Research and planning
-Comprehensive assessment of needs, expenditures and service gaps.
-Community-wide goals and outcomes for children, youth and families.
-Agreement by core stakeholders about priorities for increased funding.
Capacity of network and leadership
-Network that works together across multiple areas of children's services and has overcome turf issues.
-Convening entity with credibility to organize meetings in early phase of the work.
-Willingness and independence to speak out openly about unmet needs and funding options.
-Network members or partners beyond children's service providers, such as a large membership organizations, parent groups, youth, faith, labor, and business.
-History of collaboration to increase local budgets for children's services.
-Network members who are politically engaged and have credibility with elected officials and community.
-Funders to support early work.
Political and civic culture
-Civic culture that supports children, e.g. media, volunteers, business, private funders.
-Political leaders who have prioritized children and are current or potential allies and champions.
-Successful ballot measures that have funded education, children or human services.
-History of success in "winning-over skeptics and opponents of public funding for kids.
Use these questions to start a community discusssion about next steps.