HOST PLANNING PROCESS
TASK: Complete application and preliminary phone call with Urban Institute
Before becoming a HOST Network site, it is important to fill out the HOST Network Application.
To schedule a preliminary, informational and strategic, phone call with the Urban Institute, please contact Elsa Falkenburger at [email protected].
TASK: Facilitate introductory HOST meeting Facilitators: Urban Institute
Participants: Housing Authority or Private Developer, Residents’ Council, Property Management, On-site Service Providers
Agenda: Discuss HOST, its origins, how it works at different sites, participants’ feedback on current unmet needs in community, who are the most challenging households, discuss participants’ ideas and opinions on the HOST model and possible partnerships, questions or concerns
TASK: Initial stakeholder interviews (individual interviews) Facilitator: Urban Institute
Attendees: Housing Authority or Private Developer, Residents’ Council or Leaders, Property Management, On-site Service Providers
Agenda: Discuss HOST; get feedback on HOST model and how it might work at site, potentially untapped resources
What is their experience working (and/or living) in the community?
What is working well? Where are areas for improvement?
What do they believe the needs are in the community? Which households are the most vulnerable?
Which stakeholders do they currently have contact with and collaborate with?
What are the potential opportunities and challenges to deepening coordination among partners?
What service providers are currently serving needs of residents? What is working well? Not so well?
What service providers have worked with the residents in the past? What worked well or not so well?
Suggestions for potential partners
Are they aware of any community or resident needs assessments, program evaluations, or data on residents and services in the neighborhood?
If they had additional funding to allocate to this community, how would they allocate to improve the life chances of the most vulnerable youth and adults (while simultaneously reducing community problems and enhancing the quality of life for all residents)?
TASK: Identify target population and number of households
Use existing data to identify the most vulnerable, high-risk or high-need households with children in the community
Data from housing authority, property management: All subsidized households with children, ages of household members, employment status, income, sources of income, and lease violation history; number of working-able non-employed adults with children in household Data from service providers, Department of Human Services, Department of Education: Youth and adults engaged in services; hard to serve; at-risk youth; children with academic or
behavioral problems; court-involved youth (neglect or truancy); mental health, substance abuse, teen pregnancy
TASK: Conduct an inventory of programs and service providers Facilitator: lead organization/agency
Identify local programs and service providers (both those engaged in community and not) Youth services, mental health and clinical services, adult education and job training, employment, case management, food support, financial literacy, parenting support
TASK: Conduct an inventory of community resources and non-profits Anchor institutions (higher-education institutions, hospitals, etc.) Early education centers
Recreation facilities (YMCA) Local schools
Workforce investment boards Religious institutions
Public safety and violence prevention and intervention Community-based organizations
TASK: Conduct an inventory of local government agencies Department of Human Services (county or city)
Mayor’s office (offices of economic development, neighborhood revitalization, health and human services, community affairs,)
Public housing authority (if not already involved; public housing authority Department of Social Services)
Public health commission
Public safety or police department
TASK: Conduct an inventory of foundations and potential funders Private foundations based in city, state, or region
Private foundations elsewhere supporting place-based initiatives, supportive services for low- income populations
TASK: Implement collaborative planning process Establish HOST working group
Participatory model: residents’ council to participate in program design and fundraising HOST planning goals and time frame
Establish regular meeting schedule (weekly during planning stage) Identify entity tasked with setting agendas, allocating follow-up items Establish document-sharing plan (DropBox or other cloud sharing service)
TASK: Conduct meetings with selected local government agencies and CBOs Discuss HOST model, planning process, who you are working with so far
What is their experience working with the community? What is working well or not so well?
Are they aware of any community or resident needs assessments, program evaluations, or data on residents and services in the neighborhood?
If they had additional funding to allocate to this community, how would they allocate to improve the life chances of the most vulnerable youth and adults (while simultaneously reducing community problems and enhancing the quality of life for all residents)?
Suggestions for potential partners and funders
TASK: Develop a HOST Work Plan or RFP for service provider Develop HOST intervention
Create plan for enhanced coordination, targeted case management, youth supports, mental health supports
Determine staffing numbers and credentials Establish caseloads and frequency of contact Establish location and facilities
Program Considerations
Building out existing services through current provider versus bringing on new provider (scale up with new hires; subprogram HOST; HOST training for all)
Case Management—incentive based; coaching model; incremental goal setting
Youth—incentive based; wrap-around services; coordination with schools; fill gap for particular age group
Health—clinical social worker (mental health, substance abuse, teen pregnancy)
Employment—mandatory or voluntary? referral or onsite; pre- & post-placement, placement, career ladders, education, child care supports, incentives, rewards; asset building
Managing Challenges
Strained relationships or contention between different stakeholders
TASK: Develop a HOST Logic Model
Populate logic model with inputs (from inventory of community resources, additional HOST services) and outputs
Determine HOST outcomes (early-, interim-, and long-term outcomes for youth, adult, community)
Establish theory of change
TASK: Develop a HOST budget
Itemize according to local costs for case managers, other service providers, etc.
Budget may be presented in phases
TASK: Develop a HOST Concept Paper HOST background
Community background Resident needs and data
Promise of HOST at site: Current stakeholders, partners, or strong potential partners Planning and meetings to date
HOST budget HOST logic model
Establish research and evaluation plan or performance management system
TASK: Consider a HOST Advisory Panel
This could be a larger group that HOST planning group consults with on a regular basis Could include residents, service providers, housing authority or developer staff, property management, anchor institutions
TASK: Develop Evaluation and Performance Management plan
Evaluation—baseline survey (adult & youth in HOST households) (participatory model) Follow-up survey (year 3)
Interviews and focus groups with program staff (quarterly during year 1; biannually years 2–3) Interviews and focus groups with participating households
Select performance management data system for tracking services and outcomes, or adapt existing system for HOST data
Participate in Urban Institute’s HOST Learning Community Urban Institute—incremental technical assistance
TASK: Fundraise for the HOST initiative
Background on HOST Why this community?
Ask them to give some background on their foundation and funding priorities More detail on HOST at your site tailored to their areas of interest
What you have accomplished so far in planning process
Who you are currently working with and who you have identified as strong HOST partners Ask for their ideas and opinions on the HOST model and possible partnerships in the city
