United Way

Enhancing Support for Aboriginal Youth to Complete School Action Plan

(February – July 2010)

The Enhancing Support for Aboriginal Youth to Complete School Initiative represents a recent phase of the United Way’s Aboriginal Youth and Education Strategy. The initiative has two overall goals: 1) Aboriginal children and youth in Calgary stay in school and do well in school; and, 2) Aboriginal youth in Calgary complete high school. The initiative included information gathering efforts that helped identify reasons why Aboriginal youth drop out of school and the types of supports or policies that help them stay in school. The information provided the context for the discussions among community stakeholders who represented a cross-section of 15 selected community services and two school systems that work with Aboriginal youth. The group created action plans that identified areas in which some immediate action can be taken and to provided recommendations for long-term work to address systemic issues. The consultant assisted in group facilitation efforts and the development of the overall action plan document.

Homeless Family Sector Review

(June 2004 – February 2005)

The review was commissioned by three funding organizations: the United Way of Calgary and Area, the City of Calgary and Calgary FCSS and Human Resources Skill Development Canada.  The overall goal of the review was to clarify the roles of the funders, which may include involvement in shared funding decisions and the identification of potential service enhancement with a view of maximizing the impact of limited resources in the prevention and reduction of family violence.

Family & Sexual Violence Services Sector Review 

(March 2003 – May 2004)

Family and Community Support Services, Calgary Rocky View Child and Family Services and the United Way of Calgary and Area were leading this review of the family violence and sexual violence services sector.  The goal of the review was to define and coordinate the funders’ investment and service objectives, and to clarify essential service areas and potential service gaps. The project deliverables included a funding map, meta-analysis of the literature, environmental scan and analysis of issues currently impacting the sector.

Family Violence Outcome Measurement Project

(February 2001 – March 2002)

The evaluator assisted 15 participating United Way agencies to implement and/or develop Program Logic models.  This work included consulting with agencies on various components of model development (including inputs, activities, outputs and outcomes), obtaining adequate computer equipment and software, providing software training, and developing relevant indicators and tools.

Multicultural Organizational Change Process

(1993 – 1995)

Implemented a diagnostic process called ‘Barrier Analysis’. The aim of the analysis was to identify organizational structures, cultures, systems and individual competencies that either facilitated or limited the change, and to begin developing action plans that build inclusive organizations.