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Home --> Publications --> Grantees at Work --> PATHS to Success

PATHS to Success
Lynn Páscoa, Hope Project Director (TCE grantee)
Dauphin County Mental Health/Mental Retardation Program
Mavis Kelley, Safe Schools/Healthy Students Project Director
Harrisburg School District
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

In 2002, Harrisburg , Pennsylvania was awarded two federal grants: a Safe Schools/Healthy Students and a Targeted Capacity Expansion (Prevention/Early Intervention). Both projects shared a common goal - to increase community knowledge of emotional health and the importance of social emotional competencies. One of the keys to creating greater awareness was to introduce a proven Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) evidence-based intervention (EBI) to the greater Harrisburg community. Starting in the 2004-2005 school year, the EBI, Promoting Alternative THinking Strategies, or PATHS, was implemented throughout the school district. The two project directors, Lynn Páscoa (TCE, Hope Project) and Mavis Kelley (SS/HS), used the school-based EBI's fundamentals as an introduction of SEL to parents and the community. To do this, they developed a very creative resource - the Little Turtle Family Activity Kit, an attractive set of learning tools designed for parents to use with their children.

The development of the Little Turtle Activity kit and its launch into the community were the end results of two years of collaboration, careful planning and execution. Early on, Lynn and Mavis saw the potential of combining their respective project resources for maximum impact. They were careful to ensure that their combined implementation efforts appeared seamless to the community. The key to this seamlessness was what Mavis calls their 'administrative alliance'. Through strategic moves such as serving on each other's advisory boards, sharing grant administration experiences, and maintaining communication between meetings, the project directors made sure that there was continuity in the objectives and progress of each project.

Another important element of this successful collaboration involved the participation of the PATHS co-developer, Mark Greenberg of the Prevention Research Center at Pennsylvania State University . Dr. Greenberg was involved in the planning and implementation process, as well as the development of the kit. He was able to provide valuable input, especially when PATHS was adapted for use in the community by parents.

Even though collaboration between projects and among stakeholders was already a hallmark of the Harrisburg effort, planning for this process was managed in a deliberate manner. The community awareness work group consisted of stakeholders from every aspect of the implementation process. While the inclusion of all stakeholders (including the co-developer) was a decided benefit, the array of interests and ideas generated created many interesting management challenges. In order to keep the planning on schedule, Lynn developed a logic model that outlined program goals, intended outcomes, and the action steps required to meet their mutual desired outcomes. The logic model accomplished several things. It clearly outlined goals and facilitated buy-in from planning participants, served as a reference during the planning process, and kept the planning committee on track.

Finally, Lynn and Mavis embraced the concept of 'if you don't have the expertise, find someone who does'. A tremendous partner and resource came on board in the shape of a social marketing firm that was eager to participate in the community awareness program. The professional experience of the marketing firm not only helped guide the creative process, it enabled the group to develop an activity kit with consumer appeal. They also assisted the group in developing a highly visible launch with public and media relations. The firm stretched the awareness group's thinking and showed them how professional results were possible with a modest budget.

Looking to the future, Harrisburg School District and Dauphin County Mental Health/Mental Retardation Program are exploring ways to sustain the progress they've made in the community. Dauphin County is currently considering the pros and cons of selling the kit to other communities and investigating business models that will help them achieve their goals. Nonetheless, the Harrisburg team's model for creative collaboration is already in place - develop a plan, gain buy-in from stakeholders, hire expertise and keep the passion alive.

Advice from Harrisburg

• You don't have to be the expert in everything. You can hire expertise that, in the end, costs less and produces more. Don't be afraid to approach a for-profit firm. All they can say is no - but you may be surprised. Firms may feel powerful connections to the community and want to help at no- or lowered costs.

• Many non-profits start with the wrong question. They try to fit the program to the money. The real question is where and what is the need? Find the program that's right for the need and then fit the money to the program.

• Use a logic model or other planning tool to help guide your efforts. So many good ideas get generated in brainstorming sessions but not all move you closer to your end goals. Make sure the ideas meet your end goals; don't get sidetracked.