Renfrew County Community Study Executive Summary

P h a s e 1 : Community Data ProjectConcept Paper: executive summary

Measuring Our health and Well-being

Renfrew County Community Study

2 | Concept Paper: Executive Summary • November 2015

Renfrew County Community Study Measuring Our Health and Well-being Phase 1: Community Data Project | 3

Introduction ..................................................................................................... 5

Background and Project Context ............................................................. 6

Community engagement ............................................................................ 8

Community Reporting: Insights from the Field .................................10

Proposed Conceptual Model ...................................................................11healthy Communities: Proposed Conceptual Mode ..............................................................11

Measuring Community Well-being ........................................................12

Options for Creating the Renfrew County Community study .....14Principles for Developing a shared Knowledge Tool .............................................................14

Model and Platform Options ...........................................................................................................15

Options for Data Visualization and Functionality ...................................................................16

Next Steps .......................................................................................................18Community engagement strategy ...............................................................................................18

Funding strategy ................................................................................................................................18

Knowledge Mobilization strategy .................................................................................................19

evaluation Metrics ...............................................................................................................................20

Implementation activities and Timelines ...................................................................................21

Conclusion ......................................................................................................22

PhotoS: tim BakliNSki, two trEES PhotograPhy, roCkiNgham, oNtario

Renfrew County Community StudyMeasuring Our health and Well-beingPhase 1: Community Data Project • Concept Paper: Executive Summary



Introductionthis Executive Summary provides an overview of the background,

community engagement process, research and analysis that was

accomplished for the Renfrew County Community Data Project. This

is the first phase of the renfrew County Community Study, a project

to develop a new collective measurement tool for the County. This

work was initiated as a priority project by the healthy Communities

Partnership (hCP) and implemented with the support and expertise of

the Canadian Council on social Development. The following provides

a synopsis of opportunities to advance a collective impact approach to

measuring community health and well-being in Renfrew County.

P h a s e 1

Community Data ProjectE x E c u t i v E S u m m a r y


The Healthy Communities Partnership (HCP) was developed with the goal of engaging cross-sector community leaders and decision-makers and a representational group of health and well-being partners across Renfrew County to share information, develop health and social policy, and coordinate community efforts to improve the physical, mental, social, environmental and economic health of our communities and community members.

more than 58 organizations and community champions from renfrew County and the Champlain Region have identified the creation of the Renfrew County Community Study (RCCS) as a priority for collectively improving health and well-being across the region.

The Renfrew County Community study addresses concerns voiced consistently by the health and social sector leaders that there is insufficient local level data to support evidence-based decision-making. This challenge is particularly acute among partners outside of the health sector. By enhancing the understanding of local strengths and needs through shared access to a standardized set of community indicators, the renfew Couty Community Study will contribute to the pursuit of a shared vision to improve the health, well-being and quality of life for everyone in Renfrew County.

The healthy Communities Partnership is working in partnership with the Canadian Council on social Development (CCsD) to conduct the Community Data Project. the CCSD is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization, with strong expertise in community research. its flagship program, the Community Data Program (CDP), is a gateway to data for municipalities and community sector organizations and potentially a key resource for the RCCs.

Background and Project Context

The Renfrew County Community Data Project represents the first phase of the RCCS. It aims to:

• Develop a shared, multi-sector knowledge sharing and measurement tool to further understanding of local issues and challenges;

• Build a framework to proactively address health inequities; and

• Increase the collective capacity to positively impact and sustain health, well-being and quality of life in Renfrew County.


the Community Data Project incorporated a number of research tasks, designed to gather necessary background information to inform the development of a shared measurement tool. These included a literature review and survey of community well-being models; key informant interviews with subject matter experts; a workshop and an on-line survey of healthy Communities Partnership members; and a series of public engagement sessions in seven communities. all of these activities were designed to create a deeper understanding of the data and indicators associated with health and well-being in Renfrew County. The Concept Paper presents an overview of these findings and sets out the key steps for creating a shared measurement tool that will advance collective impact work of the healthy Communities Partnership and their partners.

For the purposes of this paper the term Renfrew County is used to refer to communities formally within the boundaries of the County as well as adjacent areas that share a historical connection to Renfrew County.

