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indicators and followed clients over a period time during which they used one or more of <br />the Center's services (this was before DSFRC consolidated its programs in one location). <br />The primary context was workforce development, but DSFRC also looked at other <br />services and indicators. DSFRC had limited success in being able to tie Center usage to <br />long-term improvements in clients' lives because their internal systems didn't support <br />collecting the types of data needed for this kind of analysis. When funding for this <br />project disappeared, their attempts to measure clients' life-style changes ended. <br />Two main events have brought this subject back into the forefront for DSFRC. First, <br />they consolidated most of their services in one location with a shared infrastructure, <br />which makes data sharing between programs easier. Second, they have just purchased a <br />family development matrix model (embraced by state), which is aresiliency-based, <br />positive way of looking at families. This model will allow them to formally conduct this <br />type of analysis. DSFRC expects to be able to have a consistent baseline (on a program- <br />by-program basis) and begin seeing results within 3 months. <br />Measuring the value of short-term, immediate, or crisis-based use of the Center is <br />certainly important and, even if no long-term benefits were identified, providing clients- <br />in-need with effective services is critical to DSFRC's mission. But being able to tie <br />ongoing Center use to an increase in the general condition of clients' lives would be a <br />powerful advantage when seeking funding. Being able to clearly demonstrate short <br />and/or long-term service value would increase DSFRC's ability to obtain and retain <br />funding, which significantly increases their sustainability. <br />Implementing a revised client survey system, administering it, and then analyzing results <br />was beyond the scope of this project. However, we were able to survey other important <br />non-client groups. <br />The Survey Process <br />Here are the steps taken to administer 4 surveys on behalf of DSFRC. <br />1) Four groups were identified: peer agencies, funding organizations, Board of <br />Directors, and DSFRC personnel (staff, interns, and volunteers). <br />2) An electronic survey form was designed for each group that made use of a likert scale <br />and had space for comments. The survey drafts were reviewed by Executive <br />Director, Rose Padilla-Johnson; Development Director,. Dawn Valadez; Strategic <br />Planning Consultant, Miriam Abrams; and Deputy Chief of Staff for Alameda County <br />Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker, Jean Fong. Suggested minor changes were reflected in <br />the final drafts. <br />3) Ms. Johnson and Ms. Valadez supplied Lisa Nichols with a contact list for the peer <br />agencies (who were chosen based on their visibility in the community and/or <br />similarity to some portion of DSFRC's services), funding organizations (who were <br />chosen based on the amount of funding dollars provided to DSFRC), and the Board of <br />Directors. <br />4) Lisa McClure, Executive Assistant to Ms. Johnson, provided a staff list with email <br />addresses, department, and language preference. <br />Sustainability Study: Davis Street Family Resource Center - 4/08 Page 18 of 96 <br />