National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention
 

Sustainability Self-Assessment Tool
 

The National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention has identified eight capacities that can ensure 

Forum sites’ success and sustainability. Site leaders need the capacity to 

1.	 Develop and articulate a shared vision of success, and the scale and scope of that 

vision. 

2.	 Clearly define the desired results and measure the impact of their efforts. 

3.	 Authentically engage youth in all aspects of the effort. 

4.	 Create a leadership and governance structure to support the multidisciplinary 

partnership. 

5.	 Consistently and effectively engage community stakeholders in the collaboration. 

6.	 Effectively manage the operations of a multidisciplinary partnership to achieve 

shared goals. 

7.	 Secure and leverage a broad range of financial resources to support the capacities 

and functions needed to achieve and sustain the vision. 

8.	 Nimbly adapt to and strategically influence the changing context in which they 

operate. 

This tool will help site leaders self-assess strengths and challenges across these capacities. Each 

capacity includes specific elements for you to consider and rate according to this five-point scale: 

1 = No or little attention to this area to date
 

2 = New area for site, just getting started developing 

3 = Have begun to develop this area or revisiting for improvements
 

4 = Solid area for the site but still paying attention to it
 

5 = Solid area for the site and doesn’t require attention at this time
 

Following each item, there is a space for you to comment or ask questions. At the end of the 

assessment, there is space for you to reflect on key strengths and challenges, and make 

recommendations for top short-term (12 months) and longer-term (2 to 3 years) priorities for 

expanding and deepening our efforts. 

1 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capacity 1. Develop and articulate a shared vision of success, and the 

scale and scope of that vision. 1 2 3 4 5 

1. Site leaders have developed a shared vision for youth violence prevention 

with stakeholders, including residents and youth. 

Comments: 

2. Site leaders ensure that stakeholders involved in developing the vision 

reflect the racial and ethnic makeup of the community. 

Comments: 

3. Site leaders have developed a detailed plan that aligns vision, goals, 

strategies, and activities with measurable results. 

Comments: 

4. Site leaders regularly communicate their vision and goals to the larger 

community, government representatives, and others. 

Comments: 

5. Site leaders have aligned their vision, goals, and plan with other initiatives 

and efforts in the community. 

Comments: 

6. Within the plan, site leaders have clearly articulated what systems, 

policies, and practices must be sustained in the community to achieve their 

vision. 

Comments: 

1 = No or little attention to this area to date 

2 = New area for site, just getting started developing 

3 = Have begun to develop this area or revisiting for improvements 

4 = Solid area for the site but still paying attention to it 

5 = Solid area for the site and doesn’t require attention at this time 

2 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capacity 2. Clearly define the desired results and measure the impact of 

your efforts. 1 2 3 4 5 

1. Site leaders have an evaluation plan that clearly defines desired results and 

outlines how they will track progress toward those results. Plan identifies 

data sources and specifies how data collection and data sharing will occur. 

Comments: 

2. Site leaders have access to data necessary to measure progress toward their 

desired results and have a system to share and track data across partners. 

Comments: 

3. Site leaders use data to set priorities, make decisions and course 

corrections, and to continually improve efforts. 

Comments: 

4. Site leaders engage community stakeholders, including youth, throughout 

the evaluation process (i.e., from determining results and developing an 

evaluation plan to interpreting and making decisions based on the data). 

Comments: 

5. Site leaders regularly communicate the impact of the effort with 

stakeholders, policymakers, and the broader community. 

Comments: 

1 = No or little attention to this area to date 

2 = New area for site, just getting started developing 

3 = Have begun to develop this area or revisiting for improvements 

4 = Solid area for the site but still paying attention to it 

5 = Solid area for the site and doesn’t require attention at this time 

3 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capacity 3. Authentically engage youth in all aspects of your effort. 1 2 3 4 5 

1. Site leaders have clearly defined leadership roles and decision-making 

responsibilities for youth leaders. 

Comments: 

2. The site leadership team, including youth, is trained in youth–adult 

partnership and positive youth development. 

Comments: 

3. Site leaders have strategies in place for effectively engaging youth in all 

aspects of their work. The strategies are grounded in youth–adult 

partnership and positive youth development principles. 

Comments: 

4. Site leaders have a process for ongoing recruitment and training of young 

leaders. 

Comments: 

5. Site leaders tangibly support young people’s ongoing engagement (e.g., 

through stipends, transportation assistance, and adult supporters/mentors). 

Comments: 

1 = No or little attention to this area to date 

2 = New area for site, just getting started developing 

3 = Have begun to develop this area or revisiting for improvements 

4 = Solid area for the site but still paying attention to it 

5 = Solid area for the site and doesn’t require attention at this time 

4 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capacity 4. Create a leadership and governance structure to support the 

multidisciplinary partnership. 1 2 3 4 5 

1. Site leaders have clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and expectations 

within the leadership and governance structure. 

Comments: 

2. Site leadership has representation from key community stakeholder 

groups—such as youth, residents, law enforcement, education, health, and 

the faith based—and the leadership reflects the racial and ethnic makeup 

of the community. 

Comments: 

3. Site leaders regularly assess the influence, capacity, and level of 

participation of the leadership and make adjustments as necessary. 

Comments: 

4. City leadership (and county leadership, if applicable) has demonstrated 

commitment to the Forum (i.e., through filling leadership roles, garnering 

resources, and communicating youth violence prevention as a priority). 

Comments: 

5. Site leaders have an inclusive and well-defined decision-making process. 

Comments: 

6. Site leaders have a plan for recruitment and skill development within key 

community stakeholder groups to ensure ongoing representative 

leadership. 

