Catalogue to HUB The Benefits rEvolution

Catalogue to HUBThe Benefits rEvolution

The Benefits Movement

Purpose of this presentation

To introduce the next evolution of the “Benefits Catalogue”

To promote opportunities for involvement with the new “Benefits HUB and DataBank”

To recruit Benefits Champions

Is NOTa ‘how to’ for the databank


Background ….

Original benefits catalogue produced in 1992

Expanded new catalogue 1997-marketing messages

New online ‘catalogue’ 2009 - developed to be participatory, evolving, searchable and sustainable


This is the third ‘catalogue’ …

200919971992

Ontario led

164 citations

largely used to justify and market services

CPRA/Ontario

568 short citations

benefits indicator work

expanding interests with partnerships to deliver benefits

Alberta led

over 760 records – detailed, many links

renew commitment towards becoming ‘benefits driven’

additional emphasis on arts, culture, sport

The Benefits MovementPurpose of the Benefits Catalogues:

Articulate the value of parks and recreation

Provide a strong evidence base to communicate the essential value of recreation, sports, fitness, arts, culture and parks.

Help to rally professionals and academics to ensure a strong future for the field


The catalogues have proven that …

Recreation, sports, fitness, active living, tourism, parks, arts, culture and heritage services –

are essential to personal health and wellbeing provide the key to balanced human development provide a foundation for quality of life reduce self-destructive and anti-social behaviour build strong families and healthy communities reduce health care, social service and police/justice costs are a significant economic generator and that green spaces are essential to environmental and

ecological wellbeing, even survival.


Mission Statement: Benefits HUB:

By using our collective knowledge and resources

we will develop a platform (HUB)

that will inspire a benefits movement

and positively position recreation and parks

to enhance individual and community quality of life


Principles of the Benefits Hub ….

1.Profiling Recreation and Parks

The Benefits DataBank, and the other resources that will follow, are designed to position the importance of recreation, parks, arts, culture and heritage, sports, and active living and the important benefits they deliver.


Principles of the Benefits Hub…..

2. Sustainable

The Benefits Portal will operate as a social enterprise – relying on value creation to attract investors, participants and consumers.

An entrepreneurial spirit and practice will be embraced and we will use innovative ways today to create value for tomorrow.

Private and public partnerships will be essential for sustainability.


Principles of the Benefits Hub….

3. Championed by the Field

The Benefits Portal must be “owned” and influenced by the recreation and parks field (CPRA, provincial and territorial organizations and individuals)

Organizations have identified representatives to assist with leadership and oversight and to engage their regions

A Benefits Engagement Team is being formed from these provincial representatives and a variety of communities of practice



4. Distributed Leadership

While each strategic priority will be guided by recognized experts and thought leaders, all processes will be fully collaborative and encourage shared learning that engages a broad range of talents and perspectives to generate optimal results.



5. Leveraging Alberta Assets for a

Pan-Canadian Centre

ARPA, with funding assistance from Rural Alberta’s Development Fund, has invested in the development of the Benefits Portal. Ownership of existing assets will remain in Alberta however there is a need for a broader base of expertise and experience and the requirement for a market with critical mass. As a result, the Benefits Portal will be positioned as a pan-Canadian resource driven by a variety of partners.



6. Excellence in Operations

This strategy requires: respected leadership and an expert core team adoption of best practices in both process and

product performance monitoring and a culture of continuous

improvement appropriate investment to ensure quality in all that

we do



7. Technological Excellence

Information and communications technology systems will be fundamental to success of the Benefits Movement

Strategies commit to identifying and deploying leading edge, yet accessible and user-friendly technology to support each key service or component. (collaborative publishing, open source, search appliances, online classrooms etc)



8. Cost Effective and Accountable

The Benefits Portal must be attractive to ALL who are interested: cost must not be a barrier.

This strategy requires the pursuit of institutional, corporate and organizational investment – only asking the end user to contribute where there is a clear, personal return on investment.



