Strategies for Success in Rural Communities

How To Break Down The Barriers

Sue Chvilicek, Chief Juvenile Probation Officer

Livingston, Montana

schvilicek@mt.gov

Livingston, Montana

Big Timber, Montana

We did it!• Brought an “Exemplary” rated prevention

program (OJJDP) to our rural community. Parenting With Love & Limits (PLL)

• It took us a year to get it up and running.

• 31 families have participated in the past year.

Ashley Parsons, 14, hugs her mom Amanda Gilliam-Parsons as siblings Tiffany and Joey applaud during a Parenting with Love and Limits meeting in Livingston Tuesday night. The program coaches families who have youth with emotional or behavioral problems.

August 29, 2009Erik Peterson

Bozeman Daily Chronicle

Please indulge me, I must brag!Annual Placement Budgets convert to Prevention Incentive Funds

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

PLL is the only Best Practices/Evidence Based program funded through Juvenile Probation PIF dollars currently operated in Montana.

Other Best Practices programs have been funded with PIF dollars in the past but they have ended. It is difficult to maintain program

fidelity in such a rural setting.

Your program in a small town…

Your program…

whatworks.uwex.edu/attachment/whatworks_04.pdf

Acceptable adaptations: • Changing language – Translating and/or modifying vocabulary • Replacing images to show youth and families that look like the

target audience • Replacing cultural references • Modifying some aspects of activities such as physical contact • Adding relevant, evidence-based content to make the program more

appealing to participants

Risky or unacceptable adaptations: • Reducing the number or length of sessions • Reducing how long participants are involved• Lowering the level of participant engagement • Eliminating key messages or skills learned • Removing topics • Changing the theoretical approach • Using staff or volunteers who are not adequately trained or qualified • Using fewer staff members than recommended

Let’s talk about your Program Fidelity

Short, Sweet & To The Point(this is your chance to brag)

• What makes your program relevant to people?

• Why are you passionate about what you do? (because it’s probably not the $...)

“It’s not bragging if you can back it up” ~ Muhammad Ali

A Story From Big Timber

Disorderly Conduct - MisdemeanorAssault - MisdemeanorRunawayCriminal Mischief - MisdemeanorResisting Arrest - MisdemeanorObstructing A Peace Officer - MisdemeanorUngovernable JuvenileUngovernable JuvenileUngovernable JuvenileCriminal Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia - MisdemeanorPartner Or Family Member Assault - Misdemeanor

Tell me more(keep bragging…)

“If you don’t tell people about your success, they probably won’t know about it.”

~ Donald Trump

• What are you proud of?• What does your program

do really well?• What makes us special?• Success stories!

Your Program’s Barriers

• Yes… your program probably has some barriers!

• Are they things you can’t change?

Enough about you. Let’s talk about… THEM!

www.stephenlehmer.com

You know you’re from Montana when…

Your idea of a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a tractor. You think that washing your pickup is a waste of time and money.You measure distance in minutes... not miles.You've ridden the school bus for an hour each way. You think everyone from a bigger city is stuck up. You think that the opening of elk season should be a national holiday.Driver's Ed was a joke because everyone has been driving since age 10. The rodeo is the social event of the year.The majority of your classmates are your relatives.You carry jumper cables in your car.Your school was canceled because of cold, but only when it was 40 below.You know how many cords of wood it will take to get through the winter.You know what "Cow Tipping" is. You order a pop instead of a soda. You understand that it is simply not proper to put ketchup or steak sauce

on a good steak.

What does this joke really tell us about rural communities?

• Reveals culture, economic profile, language & even people’s resourcefulness

A closer lookCulture

People from big cities are stuck up

Elk season is national holiday

Driving since age 10

Rodeo is social event of the year

Classmates are your relatives

ResourcefulnessJumper cables in your car

School cancelled when it’s 40 below

How much fire wood for the winter

A closer look

EconomyTraffic jam is 10 cars behind a tractor

Washing your truck is waste of $$

A closer look

A closer look

Language“Snipe Hunting”

Pop instead of soda

OtherYou measure distance in minutes

School bus ride of an hour

A closer look

A closer lookCulture

People from big cities are stuck up

Elk season is national holiday

Driving since age 10

Rodeo is social event of the year

Classmates are your relatives

ResourcefulnessJumper cables in your car

School cancelled when it’s 40 below

How much fire wood for the winter

EconomyTraffic jam is 10 cars behind a tractor

Washing your truck is waste of $$

Language“Snipe Hunting” “Cow Tipping”

Pop instead of soda

OtherYou measure distance in minutes

School bus ride of an hour

Remember:Remember:

A good steak doesn’t need a thing!A good steak doesn’t need a thing!

Let’s talk about Partnerships…

Can help remove barriers

Can help legitimize your program

Can help with making referrals

Builds trust!

When should partnerships be formed?

• Program development/planning stage

• At launch of program in the community

• Any time a barrier exists to your program

It’s never too soon or too late!

How can you form relationships?

• Practical strategies

• Roadmap to success

• Lots of discussion

Tip #1: Get Out There!Tip #1: Get Out There!

• Be in the community as much as possible.

• Be visible.

• Community Service

• Attend community events outside of work hours.

• Sponsor community events

Photo by Darryl Patrick

Mental Health Awareness Day at Livingston Farmer’s Market

Photos by Jim Hajny

Discussion on Getting Out There…

Photo by Darryl Patrick

• A good elevator speech

• A good “spontaneous” 5 minute let’s-talk-about-me brag-fest for meetings

Tip #2: Have a Launch LunchTip #2: Have a Launch Lunch!!

• Invite key stakeholders to a presentation over lunch.

• Give participants time to talk about what they see or need.

• Bring a success story.

Tip #3: Meetings Meetings MeetingsTip #3: Meetings Meetings Meetings

• Elks, Rotary, Church groups, other volunteer organizations.

• Give a brief overview of your program then allow people time to talk.

• Emphasize the stories, not the stats

Photo by Darryl Patrick

Tip #4: The Town GossipTip #4: The Town Gossip

• Use them to your advantage

• Approach them as you would an expert and ask for their ‘insight’.

Photo by Darryl Patrick

Tip #5: Home BaseTip #5: Home Base

• Having an office in the community is essential.

• This is where partnerships can pay off!

Photo by Darryl Patrick

A few things to remember…

• Connect with the right people within the organization.

• Let participants speak for you whenever possible.

• Look at everyone as a potential partner or referral source.

Photo by Darryl Patrick

The BIG problems

Time to brainstorm.

Transportation

Scheduling

The ism’s

slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/roadside_attractions

Photo by Darryl Patrick

Photo by Darryl Patrick