OCOL - 3. Vitality indicators for the English-speaking community of the Eastern Townships

3. Vitality indicators for the English-speaking community of the Eastern Townships

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For each of the four target sectors for the Eastern Townships, i.e., youth, health and social services, arts and culture, and economic development, the task force constructed a vitality model (a logic model¹⁴ with indicators and data sources) based on the main objective of supporting efforts to enhance vitality. As the term suggests, a logic model communicates the logic behind a sector—in effect, the rationale from beginning to end. The logic model’s purpose is to communicate the underlying set of assumptions or hypotheses that the community has about a sector and why certain activities, initiatives or programs will provide a course of action that is a good solution to an identified problem. The logic model depicts the situation in a visual way to convey the relationships between contextual factors and the inputs and processes that result in some form of outcome. The structure of the logic model helps to focus on outcomes (results) instead of outputs (activities).

The results define what is to be achieved and the indicators define what is to be observed in order to verify whether, or to what extent, it is true that progress is being made. Indicators are signposts of change—they enable the verification of the status of development outcomes and the progress being made over time. The purpose of indicators is ultimately to support effective program planning, management and reporting. Indicators make it possible to demonstrate results and can also help in producing results—by providing a reference point for monitoring, decision making, stakeholder consultations and evaluation. Indicators are only intended to indicate—not to provide scientific “proof” or explanations about detailed change in all aspects of the program environment.

When selecting good indicators, the critical issue is credibility, not precision in measurement. The challenge lies in meaningfully capturing key changes, in other words, combining what is substantively relevant with what is practically feasible to monitor. The measurement of change should not take precedence over program activities that generate the changes to be measured. It is, at the end of the day, better to have indicators that provide approximate answers to some important questions than to have exact answers to many unimportant questions.

The following sections present the vitality models for each of the four sectors selected by the Eastern Townships task force committee.

3.1 Youth

The vitality model for the youth sector focuses on three main areas of activity.

Youth engagement: The English-speaking community of the Eastern Townships feels that youth are not fully engaged in community life. This may be partly due to a loss of identity within a majority Francophone milieu (which is compounded by the geographic isolation of rural youth given that many small communities are distributed over a wide area), and partly due to the fact that many youth continue to move away from the region for social and economic reasons. In the short term, youth engagement activities will increase awareness of the benefits that come with involvement in the community and improve the leadership skills of young people.

Youth support: The community believes that if youth are to be more engaged, they need to receive more support for their activities and their efforts, and their achievements need greater visibility. To do so, coaching and mentoring programs can be put in place, adults can participate more in English-speaking youth events and the talent, skills and enthusiasm of English-speaking youth can be given more visibility in the community.

Awareness and education: A significant factor to the sense of isolation being experienced by youth in the Eastern Townships is their lack of skills and education. Increasing awareness about the importance of formal schooling, improving French second-language skills and improving access to job training and job opportunities are believed to be essential to providing youth with the means and confidence to remain in the community.

In the medium term, these activities will lead to an increase in youth involvement in the community, an increase in community support for youth and an increase in benefits from better education and employment opportunities. In the long term, the English-speaking community of the Eastern Townships will benefit from the increased retention of youth, which will in turn result in a more dynamic and sustained future for the community.

