Tracking Oregon's Progress: A Report of the Tracking Oregon's Progress (TOP) Indicators Project

In 1989, Oregon embarked on a novel experiment to track the progress of the state toward a set of economic, social and environmental goals embodied in the state strategic plan Oregon Shines. The task of tracking a set of indicators to measure progress was assigned to a new state entity: the Oregon Progress Board. For two decades, the Progress Board measured the state's progress using a set of social, economic and environmental indicators. After the 2009 report was completed however, the state decided not to continue funding the Progress Board and discontinued the tracking of state and county indicators.This 2014 report is a report to the people of Oregon. It identifies trends in the state that suggest both progress toward prosperity as well as issues that may be a source of future barriers and concerns. Like those who led previous indicator efforts, we hope that the report and website will be used by policymakers, government analysts, the press, business and civic leaders and the civically-engaged population to better understand the current social, economic, and environmental condition of the state

Accommodating Extension Clients Who Face Language, Vision, or Hearing Challenges

A survey-based study explored approaches used by one land-grant university to meet the needs of Extension clients who face language, vision, or hearing challenges. In attempts to serve such clients, the greatest gaps existed for clients whose main language was Spanish, followed by those who had vision impairments and then those who had hearing difficulties. Extension professionals surveyed recommended that use of resources to meet the needs of such clients be prioritized as follows: accommodating clients who face language challenges (those whose main language is Spanish), using contractors to adapt materials or provide live assistance, and providing applicable technology or equipment

Strategies for Accommodating Extension Clients Who Face Language, Vision, or Hearing Challenges

Extension services nationwide seek to equalize access to university resources for all learners. In this article, we focus on accommodation as a tool of our trade. We discuss findings and implications from a study that documented approaches used by one state\u27s Extension professionals to accommodate clients who face language, vision, or hearing challenges. We also explore constraints, criteria for effectiveness, appropriate goals, and roles and responsibilities relative to using various accommodations to provide full access for all who participate in Extension programming

Tillamook County: 2020 Strategic Vision. Indicator Report & Assessment, 2009–2014. Executive summary

A product of the Vital Tillamook Indicator Project. This executive summary provides an overview of a collaborative effort of the Tillamook County Futures Council and Oregon State University faculty members jointly affiliated with Extension Service and the Rural Studies Program developed 50 indicators of Tillamook County: 2020 Strategic Vision in order to gain insight into the community-level definition of community vitality and to learn how close Tillamook County is to realizing the goals set forth in the vision. Funding was provided by the Ford Family Foundation

Using Needs Assessment as a Tool to Strengthen Funding Proposals

In an increasingly competitive funding environment, Extension Services nationwide seek to diversify their funding bases to conduct successful programming and communicate impact to stakeholders. In this article we suggest the use of the Proposal Enhancement Tool, a needs assessment based approach of determining the gap between the current situation and the desired situation, as it applies to a defined audience. This approach requires principal investigators to engage communities in defining the existing problems, determining causes of those problems, and collectively developing solutions to address them. When followed, this approach increases the potential for more successful grant proposals

Tillamook County: 2020 Strategic Vision. 2009-2014 Indicator Assessment

Part of the Vital Tillamook Indicator Project. This presentation summarizes a collaborative effort of the Tillamook County Futures Council and Oregon State University faculty members jointly affiliated with Extension Service and the Rural Studies Program developed 50 indicators of Tillamook County: 2020 Strategic Vision in order to gain insight into the community-level definition of community vitality and to learn how close Tillamook County is to realizing the goals set forth in the vision. Funding was provided by the Ford Family Foundation

2009 Wallowa County Vitality Assessment

This presentation summarizes a collaborative effort of the Wallowa Resources, Northeast Oregon Economic Development District and Oregon State University faculty members jointly affiliated with Extension Service and the Rural Studies Program to develop indicators of Wallowa County community vitality in a way that reflects the goals and values of the community, measure vitality with indicators, and assess the vitality with indicator data and community input. Funding was provided by the Ford Family Foundation

Evaluation of the Ford Institute Leadership Program: 2011 Report

Evaluation revealing the impact of the Ford Institute Leadership Program on individuals and communities

Evaluation of the Ford Institute Leadership Program: 2010 Report

Findings of the 2010 evaluation of the Ford Institute Leadership Program. Evaluation assessed impact of the Leadership Program on individuals, organizations, and communities