OCOL - 3. Vitality indicators for the English-speaking community of the Lower North Shore

3. Vitality indicators for the English-speaking community of the Lower North Shore

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For each of the four target sectors of the Lower North Shore, i.e. youth, health and social services, community renewal and economic development, the task force constructed a vitality model (a logic model¹² 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, progress is being made. Indicators are signposts of change—they enable the status of development outcomes and progress to be verified. The purpose of indicators is ultimately to support effective program planning, management and reporting. Indicators make it possible to demonstrate results, and can help produce 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 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. Ultimately, it is better to have indicators that provide approximate answers to some important questions than to have exact answers to many unimportant questions.

The following section presents the vitality model for each of the four sectors chosen by Lower North Shore communities.

3.1 Youth

For the purposes of this study, youth refers to two different age groups: 15- to 24-year-olds, and 25- to 35-year-olds.

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

Promotion: Members of the Lower North Shore English-speaking community feel that youth do not fully appreciate the possibilities of continuing to live in the area. Increasing the level of awareness through promotion and resource materials will help promote the opportunities that do exist and lead to more positive attitudes toward living on the Coast.

Life skills: Members of the Lower North Shore English-speaking community believe that youth require greater personal capacity to be able to live and work on the Lower North Shore given the geographic and socio-economic situation of the region. An increase in programs and activities that strengthen life skills, such as camps and summer programs, will contribute to an overall improvement in the ability of youth to continue living on the Lower North Shore.

Education: The Lower North Shore has a much higher rate of youth drop-out before completing high school than other regions in the province. Youth with an incomplete education have no choice but to leave the Coast as they lack the necessary training and skills (including adequate knowledge of French) required for the region’s limited number of job opportunities. An increase in new education and training programs adapted to job opportunities on the Lower North Shore will enable youth to continue living on the Coast in the short and medium term, and encourage others to return after leaving for post-secondary studies or work experience.

In the long term, the Lower North Shore English-speaking community will benefit from the increased retention of youth, wich will in turn result in a more dynamic and sustained future for the community.

Logic model: Lower North Shore – Youth sector

Indicators and data sources – Youth sector

Expected outcomes	Indicators	Data sources
Immediate: 1. Increased awareness of local opportunities and resources	Level of desire to return, or the perceived potential to return, to the Lower North Shore Youth attitudes (satisfaction) toward community Web site traffic	Survey of community organizations and institutions Youth survey (before leaving, while away, upon return) Record of Web site navigation
Immediate: 2. Increased level of skills adapted to living on the Lower North Shore	Number of programs or activities for youth (15-24 yrs.) Number of participants (15-24 yrs.) Level of participation by community, parents Number of certificates issued	Surveys of community organizations and institutions Community organizations’ administrative records Ibid Educational institutions’ administrative records
Immediate: 3. Increase in educational/training opportunities adapted to employment on the Lower North Shore	Number of programs or activities for youth (15-35 yrs.) Number of participants (15-35 yrs.) Number of certificates issued Level of youth (15-35 yrs.) receiving EI benefits, social welfare Number of youth (15-35 yrs.) involved in business establishment and employment growth	Surveys of community organizations andinstitutions Community organizations’ administrative records Educational institutions’ administrative records Government or agency records Ibid
Intermediate: 4. Youth return to or stay in the Lower North Shore to work and apply their expertise	Proportion of youth (15-35 yrs.) as volunteers Proportion of youth (15-35 yrs.) starting new businesses or finding new jobs Number of human resources available(number of client files opened, meetings held, etc.)	Surveys of community organizations and institutions Government or agency records Ibid
Final: 5. Thriving and vital community through youth retention	Number of youth (15-24 yrs.) programs or activities available Proportion of youth (15-35 yrs.) as residents of the Lower North Shore	Surveys of community organizations and institutions Census statistics and transportation users/usage

3.2 Health and social services

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

Promotion: Improved levels of information and better cooperation between government and communities will lead to greater awareness and mobilization for community members to take care of their health.

Research: Members of the English-speaking community of the Lower North Shore believe that more in-depth knowledge is required on the state of health and availability of health services. This can be accomplished by carrying out health profiles for each of the 14 communities in the region.

Planning: The English-speaking community of the Lower North Shore believes that strategic planning and concerted action are required to ensure the presence of appropriate health professionals and accompanying infrastructure.