Logic model: Eastern Townships - Youth sector

Indicators and data sources – Youth sector

Expect outcomes	Indicators	Data sources
Immediate: 1. Increased awareness of the benefits and opportunities of youth involvement	Number of promotional initiatives targeted at English-speaking youth Number of bilingual materials used by youth centres (i.e., Centres jeunesse) Number of bilingual youth working in youth centres Number and nature of collaborative efforts between the English-speaking community and municipal youth programs (that target the inclusion of English-speaking youth) Number of English-speaking youth representatives on boards and committees Attitudes of English-speaking youth regarding their community involvement	Community organization administrative records Ibid. Institutional and agency administrative records Institutional, agency and community organization administrative records Community organization administrative records Surveys of youth
Immediate: 2. Improved youth leadership	Number of English-speaking youth leaders in the Eastern Townships—in schools, youth programs (e.g., 4-H), businesses, etc. Number of youth-run business initiatives and start-ups	Community organization administrative records Institutional and agency administrative records
Immediate: 3. Increase in the number of support programs	Number of youth support programs serving English-speaking youth (bilingual or English-language)	Institutional, agency and community organization administrative records
Immediate: 4. Increase in adult participation in youth events	Adult participation (i.e., the number of adult volunteers) at English-speaking youth events	Community organization administrative records
Immediate: 5. Greater visibility of the talent, skills and enthusiasm of youth	English and French media coverage of English-speaking youth initiatives, success stories, etc. Awareness levels in the English-speaking community (at large) of youth activities and initiatives	Media coverage study Community surveys
Immediate: 6. Increased awareness of the importance of formal schooling	Number of promotional initiatives targeting the English-speaking community on the importance of formal education (i.e., by the provincial education ministry and/or the Eastern Townships School Board) Use (visits, inquiries) of education support services (i.e., guidance counsellors) Attitudes in the English-speaking community regarding the role of education	Institutional, agency and community organization administrative records Institutional and agency administrative records Community surveys
Immediate: 7. Increased French second-language proficiency	French language skills of English-speaking youth (including bilingualism) Number of French language training programs for English-speaking youth (outside the curriculum) Access to transportation for English-speaking youth to attend language training programs Participation in and success (completion) rate of language training programs	Institutional administrative records, census statistics Institutional administrative records Institutional and agency administrative records Ibid.
Immediate: 8. Improved accessibility to job training	Number of job training programs offered to English-speaking youth (bilingual or English-language) Number and extent of promotional activities that inform the English-speaking community of job training programs Access to transportation for English-speaking youth to attend job training programs Participation in and success (completion) rate of job training programs	Institutional and agency administrative records Institutional, agency and community organization administrative records Institutional and agency administrative records Ibid.
Immediate: 9. Increased awareness of job opportunities	Number and use of tools that inform English-speaking youth about job opportunities (e.g., Job Links, Topportunity) Number of English-speaking youth looking for jobs (applicants) Number and use of bilingual work placement programs (i.e., Carrefour jeunesse emploi) Awareness among English-speaking youth of job opportunities	Institutional, agency and community organization administrative records Institutional and agency administrative records Ibid. Survey of youth
Intermediate: 10. Increase in youth involvement and decrease in isolation	Participation of English-speaking youth in community events and activities Number of English-speaking youth volunteers Number and type of exchanges between English-speaking youth across the Eastern Townships (e.g., Townships Youth Link) Number of joint initiatives with French-speaking youth	Community organization administrative records Ibid. Ibid. Ibid.
Intermediate: 11. Increase in community support for youth	Number and type of English-speaking youth recognition awards and initiatives Number of adult volunteers working with English-speaking youth (mentors, coaches) Level of community financial support for English-speaking youth (donations, sponsors)	Community organization administrative records Ibid. Ibid.
Intermediate: 12. Increased benefits from educational opportunities	Number and type of education programs for English-speaking youth (including local courses, vocational courses and alternative programs) Student enrolment in education programs for English-speaking youth Number of graduates or number of diplomas awarded	Institutional administrative records Ibid. Ibid.
Intermediate: 13. Increased benefits from employment opportunities	Employment rate of English-speaking youth Success rate of work placement programs for English-speaking youth Level of bilingual services (number of bilingual employees) at Emploi Québec Number of apprentice opportunities available to English-speaking youth (with French-language proficiency)	Census statistics Institutional and agency administrative records Agency administrative records Institutional and agency administrative records
Final 14. Increased retention of youth who can positively contribute to, and benefit from life in, the Eastern Townships	Demographics – size of the English-speaking youth population Number of English-speaking youth who return to the region Renewal and growth of English-speaking youth leadership Number of English-speaking youth in special care Level of services required to serve English-speaking youth in special care (cost) Levels of self-esteem, confidence, sense of belonging and ownership among English-speaking youth	Census statistics Ibid. Community organization administrative records Census statistics Institutional and agency administrative records Surveys of youth

3.2 Health and social services

The vitality model for the health and social services sector focuses on two main areas of activity.

Building capacity: Access to health and social services is a priority for the English-speaking community of the Eastern Townships, and ensuring that the personnel capable of delivering direct health services in the language of the minority is an essential pre-condition. In the short term, recruitment and retention programs will lead to an increase in the number of health care professionals and make the English-speaking community feel more comfortable with the services offered.

Marketing and promotion: The English-speaking community of the Eastern Townships believes that the greater dissemination of information in English to health care professionals and an increased number of outreach activities for the community are required to engage the English-speaking population in the health care system and its programs. In the short term, these activities will lead to greater cultural sensitivity on the part of health care providers, and increased awareness within the population of the health care services and programs that are available.

In the medium term, these activities will lead to increased access to health and social services, a greater understanding of the health care needs of the English-speaking community by health care providers and an English-speaking community whose members take greater individual responsibility for their own health.

In the long term, the general state of health of the English-speaking community of the Eastern Townships will improve overall.

