ACET, Inc. Blog

A new study about increasing classroom performance caught the eyes of staff at ACET and we wanted it to share it with you. The study linked regular recess and play opportunities to better classroom performance and a decrease in bullying and student conflict, and was conducted by Mathematica Policy Research and the John W. Gardner Center for Youth and Their Communities at Stanford University.

In the study, 14 schools across the United States partnered with Playworks, an Oakland, California non-profit devoted to providing low-income schools with physical activity options and other play events such as game times. Playworks provided schools with trained coaches and, in some cases, junior coach programs where students were recruited to monitor recess times alongside adults. Students, teachers, principals, and coaches were interviewed and surveyed about their experiences with the program and what changes, positive and negative, they saw in student relationships, academic outcomes, and classroom behaviors. Students and teachers reported feeling engaged by Playworks’ coaches’ programs and their use of positive messaging and conflict resolution strategies (for example, using a game of rock-paper-scissors to solve a dispute) as they pertained to playground interactions, though students did not report a decrease in student aggression or perception of aggression. Teachers with Playworks programs in their schools reported faster transition times between recess and learning than schools that did not have Playworks programs. Principals from all schools that received Playworks services reported a need for the organization’s presence in their schools for the coming year.

According to an advisor from the study’s sponsor, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, “These new findings… tell us that kids better relate with one another, resolve conflicts constructively, get plenty of physical activity on the playground, and return to class focused and ready to learn. Increasingly, health and education leaders are recognizing that recess and play are effective ways to strengthen schools and foster children’s social, emotional, and physical development.”

You can read more from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation press release here or view the report here [opens as PDF].

Mary

ClearWay Minnesota℠ and the Minnesota Department of Health recently released results of the 2010 Minnesota Adult Tobacco Survey (MATS). Overall, news about tobacco use appears positive: adult smoking rates have continued to decline from 22.1% in 1999 to 16.1% as reported in the latest survey; exposure to secondhand smoke has decreased from 56.6% to 45.6% since 2007; and 87.2% of homes have gone smoke-free – up from 83.2% in 2007.

The results of the survey also pointed to areas of concern, such as a drastic increase in the use of smokeless tobacco products in both cigarette smokers and non-cigarette smokers. In fact, smokeless tobacco use for cigarette smokers has more than doubled since 2007, rising from 4.4% to 9.6%.

To view the full report and a fact sheet, click here: http://www.mnadulttobaccosurvey.org/

Cassie

Every three years, several Minnesota state departments (Education, Employment and Economic Development, Health, Human Services, and Public Safety) collaborate to administer the Minnesota Student Survey. The survey was last administered in 2010 to primary and secondary students (grades 6, 9, and 12) to assess their attitudes, beliefs, perceptions, and behaviors on a variety of topics. The survey covers areas such as students’ background, school, activities, heath, and behavior. A total of 335 school districts participated in the survey with a total of 130,908 students taking the survey across the state.

Results are reported by grade and the corresponding trends between grades are very similar; students appear to be changing attitudes, perceptions, beliefs, and behaviors nearly simultaneously. Many positive changes can be seen between recent years. For example, when comparing twelfth graders’ answers on the 2010 administration with the 2007 responses, several positive differences can be seen:

• More twelfth graders reported they were planning to attend college (88.9% in 2010 compared to 85.8% in 2007)
• More twelfth graders reported being physically active on five or more days in the past week (43.4% compared to 41.4%)
• Less twelfth graders reported alcohol usage in the past year (55.3% compared to 62.5%)
• Less twelfth graders reported binge drinking (five or more drinks in a row in the past two weeks; 23.4% compared to 29.0%)
• Less twelfth graders reported driving a motor vehicle after drug or alcohol usage (18.0% compared to 23.9%)
• Less twelfth graders reported smoking in the past 30 days (19.2% compared to 22.8%)

For more information follow the links below.