The Renfrew County Community study is a work-in-progress. This Concept Paper has been prepared to set out the plan for the initiative — but more importantly — to invite comment and debate. The healthy Communities Partnership looks forward to launching this project, working in partnership to measure what matters and create a more prosperous, vital and inclusive community for all Renfrew County residents.

The information gathered in this initial phase of the RCCS lays the foundation for developing a collective measurement tool that:

• Helps Renfrew County, its communities and community members, tell their own stories;

• Collects, shares and communicates information, data and analysis relevant to individual and community health and well-being;

• Builds local capacity to track outcome data spatially and across multiple domains;

• Supports evidenced-based policy and program planning and evaluation; and

• Supports multi-sector collaboration to improve the health and well-being of communities and community members.


a workshop with the members of the healthy Communities Partnership (hCP) and a series of community conversations were planned to help build a consensus around what is needed to measure and track well-being in Renfrew County. over 150 people participated in one or more of these sessions, representing a broad cross section of community organizations, multi-sector service agencies, and local government representatives. including key informants and stakeholder interviews, the project engaged over 150 people in the development of plans for the RCCs.

the findings from these sessions, in addition to the review of past research and key informant interviews, were used to develop a preliminary conceptual model and indicator framework as well as recommendations for next steps. The next stage in this process will be to engage community stakeholders about the proposed model and move from ideas to action.

To launch the community engagement process and introduce the Community Data Project, the project team hosted a workshop with hCP members at the Elders’ lodge at Pikwàkanagàn in august 2014. twenty-four representatives from organizations across the County attended, including funders, politicians, senior health and community service managers, and lead data and evaluation staff.

The hCP workshop served as a pilot for the engagement sessions with local communities, providing insight into the design of the workshops and relevance of the questions. with this input, the agenda and materials were revised and the community conversations were organized in collaboration with local hosts.

eight community conversations were held in different communities across renfrew County through the winter of 2015. the goal of these conversations was to capture the diverse experiences of renfrew County communities, providing the information needed to define and measure community health and well-being.

Community Engagement

Participants identified Renfrew County’s considerable strengths and assets, including:

• Access to healthy community environments, e.g., outdoor recreation and nature;

• Strong volunteer networks;

• Access to quality health services; and

• A strong sense of community vitality.


through the community conversations, participants also explored different types of reporting tools and discussed what might be useful in their own work. as well, each conversation discussed the strategic issues and practical considerations involved in building and launching a shared measurement tool tailored to Renfrew County needs.

a cross section of different organizations attended the community conversations. Participants were largely community volunteers or representatives from health, education, recreation and/or social service agencies. representatives from the different municipalities, the province, and the United way also attended. the sessions ranged from 8 to 26 participants.

The community conversations and hCP workshop revealed significant interest in the power of a user-friendly, reliable and up-to-date community measurement and mapping tool, findings that confirm past research and consultations with key stakeholders and subject matter experts.

The engagement sessions were also useful in advancing and deepening the conversation about what constitutes community health and well-being. while economic concerns dominated many discussions, the understanding of progress extended far beyond economic indices to encompass a more comprehensive perspective.

These themes align with many of the stated interests and priorities of hCP stakeholders, here including the County and municipal governments, health and social service agencies, community sector organizations, and local volunteers and advocates.

Several challenges were also identified, including:

• Stronger youth engagement;

• Understanding disparities between urban and rural areas of the County, also between the north and the south;

• Increase focus on the natural environment and its impact on community well-being; and

• Improve information sharing systems across Renfrew County’s different communities.

Renfrew County Community Study Phase 1: Community Data Project |10 | Concept Paper: Executive Summary • November 2015

Community reporting is emerging as an exciting field in Canada. a wide variety of community measurement projects have been launched in recent years. a review of these initiatives offers interesting insights for the hCP’s efforts to create a renfrew County Community Study. good data and indicators are necessary but not sufficient. It is critical to think about audience and purpose and to identify how the project will advance different organizational goals.

• In developing a model, flexibility is key: Building an indicator model, drawing on the best available research is important. The model needs to resonate with the community and be meaningful to program clients and staff.

• Unpack indicators: Behind simple data snapshots lie long-term trends, comparisons and disparities — and complex truths. Work to disaggregate the information, telling the stories that are within the data — with the real-life stories of individuals, families and community advocates.