Logic model: Eastern Townships - Health and social services sector

Indicators and data sources – Health and social services sector

Expect outcomes	Indicators	Data sources
Immediate: 1. Increase in the number of medical doctors and other health and social services staff	Number of logged hours of health practitioners Number of doctors, nurses and other health practitioners Salary or wage paid to health practitioners Levels of financial support in terms of human resources for the health and social services system	Institutional administrative records Ibid. Ibid. Ibid.
Immediate: 2. Higher levels of comfort with health and social services	Availability and participation of health care workers in client service and English-language training programs Use by the English-speaking community of front-line health resources Number of requests by the English-speaking community for information and referrals Number of language-related health services complaints Attitudes of the English-speaking community towards health care professionals (particularly client understanding of diagnosis and treatment— how well are these communicated by the professionals?)	Institutional and agency administrative and policy records Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Client surveys
Immediate: 3. Increased cultural sensitivity	Distribution of information regarding the English-speaking community to health care professionals (number of professionals reached, frequency of distribution) Number and nature of interactions between health care professionals and individuals or organizations representing the English-speaking community Number of English-speaking volunteers working with health and social service institutions Number of French-speaking volunteers (from the health and social service sector) working with English-speaking community groups Perceptions held by French-speaking health professionals regarding the role of language in health care	Institutional and agency administrative records Community organization administrative records, interviews with key respondents Institutional and community organization administrative records Ibid. Institutional surveys, interviews with key respondents
Immediate: 4. Increased awareness within the English-speaking community of health services	Number, type and reach of promotional (awareness) initiatives beyond the traditional health and social service network that target the English-speaking community Participation of the English-speaking community in health- and social-service-related events (Telehealth) Awareness levels in the English-speaking community of health services (as a result of the promotional initiatives)	Institutional, agency and community organization administrative records Ibid. Client and community surveys
Immediate: 5. Increased access to health services	Use of front-line health resources by the English-speaking community Number of visits by the English-speaking community to health care professionals English-language media coverage of greater access to service Availability and ease of transportation for the English-speaking community to access health and social services	Institutional and agency administrative records Ibid. Media coverage study Institutional and agency administrative records
Immediate: 6. Greater understanding of the health and social services needs of the English-speaking community and inclusion of these needs in government policy	Awareness levels of government officials regarding the health and social service needs of the English-speaking community Changes in policy or the creation of new policies favourable to the health and social services sector of the English-speaking community	Institutional surveys, interviews with key respondents Government, institutional and agency administrative records, media coverage study
Immediate: 7. Greater responsibility taken by members of the English-speaking community for their own health	Participation of the English-speaking community in lifestyle modification programs (e.g., diabetes clinics, information sessions, healthy active living) Reduction in the English-speaking community of the number of smokers (including teen smokers) Reduction in obesity rates in the English-speaking community Reduction in drug abuse in the English-speaking community Participation of the English-speaking community in fitness programs, community recreation, school recreation, etc. Of particular concern to rural areas: Incidence of driving under the influence of alcohol (particularly among youth) Incidence of road accidents due to not using seat belts	Institutional and agency administrative records, census statistics Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid., institutional and community organization administrative records Institutional and agency administrative records Ibid.
Final 8. Improvements in the health of the English-speaking people in the Eastern Townships	Increased life expectancy in the English-speaking community—while maintaining quality of life Number of English-speaking seniors living at home (autonomy) Satisfaction levels and sense of well-being in the English-speaking community	Census statistics, attitudinal surveys Census statistics Attitudinal surveys

3.3 Arts and culture

The vitality model for the arts and culture sector focuses on three main areas of activity.

Building capacity: The English-speaking community of the Eastern Townships feels that more research needs to be carried out on the state of the arts and culture in order to have a better understanding of the socio-economic benefits for the community. In the short term, this research will establish a knowledge base of the arts and culture and its impact on the community.

Communications and marketing: The community believes that more effort is required to support English-language artists through projects and shows that promote local arts; in addition, more arts courses for adults are needed. In the short term, this support will increase awareness in the English- and the French-speaking communities about English-language arts and culture in the area.

Networking: A greater amount of exchange and collaboration is needed between the English-speaking organizations in the Eastern Townships that work in the arts and culture and those at the provincial level. At the same time, there needs to be more regional partnership activities with French-language cultural groups. In the short term, this will ensure that the cultural community in the Eastern Townships is represented at all levels of government and works with its French-language counterparts.

In the medium term, these activities will lead to improved levels of funding, a greater appreciation of English-language arts and culture, and a greater understanding of the needs of the sector on the part of those who develop government policy.