Select trends: http://education.state.mn.us/mdeprod/idcplg?IdcService=GET_FILE&dDocName=019017&RevisionSelectionMethod=latestReleased&Rendition=primary

2010 complete data tables: http://education.state.mn.us/mdeprod/idcplg?IdcService=GET_FILE&dDocName=019009&RevisionSelectionMethod=latestReleased&Rendition=primary

Joseph

An article from the Philanthropy News Digest recently highlighted a report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation KIDS COUNT project. Recent studies have found that there is a correlation between students who are proficient in reading by the end of the third grade and a “child’s success in school, life-long earning potential, and ability to contribute to the nation’s economy.”

The article specifically highlights the data regarding disparities in reading proficiency rates in low-income families for varying ethnic groups. The report states that “two-thirds of fourth-graders overall and four out of five fourth-graders from low-income families are not proficient in reading…disparities in reading achievement persist across economic, racial, and ethnic groups.” The article goes on to discuss thoughts and recommendations on the report.

Click here to read the article and full report: http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/news/story.jhtml?id=295200017

Cassie

The Minnesota Department of Administration recently released their Joint Availability and Disparity Study, which affects minority- or women-owned (M/WBE) and targeted group business enterprises. The Commissioner of Administration in Minnesota contracted with an outside agency to conduct the study, who examined barriers that resulted in disparity for targeted groups and recommended solutions to remedy the effects of any disparity identified.

The latest evaluation of M/WBE programs has shown that some targeted group business enterprises have changed status in the communities, and therefore, their eligibility for preferences or subcontracting has changed (see 1-page summary from the Department of Administration). The report identifies target groups in set business areas and includes tables to show disparity rates.

The report also details the history of disparity studies and introduction of M/WBE programs in Minnesota, as well as gives many nationwide examples of programs set in place to alleviate M/WBE discriminations and prevent future abuses.

To view the targeted group business eligibility table, please click here: TG Eligibility Table

To view the full study, please click: http://www.mmd.admin.state.mn.us/disparity/Revised2009AdminDisparityStudy.pdf

Cassie

While in March many may no longer be focused on setting or even maintaining New Year’s resolutions, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is gearing up to release their own ‘resolutions’ for the future of our nation’s health with Healthy People 2020. With each new set of resolutions, we see new health topics addressed and learn how current programs are functioning.  I was interested to learn how Healthy People has and will affect all levels of communities, from local schools to government agencies, and even individual residents.

The Healthy People program essentially sets the agenda for public and community health programming and funding. As a U.S. resident, this may influence the cost of your flu shot, the availability of healthy foods in your grocery store, the amount of time local students spend in gym class, and even the levels of pollutants permitted in the air we breathe. In addition, Healthy People objectives directly influence which aspects of public and community health receive increased funding in the decade to come.

The Healthy People movement began in 1979 when U.S. Surgeon General Julius B. Richmond published a set of nationwide goals and objectives focusing on health promotion and disease prevention (read more: http://www.healthypeople.gov/About/history.htm).  Since then, every decade a panel of experts has reevaluated and reestablished standards to guide health programming and funding streams.

Healthy People objectives were purposefully set to be challenging, yet attainable. Although they were established by the federal government, these objectives are evaluated by pooling resources and data from over 190 different sources from all levels – including federal, state and local governments, and non-profit agencies of all shapes and sizes.

Healthy People centers on two overarching goals: (1) to increase quality and years of healthy life; and (2) to eliminate health disparities. In addition, goals and objectives are set in 28 different focus areas, with 10 priority areas receiving special attention and extra funding – also known as the Leading Health Indicators. For Healthy People 2010, the Leading Health Indicators included:
1.    Physical Activity
2.    Overweight and Obesity
3.    Tobacco Use
4.    Substance Abuse
5.    Responsible Sexual Behavior
6.    Mental Health
7.    Injury and Violence
8.    Environmental Quality
9.    Immunization
10.    Access to Health Care
To learn more about why these areas were targeted and what programming has been established to address each, check out: http://www.healthypeople.gov/LHI/Priorities.htm

Healthy People 2020 objectives were released and open for comments during the fall of 2009. Healthy People 2020 includes goals and objectives in 11 new focus areas including: Genomics, Global Health, Health IT, Quality of Life and Well-being, and Social Determinants of Health. Some of these areas were addressed in other topic areas in the past, but several provide objectives for new and developing arenas of public health.