• Recognize what indicators can — and cannot — do. It is important to always keep in mind that community reporting is essential to understanding community dynamics but it does not substitute for research designed to establish program impact and causation.

• Building bridges is key. as in all things, any community reporting project is an process of building bridges. Community reporting can be a project that brings different sectors and actors together, providing the foundation for meaningful collaboration.

• Commitment up front pays off down the road: It is worth taking the time to develop a meaningful model, based on up-to-date research, with due consideration given to the indicators, metrics and data systems necessary to track progress.

• Start slow, and build over time. The best indicator systems are “ever-green‚“ benefiting from continual evaluation and refinement. Similarly, the suite of communication products can evolve slowly to best meet the needs of different stakeholders.

• Invest in the capacity of the organization and staff to work with data and engage participants.

• Engage the community. Community reporting is a great tool for engaging different communities in telling their stories. The combination of desired results, with analysis, effective communication tools, and good data, is a powerful catalyst for change.

Community Reporting: Insights from the Field

Renfrew County Community Study Phase 1: Community Data Project |11

The project team has chosen the concept of “healthy communities” around which to build the Proposed Conceptual Model and the proposed domains of community well-being. We define healthy communities as those that:

• Offer the opportunities and supports that individuals and families need to thrive and prosper.

• Connect residents to economic opportunities, to social networks of family, peers, and neighbours, and to quality programs and services that can help them succeed and thrive.

• Facilitate the participation of all residents in community life, fostering a sense of belonging and respect

• Cultivate and marshal community assets and relationships in support of individual and collective well-being in times of need and hardship.

• work to nurture and enjoy the natural environment, while providing for our immediate and future needs in ways that protect the earth’s living systems.

This definition emphasizes both the characteristics of community that cares for people as well as the capacity of communities to take action in the pursuit of well-being, in ways that are inclusive and respectful of the needs and aspirations of community members.

it is consistent with the definition of healthy communities set out in the 2012 Community Picture Report and the County of Renfrew’s strategic vision of being “safe, thriving, and affordable,” committed “to creating opportunities to prosper.” Taking this definition and these characteristics as a starting pointing, the project team proposes the following Conceptual Model as a starting point for developing a shared measurement tool.

Proposed Conceptual Model

Healthy Communities: Proposed Conceptual Mode

Health and Well-being

Measure

Basic Needs (includes

housing and food security Belonging

and Engagement

Culture, Art and Leisure

Economy and Labour

Market

HealthHousing

Learning and

Education

Natural Environment

Safety

Transportation and Built

Environment


with the definition of community well-being in place, the next question is how to measure it. the task of measurement has its challenges. and so, in developing the indicator Framework, the team has cast a broad net. it has been guided by the Conceptual model, the input from the Community Conversations and key informant interviews, as well as the literature on known factors associated with community well-being and the review of established data source.

Many potential indicators will not meet all of these specific standards. For example, many data sets are not consistently available at lower/smaller levels of geography, especially those that characterize rural renfrew County. Statistical indicators that measure “soft” values such as trust or perceptions of safety are also often lacking.

a key theme in each of the Community Conversations was the need to highlight the situation of particular populations such as aboriginal, First Nation and M√©tis peoples and low-income residents living in Renfrew County. some information is available at the County level but there are significant barriers to accessing relevant data — a challenge well known to community organizations and service providers. The Renfrew County Community study needs to bring different strategies to bear in order to ensure that these voices are heard.

with these caveats in mind, the Community Data Project works to identify and evaluate a variety of potential measures from a variety of sources for measuring community well-being, remembering that any indicator is only able to point to a trend or fact. It is always necessary to validate the information gleaned from statistics with other sources — including the experiences of residents — to correctly interpret and communicate the message.

This preliminary list of indicators represents both the characteristics of a given community and the conditions or systems necessary to foster the well-being of community members. The goal — at this stage of the project — is to create a framework that can be revised and populated over time, drawing on additional sources of administrative data as well as the perspectives of residents and community stakeholders.

