Data Tools

Under the Accountable Government Act (AGA), Iowa is implementing a comprehensive and integrated performance governance system. The purpose of this system is to produce results valued by Iowans and do so in the most effective and efficient way possible. There are five basic elements in the governance system. First, they plan what results should we achieve and how they will achieve them.

On June 1, 2001, Governor Tom Vilsack signed the Accountable Government Act (AGA) into law.

The Office of the Budget recognizes that it is important to provide agencies with a flexible management tool to assist in identifying and achieving agency goals and objectives. The strategic plan is a management tool. Strategic planning is a long-term, future-oriented process of assessment, goal setting, and decision making that maps an explicit path between the present and a vision of the future — usually three to five years.

This handbook has three purposes. The first is to offer managers and staff in youth programs guidelines for planning an evaluation of their program. The second purpose is to offer a tool to those who wish to conduct their own simple evaluation.

Strategic planning is managing for results. It is a participatory process requiring the full support of the agency director, as well as the involvement of employees at all levels in the agency. Strategic planning considers the needs and expectations of customers, stakeholders and policy makers in defining agency missions, goals, and performance measures.

The Iowa Youth Survey is a joint effort conducted by The Iowa Department of Public Health's Division of Behavioral Health, Iowa Department of Education, Office of Drug Control Policy, Iowa Department of Human Rights, Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning and Statistical Analysis Center, and Iowa Department of Human Services.

The Forum for Youth Investment has partnered with Corporate Voices for Working Families to support a Youth Transitions Task Force charged with identifying and promoting the corporate and public policies necessary to ensure that young people ages 14-21 have the opportunities to develop the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in work and in life.

In 2003, the Office of Policy and Management spearheaded an effort to review citywide spending on services for children and youth. The City spends $72 million per year on a variety of programs for children.