The Department of Health and Human Services thankfully does not just set these objectives and then hope that they’re met – they take systematic steps by evaluating progress after two and five years, which may then lead to the adjustment of programming and funding accordingly. To see progress reports from 2005 and 2008, check out: http://www.healthypeople.gov/data/PROGRVW/

Healthy People 2020 will provide a framework for future health programming – I’d encourage you to familiarize yourself with general goals and indicators, especially those in your area of expertise. Are they attainable? Are they applicable? Are they making a difference? Be sure to check out http://www.healthypeople.gov/HP2020/!

Emily

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently released their 2011 budget brief, which details federal funding allocation for the 2011 fiscal year. This budget was designed to protect the health of all Americans and provide essentials, especially to those who are least able to help themselves. The HHS Budget does this by investing in health care, social services, science and research and more. The HHS also has a portion of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) and allocates some funding to address critical problems in the health care and human services systems related to the Recovery Act.

The 2011 HHS Budget totals $911 billion in outlays and $81 billion in discretionary budget authority, both of which are an increase over the 2010 fiscal year. The Budget will be used to support and respond to many areas, including reducing health fraud; improving quality of and access to health care; promoting public health; protection from public health threats and terrorism; improving the wellbeing of children, seniors and households; and investing in scientific research and development.

If you would like to read the Budget Brief in its entirety, which includes detailed information about each program and charts of financial figures, go to http://www.hhs.gov/asrt/ob/docbudget/2011budgetinbrief.pdf.

Cassie

Last August Heather and Kirsten offered a free workshop on survey design, which covered how to write useful items for your survey and common pitfalls to avoid. The feedback on the workshop was very positive and all attendees seemed to benefit from the material. ACET also offered a complementary review of an attendees’ existing survey as a means of following-up for the event.

We are pleased to announce that our second workshop has been scheduled! The Results are In: Analyzing and Reporting Survey Data for Stakeholders will cover common options for analysis of your survey data, guide you through the analysis process, and offer you suggestions for sharing your information with stakeholders in a way that is useful and meaningful.

The Results are In: Analyzing and Reporting Survey Data for Stakeholders will be held on:

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at the
Neighborhood House Wellstone Center
179 Robie Street East, Saint Paul, MN 55107
Wellstone Center phone: (651) 789-2542

Seats are limited to this FREE event so please RSVP to Heather Scholz via email at heather@acetinc.com or via phone at the number below by Thursday, February 18th, 2010. For more information about ACET please visit our website at www.acetinc.com or contact our office at 952-922-1811.

According to a Philanthropy News Digest article, some Minnesota grantmakers appear to be less pessimistic about funding in 2010.

Based on a survey administered by the Minnesota Council on Foundations, overall giving by Minnesota funders is expected to decline by about 1% in 2010. And while 30% of funders anticipate distributing fewer funds this year another 25% of funders expect to give more in 2010 than they did in 2009.

To learn more about the survey results, click here:  Minnesota Grantmakers Less Pessimistic About 2010, Report Finds

Twice a month we receive an electronic newsletter from the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS). Here are some of the highlights from this week’s edition:

• January is National Mentoring Month! The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Programs (OJJDP) states, “Mentoring provides the perfect opportunity to consider what we could do to change a child’s life.” OJJDP awarded more than $177 million to support mentoring in fiscal year 2009 alone.

• NCJRS Offers Feature on Mentoring. In recognition of National Mentoring Month (January 2010), NCJRS invites you to view the Mentoring Special Feature. This online resource contains links to publications, funding resources, and Web sites that focus on the importance of mentoring and the involvement of adults in young peoples’ lives. (NCJRS)

• Report on 8^th-Grade Youth Available. As reported in a recent issue of the Center for Substance Abuse Research’s CESAR FAX, which highlights results from the 2009 Monitoring the Future survey, the perceived risk of using ecstasy, inhalants, and LSD continues to decline among eighth-grade students. (OJJDP)

This issue also features grant (funding) opportunities within the justice system, online resources, conference and training announcements, and other reports and publications related to justice.

If interested in learning more about NCJRS or to subscribe to their electronic newsletter, view: http://www.ncjrs.gov/.

Heather