State Planning Evaluation Questions

Legal Services Corporation

October 1998

A. Planning Process and Participants

Questions to consider.

Briefly describe the process and participants. Include information about prior state planning where relevant.

Who convened or lead the process? When?
Does the process include appropriate stakeholders?
Does the process reflect guiding values? Are the values client-centered and consistent with 98-6?
Did the 1998 process provide sufficient time and structure to give careful thought to the issues and allow for feedback from stakeholders?
Did the 1998 process constitute a serious look at the issues and a genuine attempt to address them, or did the planning seem designed just to produce a report to LSC?
Is there an indication that planning will continue on some regular basis?

B. Implementation/Governance

Questions to consider.

To what extent was implementation/governance of the plan (or planning) as a whole discussed?

Is there an implementing or oversight body for the overall state plan?
If so, what are its responsibilities?
Are participants accountable to it?
Is this formally recognized, or informal?
What is its composition?
Were the members leaders in the planning process?
Does it have enough authority (buy-in) from the participants?
Are state funders invested in the process and its outcomes?
Are there plans for this body to meet on a regular schedule about state planning (implementation, evaluation and adjustment)?

C. Plans (Questions 1-6)

Questions to consider.

Briefly describe the present situation in the state.

What is the plan trying to accomplish with respect to this topic? Is there a vision, or goals?
How does the plan measure up to 98-6?
Are the plans sufficiently well-developed and realistic?
Is there a capacity to carry them out?

Are there designated implementers with leadership and authority to make things happen?
If funding is necessary, where is it coming from?
Is there a realistic commitment to invest?
Is there an articulated process and time line?

D. Overall Planning and Plans Evaluation

Questions to consider.

Overall, does the state's planning reflect positive movement towards a comprehensive, integrated delivery system?

Is there strong or emerging leadership?
Are appropriate stakeholders engaged or becoming engaged?
Is there good collaboration?
Are state funders and other stakeholders invested in strengthening the statewide system?
Is there a commitment to: Athink and plan statewide?@
Are the plans driven by client-centered values?

Do the plans address areas of high need in the state and provide promising approaches?
Is there a planning, implementation or governing body that will oversee implementation, evaluation and adjustment of the state=s plans?
Is it likely that the plans will be implemented in a timely fashion?
If so, will there be strong integration of client services and program capacities?

E. Configuration

A Configuration That Maximizes the Effective and Economical Delivery of High Quality Legal Services Throughout the State

Questions to consider.

What does the plan conclude about configuration?
Did the plan consider the indicators contained in 98-6?
Was consideration given to options other than the status quo?

Does the plan substantiate its conclusions?

If the plan endorses the present configuration:

(1) did the plan acknowledge any limitations or weaknesses in the present configuration or integration of existing programs; and if so,

(2) does the plan advance any ways to address the limitations?

Does the present configuration of programs facilitate development of the integrated capacities and approaches presented in 98-6?

Are there configuration changes you believe necessary? If so, what are they, and why?