Different strategies have been developed that attempt to fill some of these gaps. some communities such as Victoria3 and Kingston4 have fielded their own community well-being surveys, working in this instance with the team behind

Measuring Community Well-being

The goal is to find measures that are:

• Valid and reliable, generated through sound research techniques, providing a consistent measure over time

• Available for small area geographies

• Are understandable and useful to a wide audience, including community members, service providers and government officials

• Are comparable, based on standard definitions, across population groups and different county geographies

• Are relevant, representing a significant aspect or dimension of community well-being or the context in which people live

• Are accessible from credible sources at modest cost.

Renfrew County Community Study Measuring Our Health and Well-being Phase 1: Community Data Project |13

the Canadian Index of Well-being to complement their local Vital signs reports. Other communities have commissioned public opinion polling to gauge public opinion and establish programming priorities for funding.

the Peg website, produced in winnipeg, supplements its community indicator system with the use of stories for the different theme areas. They are personal stories of people with lived experience and individuals helping to make a difference. These stories are chosen to: help improve general understanding of an issue; inspire and empower others to take action; illustrate the impacts of an action, share effective actions, and celebrate success; and help establish the factors affecting change in a given indicator.

Inserting research and program highlights can be another effective strategy for deepening the understanding of community well-being — and the impact of existing efforts to enhance quality of life. The Headwaters Community Well-being Report provides an excellent example of how a largely rural area — using many of these strategies — created a meaningful and complete portrait of the quality of life in their community.5

as county stakeholders move forward with the Renfrew County Community Study, exploring these types of options to complement its analysis of well-being indicators will enable a more strategic and purposeful approach. The hCP and their partners may also want to consider establish benchmarks and targets for specific domains or indicators to build a more effective platform for tracking progress over time and enhancing the collective impact of the hCP.

an overview of the Proposed Indicator Framework is attached. a brief description of each domain is provided as well as a list of potential indicators for each. The exact number of indicators per domains has not yet been decided. This will depend on the interests of the community stakeholders and the resources that are generated to support the project. The number can and will vary, reflecting the status of existing data collection in the different domains. For example, there is much more information available for health and Economy.

as additional information is identified or generated, the database will grow and supplementary information and resources (e.g., related research studies, program evaluations, public polling and surveys) can be incorporated over time.

The Proposed Indicator Framework is being presented in order to:

• gather feedback on the desirability of these measures;

• identify important gaps in our knowledge; and

• identify additional candidates for inclusion in the Renfrew County Community Study.

Please see the attached ProposedIndicator Summary Tables


Options for Creating the Renfrew County Community StudyThe Concept Paper outlines a series of options for further consideration in the design and implementation of a shared measurement tool. These options have been developed based on the input of the participants in the community conversations and key informants. This is not an exhaustive list. The intent here is to present some ideas in order to generate the necessary feedback for finalizing the Conceptual Model and Indicator Framework and creating an implementation plan that is feasible, practical and achievable.

The other point to underscore at the onset is that these different options exist on a spectrum. Renfrew County may start with a basic community checkup report, working through a data sharing table for example. the rCCS could evolve over time to include additional sources of information and community story telling. It might also take a different direction and focus on program evaluation tools. The key is to ensure that whatever projects are chosen that they are based on meaningful community engagement and designed to facilitate, enable and spur action on key priorities.

Principles for Developing a Shared Knowledge ToolThe community conversations were a tremendous source of information for framing the project. Participants had clear ideas about what they wanted in a shared measurement tool and the priorities that should guide its development. We heard:

• Build on and incorporate the resources of existing partners. For example, the County of renfrew works with giS mapping tools and is a key source of administrative and social services data. The hospitals and healthcare partners have a long history of data collection, tracking and reporting and have much expertise to offer. The local school boards are engaged in reporting on student performance. existing resources can and need to be leveraged to create and contribute to the Renfrew County Community study.

• Utilize and leverage existing work addressing the social determinants of health, collaborations and networks. there has been significant work across hCP partners identifying the social determinants of health as a lens to better understand and address health inequity and in areas such as youth, childcare and housing. all of the partners bring considerable assets to bear in the creation of the RCCs.

• Ensure accessibility and up-to-date data along with simple design. This was a consistent theme in the conversations. Many participants identified challenges related to frequent or ongoing access to information, particularly up-to-date information.