In the long term, the arts and culture will be a viable component of community life and will be recognized as the cultural expression of the English-speaking community in the Eastern Townships.

Logic model: Eastern Townships - Arts and culture sector

Indicators and data sources – Arts and culture sector

Expected outcomes	Indicators	Data sources
Immediate: 1. Establishment of a solid knowledge base	Depth and breadth of existing data specific to the arts and culture of the English-speaking community of the Eastern Townships Number and nature (i.e., regional coverage) of new research studies Number of consultations involved in the research studies	Institutional, agency and community organization administrative records Ibid. Ibid.
Immediate: 2. Increased awareness on the part of the English and French-speaking communities about the arts and culture in the English-speaking community of the Eastern Townships	Distribution or circulation of relevant research reports (number of copies and number of groups and individuals receiving reports) Number of publications and articles (French and English media) on the arts and culture in the English-speaking community of the Eastern Townships Awareness levels in the English- and French-speaking communities regarding the arts and culture of the English-speaking community (activities and events)	Institutional, agency and community organization administrative records Media coverage study Community surveys, focus groups, interviews with key respondents
Immediate: 3. Representation at all levels of government	Number of representatives from the Eastern Townships on arts and culture juries or agencies and other relevant government bodies Number of representatives from the Eastern Townships in provincial cultural groups such as the English-Language Arts Network and the Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network (members, directors) Number of consultations between the government and the arts and culture sector of the English-speaking community	Institutional, agency and community organization administrative records Community organization administrative records Government and community organization administrative records
Immediate: 4. Collaboration with and representation in the French-language arts and culture sector	Number of joint arts and culture activities or events (French- and English-speaking communities) Number of discussions with or presentations to government (English-and French-speaking communities) Representation of the arts and culture sector of the English-speaking community on French-speaking arts and culture boards and committees Representation of the arts and culture sector of the French-speaking community on English-speaking arts and culture boards and committees Awareness levels in the French-speaking sector regarding the state of the arts and culture in the English-speaking community	Institutional, agency and community organization administrative records Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Sector surveys, interviews with key respondents, media coverage study
Intermediate: 5. Sustainable and adequate funding	Funding provided by the federal government (Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Heritage and the Interdepartmental Partnership with the Official-Language Communities) Funding provided by the provincial government (Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec; Ministère de la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition féminine; Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport, for arts and culture in the schools) Funding provided by municipal regional councils and municipalities Funding provided by foundations Number of applications from English speakers for arts and culture programs and projects Success rates of the applications from English speakers for arts and culture programs and projects Number of non-professional English-speaking artists receiving funding support (requires changes in eligibility criteria)	Government, institutional and agency administrative records Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid.
Intermediate: 6. Increased appreciation for and participation in the arts and culture of the English-speaking community	Participation of the English-speaking community in arts and culture events and activities organized by the English-speaking community (attendance numbers and ticket revenues) Participation of the French-speaking community in arts and culture events and activities organized by the English-speaking community (attendance numbers and ticket revenues) Enrolment of members of the English-speaking community in arts and culture courses (including but not limited to adult education) Amount of interaction with artists in schools	Institutional and community organization administrative records Ibid. Institutional and community organization administrative records Institutional administrative records
Intermediate: 7. Greater understanding of the needs of the arts and culture sector of the English-speaking community and inclusion of these needs in government policy	Awareness levels of government officials regarding the arts and culture sector of the English-speaking community Changes in policy or the creation of new policies favourable to the arts and culture sector of the English-speaking community (i.e., funding eligibility criteria)	Interviews with key informants Government administrative records, media coverage study
Final 8. Vitality of the arts and culture and recognition that it is the cultural expression of the English-speaking community in the Eastern Townships	Number of arts and culture events and activities organized by the English-speaking community (collective and by region) English and French media coverage of the arts and culture events and activities organized by the English-speaking community Participation of the English-speaking community in the arts and culture sector (number of artists, administrators, volunteers, sponsors, donors, patrons) Employment in the arts and culture sector of the English-speaking community (could include English- and French-speaking employees) Number of self-employed English-speaking artists Economic contribution of the arts and culture sector of the English-speaking community (i.e., tourism and hospitality)	Institutional, agency and community organization administrative records Media coverage study Institutional, agency and community organization administrative records Census statistics, institutional and agency administrative records Census statistics Research study

3.4 Economic development

The vitality model for the economic development sector focuses on three main areas of activity.

Marketing and promotion: The English-speaking community of the Eastern Townships feels that the greater dissemination of information in English regarding regional employment trends and opportunities will, in the short term, increase awareness and understanding of the job market, the types of jobs available and the skills required to secure them.