In the medium term, these activities will encourage residents to live a healthier lifestyle. The quality of health and social services will be maintained and even improved, and there will be access to a full range of health and social services both on and off the Coast (individuals often have to fly to Sept-Iles, Québec City and St-Anthony, Newfoundland and Labrador, for services).

In the long term, the Lower North Shore English-speaking community will benefit from a healthier population.

Logic model: Lower North Shore – Health and social services sector

Indicators and data sources – Health and social services sector

Expected outcomes	Indicators	Data sources
Immediate: 1. Population is more aware of the benefits of a healthier lifestyle	Participation rates at information sessions Availability and uptake of health and social services documents Number of information requests Web site traffic	Community organizations’ and agency administrative records Ibid Ibid Web site navigation
Immediate: 2. Population mobilized to take greater ownership of health care (personal well-being)	Existence of community health profiles Rates of participation in recreation activities, adoption of a healthy diet, levels of substance abuse, participation in preventative health and social services programs	Community organizations’ and agency administrative records Government press releases, budgets, institutional documentation
Immediate: 3. Greater understanding of the health needs of the community	Existence of community health profiles	Community organizations’ and agency administrative records, population health statistics
Immediate: 4. Have the necessary health professionals, services and infrastructure in place	Presence of the necessary health professionals, services and infrastructure Number of health professionals in each discipline Number of local professionals Existence of all health care services (on and off the Coast) in both official languages Number of qualified bilingual professionals Levels of program funding Existence of agreements providing emergency services	Agency and government administrative records Ibid Ibid Ibid Ibid Ibid Ibid, media releases, community organizations’ administrative records
Intermediate: 5. Population actively living a healthier lifestyle	Levels of substance abuse Social indicators of a healthy lifestyle (weight, teenage pregnancies, etc.)	Agency statistics Population health profiles
Intermediate: 6. Maintained and improved quality of service	Rates of beneficiary satisfaction with health and social services Provincial ranking	Agency administrative records, user surveys Government records
Intermediate: 7. Access to a full range of health and social services in both languages (locally and off the Coast)	Presence of the necessary health professionals, services and infrastructure	Agency and government administrative records
Final: 8. The Lower North Shore will benefit from a healthier population	Mortality rates Morbidity rates¹³ Average life expectancy Level of participation in the workforce Level of participation in community life	Census statistics Ibid Ibid Ibid Surveys by community organizations

3.3 Community renewal

The vitality model for community renewal focuses on three main areas of activity.

Marketing and promotion: Members of the Lower North Shore English-speaking community feel there should be more promotion of the opportunities for community involvement and its rewards.

Education and leadership development: The English-speaking community of the Lower North Shore believes that leadership capacity should be strengthened through workshops, coaching and mentoring activities.

Investment: More programs and policies should be developed in response to community needs, as well as investment in the essential elements of social capital, such as cultural pride, volunteerism and human resources.

In the medium term, the activities will lead to greater involvement of residents in building the community, an improved sense of empowerment to overcome the challenges the community faces and more opportunities for people to become involved in community development activities.