• Include the lowest level of geography possible: getting information at the


lowest geography possible is a top priority. inevitably, there will be trade-offs and potential costs involved. Decisions will have to be made regarding the acquisition of small area data (at potentially high cost) or whether higher order geographic information is sufficient. with small area data, there are also issues of confidentiality to consider.

• Be economical but a shared measurement tool is worth investing in. Resourcing for the project is a fundamental consideration. There are a number of models (such as a single community checkup report) are less costly than others (such as an interactive website and reporting tool). That said, all models demand adequate resourcing to get off the ground. this type of project is difficult to do off the side of a desk. It will be important to develop a resourcing plan (including in-kind donations) to assist with the development of the shared measurement tool and to track and demonstrate its value over time. While it might take longer to amass the resources required for a reasonably well-developed tool, the end product will be more sustainable and meet the needs of a broader cross-section of users.

• Start small and grow. Participants were agreed that it would be important to think of this project in stages. Resources are only one consideration. Issues around data development and access, for example, will take time to resolve. and there is the question of what group should host the project. starting small with a data sharing table, for example, and growing over time makes sense pending the confirmation of available resourcing.

• Employ an equity lens in the design of the tool and research/communication products. There was a clear desire to integrate an equity lens into the design of the Renfrew County Community study. There are clear disparities evident across the county with respect to a number of domains. any community well-being project needs to capture these trends and think through how to best facilitate and support an action agenda. The challenge here is that information on at-risk or marginalized populations is difficult to acquire. It will be important for the project team and the larger circle of partners to continue to explore strategies for highlighting significant disparities and threats to community well-being.

• Link community well-being to assets and gaps: The question of the equity lens is connected to county assets and service provision. Participants were keen to incorporate an accounting of community assets and the identification of service gaps into the community well-being tool. several people also expressed the desire to link the shared measurement tool to available supports and services.

Model and Platform OptionsThere are several options for building a shared measurement tool that the hCP and their partners can consider. Each option will need to be evaluated, taking into consideration available resources; institutional capacity; technical capacity; leadership qualifications; and strength of connection to community — including residents and wider organizational networks.


• The Ottawa Neighborhood Study, housed by the University of ottawa, was the original inspiration for the Renfrew County Community study. One option for the Renfrew County Community study would be to “piggyback” onto this established platform. The website and tool have just been refreshed and the vendor that did the work (Industrial based in Ottawa) has provided an estimate to the hCP for creating a platform using the same specifications (i.e., google fusion tables import; unique theme; Drupal CmS; contact form; blogging capabilities; giS mapping display; and neighbourhood profile tables). The hCP would be responsible for providing all content to the vendor. the vendor has provided a fixed price quote, pending consultation on the final project, of $19,800 + hSt for the development of the website. annual maintenance is not included.

Challenges with the oNS model include its limited modularity and its standardized approach. the conceptual model and selected indicators, built on the geography for the City of ottawa, would need to be adjusted to incorporate a rural perspective on community well-being. There was also some reluctance on the part of community conversation participants to create a Renfrew product that mirrors an Ottawa product. There are advantages to leveraging an existing resource such as the oNS platform as it provides a strong foundation for the project’s development and can potentially facilitate access to other opportunities with its wide network of partners.

• Leverage and build on existing a County-wide framework/initiative: The County of Renfrew has invested significant resources into the development of a giS system largely used for tourism and internal planning purposes. Similarly, there are other resources that exist within Public health, the Champlain lhiN, and the labour market group of renfrew and lanark. identifying and building a model based on existing resources and/or projects would reduce costs and leverage existing assets and expertise. Careful consideration will have to be given to evaluate these different options to build and host a community well-being initiative and/or “piggyback” on an existing community reporting project.

• Pilot a community well-being project in one community: In the community conversations, some communities identified a strong willingness to take the lead or to pilot a community-specific well-being tool. Tackling one community — or a model that focuses on County level data — can be a useful strategy, in effect creating a prototype to scale up over time. this strategy, however, also runs the risk of undermining a more systematic, County-wide approach.