Comments: 

7. Site leaders regularly communicate decisions to all stakeholders. 

Comments: 

1 = No or little attention to this area to date 

2 = New area for site, just getting started developing 

3 = Have begun to develop this area or revisiting for improvements 

4 = Solid area for the site but still paying attention to it 

5 = Solid area for the site and doesn’t require attention at this time 

5 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capacity 5. Consistently and effectively engage community stakeholders 

in the collaboration. 1 2 3 4 5 

1. Site leaders involve stakeholders at all levels of the initiative’s decisionmaking and work. 

Comments: 

2. Site leaders have strategies to intentionally engage young people as a 

unique stakeholder group. 

Comments: 

3. Site leaders engage stakeholders who represent the racial and ethnic 

makeup of the community. 

Comments: 

4. Site leaders regularly scan the community for new partners and support 

ongoing capacity building to broaden the pool of resident leaders. 

Comments: 

5. Site leaders have mechanisms for ongoing communication with 

stakeholders. Stakeholders are kept well informed of decisions, progress, 

and challenges and have regular opportunities to provide input. 

Comments: 

6. Site leaders create opportunities to recognize and reward stakeholders for 

their contribution to youth violence prevention. 

Comments: 

1 = No or little attention to this area to date 

2 = New area for site, just getting started developing 

3 = Have begun to develop this area or revisiting for improvements 

4 = Solid area for the site but still paying attention to it 

5 = Solid area for the site and doesn’t require attention at this time 

6 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capacity 6. Effectively manage the operations of a multidisciplinary 

partnership to achieve shared goals. 1 2 3 4 5 

1. Site leaders have clearly defined management roles and responsibilities 

among the partnering organizations. 

Comments: 

2. City government (and county government, if applicable) and other critical 

partners have staff time and functions dedicated to youth violence 

prevention. 

Comments: 

3. An organization or government entity serves as the “backbone 

organization” and provides key functions such as planning, coordination, 

convening, communications, and implementation oversight. 

Comments: 

4. The backbone organization has strong management systems and 

appropriate staffing to manage the initiative. Its staffing reflects the racial 

and ethnic makeup of the community. 

Comments: 

5. The backbone organization has communications processes that keep 

community stakeholders engaged and informed. 

Comments: 

1 = No or little attention to this area to date 

2 = New area for site, just getting started developing 

3 = Have begun to develop this area or revisiting for improvements 

4 = Solid area for the site but still paying attention to it 

5 = Solid area for the site and doesn’t require attention at this time 

7 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capacity 7. Secure and leverage a broad range of financial resources to 

support the capacities and functions needed to achieve and sustain the 

vision. 

1 2 3 4 5 

1. Site leaders have developed a strategic financing plan with input from 

community stakeholders. The plan lays out an accurate projection of cost 

based on the site’s goals and describes the financing strategies necessary 

to achieve those goals. The plan identifies both short- and long-term 

strategies to sustain the effort over time. 

Comments: 

2. Site leaders and partner organizations have clear roles and responsibilities 

related to the financial plan and are committed to its successful execution. 

Comments: 

3. Site leaders understand the level of current public and private investments 

related to their goals and have identified opportunities related to those 

investments (e.g., opportunities to shift funding upstream, and align or 

coordinate public and private funding). 

Comments: 

4. Site leaders have strategies in place to pursue a variety of funding sources 

to support youth violence prevention efforts (e.g., federal, state, and local 

public funding; private philanthropic funding). 

Comments: 

5. Site leaders regularly monitor current funding and are able to identify 

gaps in a timely manner. 

Comments: 

6. Site leaders regularly communicate with current and potential funders 

about the progress they are making toward their goals. 

Comments: 

1 = No or little attention to this area to date 

2 = New area for site, just getting started developing 

3 = Have begun to develop this area or revisiting for improvements 

4 = Solid area for the site but still paying attention to it 

5 = Solid area for the site and doesn’t require attention at this time 

8 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capacity 8. Nimbly adapt to and strategically influence the changing 

context in which you operate. 1 2 3 4 5 

1. Site leaders have strategies in place to improve and institutionalize the 

specific systems, policies, and practices necessary to prevent youth 

violence in their community. 

Comments: 

2. Site leaders contribute to efforts to improve the policy context at the local, 

state, and national levels. 

Comments: 

3. Site leaders regularly monitor and assess opportunities and threats within 

political, policy, and economic conditions. 

Comments: 

4. When opportunities or threats arise, site leaders use their decision-making 

process to respond in a strategic and timely manner. 

Comments: 

5. Site leaders work with emerging and existing initiatives to ensure 

alignment and coordination of goals, results, and activities. 

Comments: 

6. Site leaders have a communications plan in support of their systems 

improvement goals and strategies. 

Comments: 

1 = No or little attention to this area to date 

2 = New area for site, just getting started developing 

3 = Have begun to develop this area or revisiting for improvements 

4 = Solid area for the site but still paying attention to it 

5 = Solid area for the site and doesn’t require attention at this time 

9 
 

 

 

 

Sustainability Self-Assessment Summary 

Among the eight capacities, what would you identify as your site’s greatest strengths? 

1) 

2) 

3) 

Among the eight capacities, what would you identify as your site’s greatest challenges? 

1) 

2) 

3) 

Given the challenges, what is your recommendation for the top three short-term (12 months) 

priorities for expanding/deepening your site’s capacities? 

1) 

2) 

3) 

What is your recommendation for the top three longer-term (2–3 years) priorities for 

expanding/deepening your capacities? 

1) 

2) 

3) 

What knowledge or support, if any, will help your site expand/deepen its capacities? 

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