Developing a Framework In Support of a Community of Practice in ABI

1. Developing a Framework In Support of a Community of Practice in ABI www.communitybasedresearch.ca jason@communitybasedresearch.ca Jason Newberry, Research Director Tanya Darisi, Senior Researcher

2. We are a non-profit and independent community-based research organization located in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. We engage in diverse streams of work, including applied research and evaluation, needs assessments, systems change initiatives, training & education, facilitation & planning. Our values emphasize community participation, action, and relevance in the work we do.

3. Our Approach to Our Work • We view community research and development as an opportunity for organizations to gain new knowledge and information to improve programs, practice, and systems. • Our approach is participatory…organizations need to be asking the questions they want to answer and have a central role in designing research projects.

4. Our Goals for Today • To develop a set of Supporting Values that guide and govern the Community of Practice. • To engage in a facilitated workshop that will lead to the development of a logic model framework that shows: • common program and intervention types that.... • ...lead to positive outcomes associated with meaningful community participation. • To step back and discuss the main functions and goals of the Community of Practice.

5. Some Background In meetings of the CoP and the advisory committee the following core functions: • Research and Evaluation • Best Practice Implementation • Dissemination & Knowledge Exchange • Policy Development We will return to these functions as well as the goals of the CoP later in the day.

6. The Central Idea for Today… • The Community of Practice can benefit from understanding the central outcomes associated with community participation – and the ways in which these can be achieved through programs, interventions, and other social initiatives. • The advisory committee endorsed the creation of a logic model framework that helps describe this information.

7. How frameworks are helpful… • Describe what programs do. They systematically present the types of interventions related to meaningful community participation. • Describe what programs intend to achieve. They present all the expected outcomes associated with meaningful community participation. • Describe which outcomes are expected to follow from which types of programs. This is crucial. It is important to know why we expect programs to succeed.

8. How frameworks are helpful… • Explore the assumptions of how and why programs are expected to work. Frameworks allow one to apply a critical eye to programs, prompting questions about how they work and why. • Communicate the program. We find that logic model frameworks capture a lot of information in one place in a way that is accessible to many people

9. How frameworks are helpful… • Help design research and evaluation, and program and system planning. • Finally, in various ways, a framework will help the CoP understand and set its priorities and actions in relation to Research & Evaluation, Best Practice Implementation, Dissemination & Knowledge Exchange, and Policy Development

10. Starting with Values...

11. Starting with Values... • When we start thinking about the types of interventions and practices that are linked to community participation as a central outcome, it is helpful to always have a consensus on supporting values of the Community of Practice. • Example: A supporting value of “self-determination” suggests that best practices in community programs should be consistent with this value, from the perspective of the CoP.

12. Starting with Values... Large Group Brainstorm

13. Break!

14. What type of information goes into our Framework? • Arewe creating models of specific programs or a summary model of types of programs? • A summary of types. • Are we modelling what program types that actually exist or program types that we wished existed? • Both. • Are we modelling program types as they are actually delivered or as they are ideally delivered? • Ideally. • Are we limited to ABI programs, or do we capture work in other fields? • For now, ABI programs.

15. Increased knowledge of the concept & process of recovery Increased skills & knowledge to pursue goals Willingness to take risks, to fail, & to learn from it Acting on one’s own plan for recovery (practicing options) Increased confidence & faith in own decisions, needs, values Recovery goal planning Respectful, flexible relationships Program Elements STAFF RELATIONSHIPS KNOWLEDGE CONTROL Increased sense of control & choice regarding their health, lives Increased feelings of trust, comfort, and respect for lived experience A sense of diminished professional boundaries, informal relationships Outcomes Increased confidence in workers & the system Increased feelings of hope & ability to dream about recovery ELEMENTS OF RECOVERY

16. Beginning our Framework Planning • Separate into two groups. • Think about the long-term goal or vision of a system that supports “community participation”. • Think about the types of programs in area of ABI that are designed to impact, in some fashion, community participation. • Jason and Tanya will facilitate the discussion.

17. Continuing Our Framework Planning • Return to your group. • Think about the first meaningful changes experienced by people in ABI programs or supports. These are “Short-term Outcomes”. • Think about what happens after the “Short-term Outcomes” are achieved. These are intermediate and longer-term outcomes.

18. Establishing a Community of Practice • Holistic outcomes are complex and best achieved by engaging in initiatives at multiple levels with many people and organizations – a “community of practice”. This involves: • A shared understanding of the issue(s). • A recognition that what is currently happening is not working. • A common agenda and purpose informed by values. • Participants are involved voluntarily and in a non-hierarchical way. • The “community” is broad and inclusive – cross-organizational, multiple sectors, and driven by “people with lived experience” and their families. • Focus on sharing stories, information, best practice evidence, with an interest in innovation.

19. The Goals and Functions of the Community of Practice • The Framework is only one tool of the CoP . The framework can help inform the functions and goals of the Community of Practice. • For example, the Framework may suggest program areas that could be researched to inform best practice and policy development. • We need to develop the functions and goals of the CoP in more detail.

20. Community of Practice – Functions and Goals Research & Evaluation Best Practice Implementation Dissemination & Knowledge Exchange Policy Development CoP Functions Potential Actions of the CoP Roles Goals /Vision

21. Research functions in a community of practice • Pilot and demonstration projects • Best practice reviews • System research (“flow”, barriers, etc.) • Policy analysis • Needs assessment • Quasi-experimental designs • Epidemiological or “status” studies • Program evaluation research These types of research are very different. Community based research is a philosophy & approach that can inform all these functions.

22. Community Based Research.... • Involves co-ownership over the problem/issue. • Works best with maximum participation of stakeholders, with clear roles. • Is facilitated when there is a network with a purpose to build relationships and capacity. • Follows from shared statements about values. • Includes collecting information that is reflective of local context and personal experiences. • Is linked, from the beginning, to ideas about action – a focus on utilization and knowledge exchange.

23. How does program evaluation fit into this.... • Program evaluation can be considered a subarea of research that examines the impact of programs and interventions in the context in which they operate. • Focused on linking “what happened?” to “what impact?” • Our evaluation work is informed by principles of community based research – participatory with multiple stakeholders involved, and utilization focused.

24. How does evaluation fit with a community of practice? • When you have a community of practice working toward shared outcomes, evaluation becomes more complex. Effective practice includes: • Development of a shared “theory of change”. • The creation of an overall evaluation framework. • A balance between local vs. cross-site evaluation. • Evaluation capacity building for organizations. • Ongoing opportunities to share, critique, learn, and adjust.

25. Benefits of Research and Evaluation in a Community of Practice • A shared framework and evaluation practice can promote consistency in the goals of the community of practice. • Cross-site/-program comparisons can lead to best practice development and demonstration projects. • New knowledge is more likely to be used by many more people. • New knowledge can lead to awareness raising, policy change, and funding opportunities – a movement.

26. Benefits of Research and Evaluation in a Community of Practice • Findings are co-owned, apply to multiple organizations and programs, and are viewed as more credible. • Resources and capacity can be shared. • Evaluation capacity building enhances individual organizations to make strategic decisions.

27. Discussion Questions • What kinds of research knowledge do your organizations need to advance your agenda? • So what can we do together to generate this knowledge?