• Pilot a community well-being project with a focus on one population or domain: Paying attention to the projects and populations that are on the radar of provincial funders might help to quickly identify resources that can support the development of a pilot. For example, the project team and hCP partnership could elect to develop a youth specific report or a child well-being report. This approach might show quick results as well as helping to build a model that can be tested and scaled up over time. again, scope, focus and resourcing are questions to be tackled before committing to this type of approach in platform design.


Many participants expressed the desire for an interactive website similar in design to the oNS, custom-built for renfrew County. there is also considerable support among the hCP to pursue a phased approach, piloting a single domain or population group such as children and youth first. Regardless of the option chosen, building a shared measurement tool will require the creative energies of all hCP partners and involve a process of give and take. It may be that the Renfrew County Community study will be a hybrid of the different options listed above, meeting some of the goals of the initiative, falling short on others. But it will be through the process that collective ownership is generated — the most important ingredient in creating and sustaining a meaningful tool that speaks to the realities and aspirations of County residents.

Options for Data Visualization and Functionality Data compiled in a Renfrew County information system can be presented in any number of ways. Recent development in web-based design and on-line mapping programs have opened up a world of different options for communicating information in formats that are visually engaging, effective and easy-to-understand. at the same time, new electronic presentations facilitate the active engagement of different audiences, creating the greatest potential for impact. Picking the right visualization format will be essential to the success of the Renfrew County Community study.

There are both “simple” and “complex” approaches to web-based visualization. a fact sheet and a map, for example, are examples of a “simple” communication tool. information on one or more indicators is presented in a “static” format, posted online in a pdf or html format.

More “complex” data visualization tools integrate greater capacity for the user to manipulate one or more variables to generate findings of interest. These tools can integrate one or more digital formats (e.g., data, audio, video, etc.) to create a multi-dimensional presentation of community well-being. some tools include the ability to upload the user’s own data to supplement existing information. For example, the wellbeing toronto website let’s user pick from a host of indicators for city of Toronto and its many neighbourhoods. Users can generate and download their own analyses of the data presented in this mapping tool, tracking change across neighbourhoods and over time.6

The selection and design of the final tool will be influenced by the resources available and the capacity and technical requirements of the project leader and host. the very range of design options available, however, will give the project team tremendous latitude in creating the final set of products that meets the needs of County residents — regardless of the option chosen.


the following action plan incorporates a future engagement strategy, a knowledge mobilization strategy, a funding strategy, a proposed set of evaluation metrics, and a draft set of timelines for project implementation.

Community Engagement StrategyThis project has garnered significant attention and interest from the communities and the individuals engaged. moving forward, it will be important to sustain community engagement.

• Connect back to communities: Report back to the communities and the hCP membership engaged in the original consultations with the findings of the Community Data Project through a second set of workshops, community meetings, or other vehicles. through these sessions, solicit feedback on the options and recommendations presented in the Concept Paper. Consider developing a high-level workshop and corresponding multimedia presentation that helps communicate the status of the project and future plans. share this potential video or presentation widely to continue to engage stakeholders.

• Set out a path for moving forward: Identify a critical path that outlines the steps and milestones for the development and release of the Renfrew County Community study. This should be done in partnership with potential project leaders.

• Communicate broadly and often: Develop a communication strategy for the project that promotes the findings of the Community Data Project and publicizes next steps in the process. Consider establishing a project-specific page on the hCP website that will provide a centralized location for all reports (including Final Report and executive summary and community consultation reports) and information on next steps in the process. Develop a set of key messages for different stakeholder groups to secure their ongoing support for the development of the Renfrew County Community study.

• Create a storytelling strategy: Develop a mechanism for capturing stories about the quality of life in Renfrew County — highlighting the benefits and the challenges across the different domains. as well, explore options for connecting individual people to services, supports and opportunities. Consider developing a specific component in the next phase of this project that engages individuals more broadly in sharing their stories and experiences of services.

Next Steps


Funding Strategy The following steps are proposed to build a robust funding strategy for the Renfrew County Community study:

• Develop a proposal to the Ontario Trillium Foundation requesting two years of project development funding. given the robust partnerships already in place, and the time and energy devoted to the Community Data Project, and the model’s alignment with the Canadian index of wellbeing, a strong case for support exists. There is alignment with the Collective Impact stream of funding.

