.S., R.N.,
Senior Program Associate, SHIRE
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In The Community...
Community Science's Kien Lee has been selected to the Leadership Montgomery Class of 2010. Leadership Montgomery identifies a diverse spectrum of leaders in the community and provides a forum for them to address issues and effect positive civic change. |
Worth Reading...
The Other Poor and Forgotten
With a national focus on foundations devoting more resources to urban and racial minorities, have we forgotten about white and rural poverty?
To read the provocative article, The Great Philanthropy Takeover, published in the Wall Street Journal, click here. | |
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