How to Write Effective Success Stories

By Wendi WilliamsUpdated Feb 2008

These slides are to be used as a guide to writing success stories. The format that involves using “situation/background, program activities, results/impact, and evaluation/evidence,” is a standard “success story” format that can be used

for multiple audiences and for numerous Extension documents. - Wendi Williams

Definition of success

The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines success as an “outcome” or “result” – “a degree or measure of succeeding” or a “favorable or desired outcome.”

What is a success story?

A success story is the successful – favorable or desired result or outcome of a program. In other words, you want to paint a picture as to how Extension makes a difference in the lives of the people it serves.

What is a success story? So, consider these factors when you write a success story:

* Pretend the reader knows nothing whatsoever about your program. Don’t assume anything!

* Remember… You are telling a short story about what you want to achieve in a program.

What is a success story? * Tells the reader why and how your

program was implemented.

* Tells the results or the impact of the program

* Tells the measurable results or how program success was achieved

* Defines the public value of a program

Types of success stories* A single event such as a program,

meeting, or conference – Urban-Rural Interface Conference

* The series of activities with varying participants – Family Conference

* A program with a predetermined length of time – Points of Light Youth Leadership Institute

Types of success stories* A comprehensive program that

partners with outside organizations to influence state or national policy.

* A comprehensive program that includes a needs assessment, fund raising or marketing strategies, or applied research that last 6 months or longer. (Iowa State Extension, 2007)

Why write success stories?* To show why Extension/Urban Affairs

uses public funds. * To document that Extension/Urban

Affairs uses funds for intended purposes, which is… to make positive and lasting impacts in the lives of Alabama citizens.

Why write success stories?

* To share program ideas and to learn what works and what doesn’t work.

* To market Extension – Your Experts for Life (Purdue Extension, 2007)

When to write success stories? * When you have something important to

report and you have impact data to back up your work

* When you are proud of a program

*Ongoing -- Don’t wait until you are told to write one by your supervisor or at the end of the year. (Purdue Extension, 2007)

How are success stories used? Extension administrators and state

legislators use success stories for planning and reporting, which translates into $$$.

We want the public to know that we do good work that positively impacts the lives of people in the state of Alabama. AND we want to keep doing what we do.

Structure of success stories* Situation/Background* Program Activities* Results/Impact* Evaluation/Evidence

Situation/Background This is a problem statement. * Why does the program exist in the

first place?

* What are you trying to achieve?

* Why is this program important to the people of Alabama?

Program Activities How was the program implemented? * What steps did you take to carry out the

program – fulfill the program objectives?

* Who is your target audience?

* What were they asked or required to do?

Results/Impact What was achieved as a result

of this program? * What behavior changed?

* What actions are being put into place to ensure your desired results?

Evaluation/Evidence How do you assess your success? * How did you measure your success?

* Did you use pre- and post-assessments?

* Did you use surveys?

* Do you have testimonials from participants?

Success Story

Example #1: HIV/AIDS Prevention Education

Example #1 Situation/Background According to the Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention, from 2001 to 2005, HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths have increased in the South.

Example #1 Situation/Background Forty percent of persons living with AIDS in the United States

reside in the South in comparison to 30% in the Northeast, 20% in the West, and 11% in the Midwest.

Example #1 Situation/Background In Alabama, as in the nation, African-

Americans (AAs) have the highest rates of new HIV infections – AAs comprise 26% of the state population, but account for 63% of new infections.

Example #1 Program Activities Volunteers were trained by the Red

Cross to offer basic HIV/AIDS prevention education courses to local citizens. From January-June, a total of ten, 2-hour prevention education sessions were offered.

Example #1 Program Activities In addition, on-site testing was done

by the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) and the local AIDS service organization.

Example #1

Situation/Background Red Cross volunteers are partnering

with Extension/Urban Affairs, AIDS service organizations, and ADPH to conduct prevention education workshops and HIV screenings, with a focus on AA residents.

Example #1 Situation/Background The goal of these partnerships are to

educate high-risk communities about the adverse affects of HIV/AIDS in an effort to reduce the number of new infections in the area.

Example #1 Program Activities The prevention education sessions

were conducted at local churches and community centers.

Example #1 Program Activities In addition, individuals received a free

HIV screening. HIV-positive individuals were referred to the ADPH and to the local AIDS service organization for confirmatory testing and treatment.

