We have just submitted our service report to the New Zealand Ministry of Health and in it we reported on the Safe Sleep activity of our networks.
Because of what you count, we were able to report some big numbers for participation in our SUDI Prevention education. Numbers were: 5657 for ‘Baby Essentials Online’, 2257 for ‘Through the Tubes’ and 303 for the recent programme ‘In Safe Hands’.
Because of what you count, we now know that, on average, 38 people per week, (or 1 per 29 babies born), participate in one or other of these programmes. In the spirit of programme logic, we can assume high levels of competence to power SUDI prevention work.
Counting matters. It is the tool of accountability. Collectively, we have accounted for the responsibility and resource entrusted to us for SUDI Prevention. The numbers are part of the story behind falling infant death rates for our country.
Because we come to value what is measured, we must be sure to measure what we value. We value participation in education so we have counted that. We value confidence to act on education so we have counted that, and we value evidence of implementing safe sleep policy so we are counting that, too.
The simple act of counting can magnify your effort, give it wings. It can throw the spotlight on important work otherwise left unnoticed.
The simple act of counting can be a tool for change. If you want your leaders to think differently, then count differently and report differently. If you value strengths over weaknesses, then count strengths, and report strengths data.
Every time we start a new activity or project at Change for our Children Limited we ask ourselves two questions about the change outcome:
- “What do we value?’ and
- ‘How will we measure it; what will we count?’
Our 2015 focus for SUDI prevention is promoting the principle ‘always in safe hands‘. We value sober carers, parents taking responsibility where there is drinking and drug use; we value the spread of awareness that alcohol impairs judgement, that babies need carers who understand their needs and are able to respond … .
So what could you be counting, at a local level, to show that you are making a difference? Could it be conversations had with families, participation in education, the reach of an awareness campaign, or something not yet dreamed of? We invite you to share your thoughts so that others can be supported by them, because this is a challenging change to lead.
Take care with what you count, because it will become what is valued.
Until next time, Stephanie