Logic model: Lower North Shore – Community renewal sector

Indicators and data sources – Community renewal sector

Expected outcomes	Indicators	Data sources
Immediate: 1. There is greater awareness of the opportunities for involvement, making a contribution, and their rewards	Measure media usage and audience (Web site navigation, newspaper subscriptions, listening audience) Number of information requests received by community organizations and institutions Attendance at community events, forums, etc. Membership rates in community organizations	Media coverage study Community organization and institutional administrative records Community organization administrative records Ibid
Immediate: 2. There is greater capacity to be involved in the English-speaking community	Number and duration of educational/ training activities Number of persons completing educational/training activities Number of partners involved with community organizations Measure sense of ownership/belonging/ responsibility to community	Institutional administrative records Self-reporting scale in year 1 (baseline longitudinal study) Institutional and community organization administrative records Survey of community organizations and individuals
Immediate: 3. There is increased leadership capacity in the English-speaking community	Number of leaders recognized through events, newspapers, radio announcements, Web sites, etc. Amount of change in leadership roles (number of new leaders, change in leadership positions, age, gender of leaders) Measure of actions taken and delegated by leaders Number of succession plans for leadership positions (community groups) Participation level in leadership activities Levels of confidence and trust in community leadership Assessment of public awareness of leadership roles and responsibilities (individuals, organizations)	Survey of community organizations and partner institutions, media coverage study Ibid Self-reporting scale in year 1 (baseline of longitudinal study) Community organization administrative records Ibid Survey of community organization members and individuals Ibid, media coverage study
Immediate: 4. There is increased overall investment in the English-speaking community (i.e. social capital)	Number of government consultations per year Number of programs or services needed by community established each year Success rate of community group applications for support Number of volunteers and amount of volunteer hours Number and types of partnership arrangements and involvement (incl. off-coast engagement)	Government, agency and community organization administrative records, media coverage study Ibid Government and community organization administrative records Community organization administrative records Institutional and community organization administrative records
Intermediate: 5. The population is more involved in the English-speaking community	Number of persons involved in projects and activities (over three years) Number of initiatives between communities Amount of funding received by community organizations	Community organization administrative records, survey of community members Institutional and community organization administrative records Agency and community organization administrative records
Intermediate: 6. There are more opportunities for involvement	Number of projects, activities created (over three years)	Agency and community organization administrative records
Intermediate: 7. The English-speaking community is empowered	Number of different persons involved in formal community positions	Community organization administrative records
Final: 8. Greater ownership and sense of responsibility by communities in their ongoing growth and development	Number of projects and activities that encompass and involve all Lower North Shore communities Sense of ownership/belonging/ responsibility in the community	Institutional and community organization administrative records Self-reporting scale in year 5 (conclusion of longitudinal study)

3.4 Economic development

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

Research: Members of the Lower North Shore English-speaking community feel that more research is needed to improve the level of information on economic opportunities in the area.

Support and development: The English-speaking population of the Lower North Shore believes that awareness and training programs are necessary to help improve the culture of work, and that additional financial resources are required to increase investments in economic activities. Target areas of investment should be those that add value to existing enterprise, further develop the natural resources of the area, and improve regional infrastructure.

Networking and promotion: The region’s potential should be promoted through advertising and marketing efforts, especially outside the region.

In the medium term, these activities will lead to greater diversification in the regional economy, increase the number of jobs for a vital community and increase the number of persons wanting to make the Lower North Shore their home.

In the long term, the Lower North Shore English-speaking community will be able to maintain and improve its quality of life through a stable population supported by sustainable economic growth.

Logic model: Lower North Shore – Economic development sector

Indicators and data sources – Economic development sector

Expected outcomes	Indicators	Data sources
Immediate: 1. Increased information about economic development opportunities	Number of research studies completed	Government, institution and community organization documentation
Immediate: 2. Improved culture of work (increased entrepreneurship and skill level of the workforce)	Levels of education Training skills Rate of hiring from Lower North Shore and non-traditional season Number of new education and training programs Number of new businesses	Census statistics Institutional skills profiles Agency administrative records Institutional administrative records Agency administrative records
Immediate: 3. Increased investment in economic development through added value to existing economic activity, and further developed natural resources	Number of investors Amount of dollars invested New partnership ventures New services and infrastructure Number and types of jobs	Agency and institutional administrative records Ibid Ibid Ibid, government announcements Census statistics, agency administrative records
Immediate: 4. Improved regional infrastructure and services, in particular the accessibility and affordability of regional transportation	Decreased cost of transportation Frequency and number of available modes of transportation	Survey of transportation services Ibid
Immediate: 5. Increased awareness of the region’s potential	Web site traffic Number of information requests received Number of visits by potential investors/ developers Number of tourists Number of marketing campaigns	Record of Web site navigation Institutional, agency and community organization administrative records Ibid Ibid Ibid
Intermediate: 6. Greater diversification of types of enterprises in the regional economy	Number and types of new businesses and industries	Census statistics, agency administrative records
Intermediate: 7. Increase in the number of job opportunities available	Number of new jobs (with residence) Number of self-employed	Census and regional agency statistics Ibid
Intermediate: 8. Increase in the number of persons wanting to stay in and immigrate to the Lower North Shore	Levels of population Net migration Types of population, permanent vs. part-time Age structure	Census statistics Ibid Ibid Ibid
Final: 9. The population of the Lower North Shore will maintain and improve its quality of life through sustainable economic growth	Rates of employment Number of permanent residents on the Lower North Shore	Census and regional agency statistics Ibid

Notes

¹² 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 http://www.managementhelp.org/.

¹³ Morbidity rates: proportion expressed in a percentage, of the people who are sick in the total population.

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