9. Market to Achieve Critical Mass

In order to be attractive to the investors required, we

must utilize the full range of marketing and relationship management practices to appeal to, recruit and retain the largest possible number of participants (builders, users, connectors etc)



Who needs this resource …

• what works/delivers• success factors related to desired benefit• evidence based program/service development• access to model programs (already validated)

ProgrammersProgrammers ProgrammersProgrammers

Policy Makers, Policy Makers, Planners, Marketers, Planners, Marketers,

EvaluatorsEvaluators

Policy Makers, Policy Makers, Planners, Marketers, Planners, Marketers,

EvaluatorsEvaluators

ResearchersResearchersResearchersResearchers

• what to invest in (given a desired benefit/outcome)• evidence based policy, plans and evaluations• foundation for messages and target marketing

• what to look for (given a desired benefit/outcome)• how to engage/participate to (to get desired results)• informed consumer choice

• literature review (significant data base at fingertips)• easy link to colleagues (with similar interests)• help with funding case (overview of value/impact)

ParticipantsParticipantsParticipantsParticipants


Over 760 records …. For all types of users

Policy Maker wanting

overview of health benefits

Programmer interested in addressing

youth obesity

Participant wanting to get

maximum benefit from

fitness

Researcher wanting research design ideas for

measuring quality of life impact

BenefitsDatabase

Search by Health

Marketing messagekey word search

(obesity), restricted by target

market (youth)

Topic search(active living or

recreation)

Social Category search for

quality of life records with a

research concern (indicators)


Where we’re at – What’s next

Ready for Engagement!

benefits.acecommunities.ca The Benefits Database - over 750

records supporting 49 outcome statements and 8 marketing messages

Benefit facts and trends for most of the statements

PLUS over 35 additional resources or tools linked on line

Glossary with over 15 records – 1997 Catalogue glossary is only one of the records

NEXT- we’re working on Completing the facts/trends Gathering and/or developing a

comprehensive benefits tool kit to assist action

Developing a complimentary catalogue of Promising Practices – related to each of the 49 benefit statements

Identifying and supporting a ‘community of practice’ – Benefits Champions-YOU!


A generalized history of leisure services

foundations in late 19th century (Y, Scouts/Guides) church groups, 4H, etc. after WWI – ‘fit for war’

1950’s to present activity as an end in itself, pursuit of excellence

encouragement of specialization investment in dedicated facilities

mid 1970’s to present focus on what discretionary activity can do

for the individual broad holistic view – life balance

1990 to present deep understanding of contribution that recreation

can make to individual, social, environmental andeconomic well-being

renewed focus on ends/outcomes

PURPOSEFUL Phase

ACTIVITY Phase

LEISURE Phase

Benefits DrivenPhase


orient policy towards benefits/outcomes

plan as if benefits were important- the purpose of the plan

market the benefits- get the messages out and

create expectations

shift management systems torequire a benefits focus

build and evaluate programs on a benefits foundation

POLICY

PLAN

MARKET

MANAGE

PROGRAM

INTERVENTIONS that can help make us ‘benefits driven’


Action Plan

from Catalogue to Movement

- Benefits rEvolution

Recruitment Opportunities - First Steps:Benefits Blog, Portal, Alberta Road Show, partner meetings to explore pilot opportunities

Increase Awareness:ARPA preview, presentations to related organizations, government briefings, e-blasts, articles, media benefits columns

Continue to build online resource:more evidence, fact/trends, tools, promising practices – establish ongoing update process

Facilitate Engagement/Commitment:Moderate blog participation, develop and facilitate specialized forums, ‘community of practice’ searching for and developing promising practices, support Benefits Champions


Thank you to those who got us to this point …

Previous CatalogueProducers

Authors Scanners

PILOT Testers

TEAM

At a variety of institutions and organizations fromacross Canada and world

A growing benefit research community

Lots of work, shared leadership; B.C./D.C./B.H. /C.P./R.C/A.C. for ARPA

14 committed leaders from across Canada

PRO, CPRA, RETHINK


Time to engage others … like you!

What’s in it for you? Insight and Inspiration Updates and Information Key roles in finding and sharing new evidence and

promising practices Access to Benefits resources shared by others

across the country Being part of a ‘community of practice’ committed to

delivering the full potential of the recreation and parks movement

Opportunity to become a ‘Benefits Champion’

Carpe Diem!join the Benefits rEvolution

benefits.acecommunities.ca

Documents

Catalogue to HUB The Benefits rEvolution