• Simultaneously, cost out potential in-kind supports that are being or will be contributed to the project and to the development of the tool. Specifically, allocate a dollar-value to the resources that might be leveraged from partners, including CCSD, Public health, community partners, the County and the labour market group of renfrew and lanark.

• Simultaneously, explore short-term developmental funding with the Champlain LHIN through the existing project deliverables. given the amount of community traction, there is a case to support short-term development of the project and ongoing community consultation with a renewed focused on story-telling to help flush out narratives associated with indicators and domains. alignment and co-ordination with the health Links longer term vision is important.

• Connect with new initiatives that touch on the quality of life in Renfrew County, including the ministry of health and long term Care’s Healthy Kids Community Challenge and the Age-Friendly Community Planning Grants in arnprior, Calabogie, Petawawa and Barry’s Bay.

• as part of the proposal to any short-term funder, include a specific focus for the next two years on a longer-term business case. This business case might take many forms, including a fee for service by organizations accessing data or more logically, a per-resident contribution from each municipality through the County or the health Unit.

• Other options that a business case might explore would be the potential alignment of the project with the Renfrew County United Way and/or the launch of Vital signs-style (pending support from a Community Foundation such as the one in Deep river and the Pembroke/Petawawa District).

• Corporate and business sponsors should be explored as a long-term source of funds and in-kind supports.


Knowledge Mobilization StrategyCentral to the longer-term success of this project will be the development of a knowledge mobilization strategy that will translate key findings and project objectives for a variety of audiences across the County. traditionally, community organizations have been well-versed at communicating with their representative demographics and clients. however, they have not always been as successful at translating best-practice research or socio-economic trends into meaningful evaluation and action. given this gap, this project offers the opportunity to develop new strategies for mobilizing evidence to affect change — both for individual organizations and collectively through networks such as the hCP.

in developing a successful suite of products and tools, a knowledge mobilization strategy needs to:

• Build bridges across service provision cultures: If the tool and this initiative is to resonate with different service providers, then clarifying terms, definitions and domains and understanding how service providers collectively contribute to achieving positive outcomes will be an important step to the longer-term success of any action-plan.

• Tackle issues stemming from the urban/rural divide: any knowledge mobilization strategy needs to acknowledge the differences between residents living in urban areas and living in more isolated settings. This will be an important with respect to type of issues and analysis needed to unpack community well-being in Renfrew County — as well as the effectiveness of key messaging and communications.

• Develop a marketing strategy: Consider working with communications experts who can help develop some key messages and a simple communication strategy for the Renfrew County Community study to engage stakeholders and secure ongoing support.

• Invest in visual design: infographics, pictures and images help to tell stories and impart meaning in ways that words cannot. as this project unfolds, a small investment in graphic and visual storytelling through images, visuals, as well as possibly audio/video stories will help impart project findings to a broad audience base.

A variety of research and communication products could be developed under the Renfrew County Com-munity Study, for example:

• Community Well-being Report for Renfrew County — like those pro-duced under the Vital signs ban-ner. This checkup would be written for a general audience, building on the shared measurement tool, integrating different sources of in-formation such as program profiles and the stories of residents.

• Service Sector Profiles like the housing report and childcare reports prepared for the County government. These could be technical reports or popular sum-maries, highlighting administra-tive data, socio-economic trends and descriptive information.

• Common Evaluation Framework for community service organi-zations, drawing on common content from the shared measure-ment tool. This framework could be tailored to the needs and realities of different service sectors and organizations, engaging ser-vice providers and stakeholders in a collaborative design process.

• Management Dashboards for different County agencies and organizations, a different type of monitoring tool, designed to summarize key indicators in a visually compelling format.

• Community Planning Tools, including mapping applications, to assist with identification of service gaps and the creation of new supports and services.

Next Steps, con’t.


• Consider strategies for building data literacy: One of the key points raised throughout the community conversations was the theme of data literacy. There is no point building a shared measurement tool — or acquiring and assembling information about Renfrew County — if individuals or organizations are not able to put these resources to use. Part of the final project must include thinking about how best to build and promote data literacy across community organizations and agencies. Consider the lessons from the recent pilot in Lanark called Big Data in Small Places.

Evaluation Metricsalthough the Renfrew County Community study is in itself an evaluation and outcome measurement project, it needs its own discrete set of indicators by which to measure success. as the project unfolds, two areas need to be targeted to measure the success of the initiative.

