Building Community Collaboratives to Serve Families with Young Children

The purpose of this study was to focus on data collected from Stillwater Area Success By 6� in the year 2000, 2003 and 2005. Data were gathered from a multiplicity of sources in the Stillwater community and were employed as a means of determining the impact the collaborative has had on child outcomes in Stillwater. Two sources of information were utilized for this exploratory examination. School readiness surveys of area teachers and a rating of the quality of the collaborative completed by Stillwater Area Success By 6� board members. Results were analyzed and compared to determine the usefulness of the survey instrument in assessing the readiness of children from the perspective of a teacher and to determine if there had been change in teacher perceptions over time. Data were also compared to determine the effectiveness of local community collaboratives in serving the needs of families. Analysis of the 2000 and 2005 school readiness surveys showed a majority of teachers' reporting differences in the skills, abilities and experiences demonstrated by children entering school in 2005 as compared to 2000. According to the majority of teachers' surveyed, children in 2005 are exhibiting a decrease in basic knowledge skills but an increase in prior reading experience, curiosity and interest in learning. Analysis of open-ended questions asking for teacher perceptions in relation to the most important needs, unmet needs and barriers to meeting the unmet needs for families with young children yielded the same results in 2000 and 2005. According to the majority of teachers' surveyed, the three open-ended questions primarily relate to a lack of adequate parent support structures for families. Analysis of the 2003 and 2005 community collaborative surveys showed a majority of board members reporting differences in the categories of environment, membership, purpose and structure and communication. According to the majority of board members surveyed in 2005, the collaborative has made improvements in these four areas, which could be attributed to maturity and growth. The overall design and support features of the two sources of information were validated with suggestions for improvement.Department of Human Development and Family Scienc