Strategies for Improving Response Rates Minnesota’s First Year Success Family Outcomes Surveys.

Measuring Child & Family Outcomes: necnectac National TA Meeting August 2007

Strategies for Improving Response

RatesMinnesota’s First Year

Success

Family OutcomesSurveys


We are home to…• The Mall of America• The first professional wrestler to hold

the office of Governor• The headwaters of the Mississippi

River• The world’s largest ball of twine

• Yes, that says “twine”


Why am I up here today?

76%76%


Key Decisions• What tool to use?• How often to distribute it?• To who?• By whom?• How to get it back?• Follow up?


Which Tool?• Considered

– NCSEAM– ECO– Developing our own

• Minnesota’s adopted the ECO Survey– Length– Readability– Question Format


Distributed to…..?• Considered

– Sample– Universal Distribution

• Minnesota surveys all families


Survey FormatConsidered• Web-based• Scantron• Pencil/Paper

MN uses a paper version of the ECO survey. Child’s MARSS number is printed on survey


Frequency of DistributionConsidered

– Pre/post– Annually– One time per family

Adopted a one-time approach– Families receive a survey at exit from

Part C– Turn 3 or exit for another reason


Distribution Methodology• Surveys are handed to families

during a home visit around the time of exit from Part C.

• Given by the family’s service coordinator or Primary Service Provider

• Provided training on “talking points”


Talking Points• Each family’s answers are private• They will not be shared directly with

program staff• Responses will be combined with

responses from other families to create a statewide and local picture of the early intervention system

• Information will be used to help make programs stronger


Language or Literacy Barriers

• Districts use interpreters when necessary**

• When literacy is a barrier, districts use a staff member who is NOT a service provider to gather responses through an interview

(**Now available in multiple languages)


Available LanguagesArabic, Cambodian, Croatian,

Hmong, Laotian, Simplified Chinese, Oromo, Russian,

Somali, Spanish, Vietnamese& English.


Method of Return• Family given an envelop with

proper postage• Addressed to the MN Department

of Education• Minnesota utilizes an intentional

lack of follow-up


First “Year’s” Data• Implemented the survey process

on April 1, 2006• 2/2007 SPP included 3 months’

worth of data• 530 families eligible to receive the

survey• 403 surveys returned

Strategies for Improving Response Rates Minnesota’s First Year Success Family Outcomes Surveys.

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