Networking: The community also believes that improved networking support will play an important role in the dissemination of information and the preparation of individuals so that they will, in the short term, be in a better position to participate in the workforce.

Training: A significant factor to improving the participation of the English-speaking community in the local economy will be training activities, such as internships and entrepreneurship programs. In the short term, this will enhance the culture of learning in the workplace and contribute to the development of entrepreneurial skills.

In the medium term, these activities will allow individuals to take greater responsibility for their economic and social well-being and result in the creation of more employment opportunities, since individuals will be better equipped to participate in the local workforce.

In the long term, the English-speaking community of the Eastern Townships will become more prosperous and will be better able to adapt to changing economic realities.

Logic model: Eastern Townships - Economic development sector

Indicators and data sources – Economic development sector

Expected outcomes	Indicators	Data sources
Immediate: 1. Greater understanding of the job market and economic trends	Depth and breadth of available economic and environmental trend data (number and coverage of studies) Dissemination of trend data (in English) to the English-speaking community (circulation and reach of published data)	Government and agency administrative records Ibid.
Immediate: 2. Increased awareness of the economic opportunities available	Use of regional support group resources (Centre local de développement, Conférence régionale des élus) by the English-speaking community, including the number of visits, number of inquiries and number of applications Number of inquiries or hits on the Topportunity Web site Participation of the English-speaking community at job fairs Awareness levels in the English-speaking community regarding economic opportunities (extent to which perceptions reflect reality)	Institutional and agency administrative records Web site navigation Institutional, agency and community organization administrative records Community surveys
Immediate: 3. Strengthened networks	Expansion of existing networks that serve the English-speaking community (i.e., number of members, number of staff, funding levels) Number of emerging (new) support networks for English-speaking entrepreneurs	Community organization administrative records Ibid.
Immediate: 4. Improved preparation for and increased participation in the workforce	Number of English-speaking high school and post-secondary graduates Number of English-language or bilingual vocational education programs Number of English-speaking vocational education graduates Participation of the English-speaking community in other adult education programs and other support programs related to job preparedness Perceptions of English-speaking employees and employers regarding their capacity to work	Census statistics Institutional and administrative records Ibid. Ibid. Work surveys, focus groups, interviews with key respondents
Immediate: 5. Enhanced culture of learning in the workplace	Employer training expenditures that benefit English-speaking employees Number and nature of English-speaking intern positions Number of employers with intern programs accessible to English-speaking applicants	Census statistics, institutional and employer administrative records Institutional, agency and employer administrative records Ibid.
Immediate: 6. Enhancement of entrepreneurial skills	Number of entrepreneurial training programs offered in English Number of English-speaking participants enrolled in entrepreneurial training programs Success rates of English-speaking people who participate in entrepreneurial training programs Number of applications for business start-ups Perceptions of the business community regarding the entrepreneurial skills of English speakers	Institutional administrative records Ibid. Ibid. Government and agency administrative records Business surveys, interviews with key respondents
Intermediate: 7. Greater responsibility taken by the members of the English-speaking community for their individual economic and social well-being	Participation of the English-speaking community in community life Number of English-speaking people receiving social assistance Number of business start-ups	Community surveys, community organization administrative records Government and agency administrative records, census statistics Ibid.
Intermediate: 8. More employment opportunities	Levels of unemployment and underemployment in the English-speaking community (regionally and locally) Number of English-speaking entrepreneurs Number and nature of jobs accessible to the English-speaking community (permanent vs. seasonal) Availability of transportation to and from the workplace	Census statistics Ibid. Institutional and agency administrative records Ibid.
Final 9. A prosperous English-speaking community in the Eastern Townships with economic opportunities and the capacity to adapt to changing economic realities	Average income levels in the English-speaking community Working conditions (number of job-related accidents or illnesses, as defined by the Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail du Québec) Number of opportunities for job advancement for English-speaking employees Number of successful business start-ups (more than three years in operation) Job profiles of positions filled by the English-speaking community (i.e., number of Anglophones in a given professional field)	Census statistics Ibid., government and agency administrative records Employer administrative records Government and agency administrative records Census statistics, agency administrative records

Notes

¹⁴ The logic model and indicators were adapted from Connie C. Schmitz and Beverly A. Parsons, Everything You Wanted to Know About Logic Models But Were Afraid to Ask, prepared for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and Carter McNamara, Guidelines and Framework for Designing Basic Logic Model, prepared by Authenticity Consulting, LLC for www.managementhelp.org.

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