The process of beginning and running a successful initiative involves both sound primary research that reports on the results of activities as well as meaningful secondary studies that lay a solid framework from which to move forward.
To create a solid foundation for our impact work, we've conducted several community assessments. Summaries of this work are available below.
2013 Campaign for Grade Level Reading Waukegan Action Plan
2012 Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (Waukegan Summary)
2010 Building Blocks II Quality Childcare Final Report (Waukegan, Zion, North Chicago)
2009 Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (Waukegan Summary)
2009 Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (Aggregate Graphs- Waukegan School District)
2005 Community Assessment: Executive Summary
2006 Kindergarten Readiness Assessment Results
Other studies include:
What Youth Need to Succeed
Stay in School Focus Group Report
Harvard Study on Parent Engagement
Below are links and PDFs of meaningful secondary studies that guided the United Way of Lake County in its programming.
The Family Engagement for High School Success Toolkit: Planning and implementing an initiative to support the pathway to graduation for at-risk students (United Way Worldwide, Harvard Family Research Project)
The Annie E. Casey Foundation is a private charitable organization, dedicated to helping build better futures for disadvantaged children in the United States.
“Early Childhood Development: Economic Development with a High Public Return”
In this study, the authors illustrate how well-focused investments in early childhood development yield high public as well as private returns.
America's Cradle to Prison Pipeline
Goals for the Common Good: Exploring the Impact of Education
Students At and Above Grade Level for Reading in Grade 3 Graduate from High School at Higher Rates Than Students Below Grade Level
Ready for Kindergarten? A Review of State Practices