• Shared Measurement Tool: The project team needs to track and understand how the shared measurement tool is understood and used. Is the tool accessible? Is it useful for community organizations? Does it effectively speak to community well-being in different areas of the County? For example, the team could track the proportion of the hCP membership that highly value and use the project tools, setting a high target (e.g., 75%).

• Culture Change: It will be important to establish some metrics and benchmarks related to take up of community-level information and increased collaboration between community partners with respect to promotion of the social determinants of health and quality of life. establish baseline measures on impact of collective impact work of the healthy Communities Partnership — including the RCCs — through consultation with community partners and residents, and seek out support for continuous improvement.


Implementation Activities and Timelines• Phase 1: Partner Scan and Finalize Model and Design. target December 2015

» During this phase, conduct high-level options workshop with the hCP membership, and additional research and key-informant interviews with strategic partners as required. Flag topics and issues that need to be addressed in implementation phase.

» Canvas members of hCP with respect to desired strategy for moving project forward and governance structure for the implementation phase.

» intentionally connect with aboriginal community, Francophone community, School Boards, and youth representatives. alternatively, identify representatives and engagement strategies to access these unique perspectives and voices

» Review preliminary list of indicators and domains that matter by seeking feedback and input on the Concept Paper across hCP membership and community representatives

» Develop a government relations strategy and begin to implement with key government representatives at the ministry, County and other elected officials

• Phase 2: Solidify Management Model and Funding Strategy. January 2016

» Organize conversations with community leaders to explore ongoing leadership and funding opportunities

» Identify potential project hosts and related logistical issues

» Make a clear set of decisions with regard to the management and governance framework for the project (e.g., collective project vs. single organization) and the relationship between the hCP and chosen host (e.g., working protocols, moU)

» Develop a resourcing plan, business case, and funding proposal template (e.g., membership fees; project funding; sponsorship; mix)

Next Steps, con’t.

1. www.ccsd.ca2. www.communitydata.ca 3. https://uwaterloo.ca/canadian-

index-wellbeing/community-users/capital-region-victoria-bc

4. http://www.cfka.org/sites/cfka.org/files/images/gallery/CFka%20Vital%20Signs%20report%202013.pdf

5. headwaters Community in action (2012), The Headwaters Community Well-Being Report. http://headwaterscommunities.org/2012/03/community-well-being-report/headwaters-community-well-being-report/

6. http://map.toronto.ca/wellbeing/

REFEREnCES

ConclusionThere is a significant interest in the development of a community well-being framework and shared measurement tool for Renfrew County. The community conversations and research phase has been robust and provides a solid foundation for moving forward into the implementation phase. The next few weeks and months for the healthy Communities Partnership will be pivotal as it finalizes the design and implementation plan moving forward.

The project team for the Community Data Project has valued the opportunity of participating in the development phase of the renfrew County Community Study. this is the beginning of an exciting journey for renfrew County, the healthy Communities Partnership and all of its community partners. all the pieces are in place to move from vision to action.

» Make a clear set of decisions as to scope and scale of project based on data gathered to date

» Consider developing a short-term 2 year proposal focused on model development, tool creation, and community story-telling and engagement with respect to one domain or population group

• Phase 3: Implementation Phase. march 2016 onward

» Purchase necessary data, software, and technical services

» Prepare underlying databases, graphics and metadata — conducting additional research as required

» Create shared measurement tool and platform based on final project design and technical specifications (this item hinges on the final decision about the type of tool and collaboration selected)

» Develop a training plan to help ensure effective utilization of final project tools and resources

» Implement story-telling strategy and plan for ongoing research

» Finalize ongoing operational management and governance plan

» Create an evaluation framework and shared learning framework for the project

» Develop longer-term resourcing options (including in-kind assistance) and identify varied sponsors and funders


Prepared by Katherine scott and Megan Conway for Renfrew County healthy Communities Partnership Canadian Council on social Development

www.ccsd.ca

Co-ordinated by Shawna Babcock, kidactive Building Healthy Kids, Communities and Environments

Rainbow ValleyCommunity Health Centre

Documents

Renfrew County Community Study Executive Summary