Despite the Zoom bombing on Dec. 17, we had a great initial Collective Impact for Sexual Health convening on Dec. 22.
The recording for the Dec. 22 meeting is available for viewing online. From 8:25 to 15:04 Cindi and Jessie describes what Collective Impact is and is not and how an initiative is structured. You can find in-depth information about collective impact at the Collective Impact Forum website.
The next convening is scheduled for Jan. 14 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Registration is required and virtual security measures are in place. If you know of others who would be interested in this work, please feel free to share this information with them.
What to Expect
Introductions
Evaluations overview: What is different about collective impact evaluations than program evaluations? Brief presentation with questions.
Breakout 1—Common agenda brainstorming: We have a preliminary focus: Enhancing health, safety, and quality of life regarding relationships, sex, and sexuality. Is this too narrow? Too broad? Is there anything missing? Does this appeal to the people we need to engage with? Does it reflect a focus on equity work?
Breakout 2—Identifying initial stakeholders: Who (organizations and constituents) is not yet at the table, and how do we engage them? If we look at our group with an equity lens, who is missing? What might impede their ability to join us? Who present has contacts and could reach out? For example, based on the information we have received so far, we know we are missing representation from some of these groups:
People of color.
LGBTQ+ folx.
Sexual assault/Domestic violence survivors
Law enforcement professionals.
Medical professionals.
Teachers.
Guardians.
Youth.
Mental health professionals, including school counselors.
What is Collective Impact?
Collective impact involves cross-sector cooperation as well as empowering individual participation from stakeholders who have information and perspectives to share. From nonprofit organizations to law enforcement, university departments to local businesses, health care and mental health professionals to government agencies, we are better when we work together.
According to the Collective Impact Forum, collective impact brings people together in a dynamic, structured way, to achieve systems change. It starts with a common agenda, coming together to define issues and create a shared vision for addressing them. It establishes shared measurements so the initiative can track its progress and improve on its work. It fosters mutually reinforcing activities to maximize end results. It requires continuous communication to build trust and coordinate efforts. And it has a strong backbone, an organization or team dedicated to orchestrating the work, as well as an active steering committee and shorter term working groups.