Example #1 Results/Impacts Participants learned their HIV status in

20-30 minutes, which eliminates a second visit to a clinic for results (most do not return to know their status), and it reduces the time HIV-positive individuals receive treatment. Research proves that when persons know their HIV status, the majority stop engaging in risky behavior.

Example #1 Evaluation Participants were given a pre- and

post-assessment to test their knowledge of HIV facts. Assessment results showed that participants increased their knowledge of HIV/AIDS after attending the sessions.

Example #1 Results/Impacts As a result of this training, 650

participants received basic HIV education and 300 HIV screenings were provided at a cost of $27.00 each. The free screenings saved participants a total of $8,775 in medical costs.

Example #1 Evaluation Additionally, a 3-month survey showed

that individuals shared the information they learned with a loved one or colleague.

80% stopped engaging in risky behavior such as having unprotected sex, while 60% stopped encouraged their loved ones/colleagues to get tested for HIV.

Example #1 Evaluation and Impact At the end of the year, the ADPH

reported (through a tracking system) a 5% reduction in the number of new HIV infections in this area. More individuals know their HIV status and were able to enter into early treatment that helped to prolong their life.

Success StoryExample #2: Ties That Bind

Example #2 Situation/Background Ninety percent of urban families in

Lauderdale and Colbert counties do not spend quality time together – involves family activities, educational preparation, church time, or shopping.

Example #2 Situation/Background Many of the children move beyond the

boundaries of the family to travel the neighborhood, forge their own relationships with close friends, neighbors, and have experiences that are independent of their parents. There is a big need for families to bond and get to know each other better.

Example #2 Situation/Background Extension’s Urban Center in Lauderdale and

Colbert counties, the Area Agency on Aging, the city school system, the law enforcement agencies, the Family Court, Boys and Girls Club, Handy Head Start, and DHR partnered together to hold a Family Festival in the Shoals on April 21, 2007.

Example #2 Program Activities Two-hundred forty-seven families

participated in this event at the Muscle Shoals Recreation Center. Parents were asked to bring their children to the festival and to stay with them.

Example #2 Program Activities A representative of Family Court

spoke on the importance of spending quality time with your family, while an officer from the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) spoke to families about child abuse.

Example #2 Program Activities There were also workshops on safety

and prevention, abstinence, and parenting that involved learning how to protect children and youth from strangers, delaying sexual activity, and administering effective parenting skills.

Example #2 Evaluation/Impact Eighty percent of participants

completed a written evaluation and turned it in. Of the 80% percent, 100% implied they would not talk to strangers; 100% vowed they would exercise; and 100% percent stated they are now more aware of child abuse.

Example #2 Testimonial Mrs. Mary Smith of Florence said it was

the best Family Festival she ever attended because of the participants (parents and children). She enjoyed the variety of the events – found them educational and fun.

Example #2 Testimonial Jason brown, a youth from Tuscumbia,

said he liked the Family Festival because he could send a personal message to other boys and girls about child abuse through the balloon release.

Example #2 Testimonial Little Amy Wilson of Muscle Shoals

said that she would never talk to a stranger because “a stranger might take off somewhere or touch her somewhere on her body.”

Other Helpful Tips

Helpful Tips* Use pictures* Proofread* Use active vs. passive voice* Be clear * Read it aloud* Will review until you get the

hang of it…

Questions?

References1. Alabama Cooperative Extension System. (2005). A success story for ETP11g. Retrieved October 10,

2007, from http://www.aces.edu/counties/Franklin/pages/Success.templ.2. Alabama Cooperative Extension System. (2005). A success story for PPA 14. Retrieved October 10,

2007, from http://www.aces.edu/counties/Franklin/pages/Success.templ.3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (June 2007). HIV surveillance report: Cases of HIV

infection and AIDS in the United States and dependent areas, 2005 (Vol. 17). Retrieved February 15, 2008, from http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/resources/reports/2005report/pdf/2005SurveillanceReport.pdf.

4. Iowa State University Extension. (September 8, 2006). Success story guidelines for field specialists and ceeds. Retrieved October 12, 2007, from http://www.extension.iastate.edu/planofwork/success.html.

5. University of Florida Extension. (May 2001). The fast and easy way to write effective success stories.6. Purdue Extension. (2007). Success story guidelines. Publication 11-2003. Retrieved October 12,

2007, from http://www.uwex.edu/ces/prs/docs/successstory.doc.