Getting Buy-In
- Can we share a copy of the assessment questionnaires to start a conversation with partners about the information we will need for them to complete this year?
- Do you have suggestions on how to introduce the SLAQ or OAQ to our partners?
- What happens if a partner doesn't want to complete it?
- Can you share an example of language we can use in an existing MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) or other participation agreement we have with our sites?
Can we share a copy of the assessment questionnaires to start a conversation with partners about the information we will need for them to complete this year?
Absolutely! Digital copies of each questionnaire are available as word documents or fillable PDFs for email or printing and are available on our Questionnaires webpage, organized by setting. We hope that having these “paper” options will help you and your partners to start planning ahead.
Do you have suggestions on how to introduce the SLAQ or OAQ to our partners?
Yes, a training that included best practices for introducing and conducting the SLAQs was given in July 2019. The slides and recording are available under 'general job aids and tutorials' on the SLAQ training page. We also have one-pagers that LHDs can give to sites that will explain what SLAQs and OAQs are and why they are important. Additionally, you may want to complete one of our action planning tools when you follow-up with your sites as a constructive way to review the assessment results and demonstrate that completing the SLAQ or OAQ is a first step towards identifying areas of opportunity and driving change. Finally, your sites may be encouraged to complete a SLAQ by the possibility of earning an award! Consider telling them that by filling out a SLAQ, they will be considered for LEAP Awards.
Helpful tip: Remind schools and school districts that periodic assessment of public schools' compliance with the local school wellness policies is a required part of the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act, and the SLAQ/OAQ provide a way to meet that requirement. Be sure to reinforce the benefit of completing the assessment annually, focusing on how important the data collected is to planning programs that are customized to their partners' needs.
What happens if a partner doesn't want to complete it?
Our recommendation is that completion of the SLAQ/OAQ is a part of your formal agreement process (e.g., MOU, subcontract, or LCAP) to conduct CalFresh Healthy Living (CFHL) work in each district/school site/other partner. Be sure to explain the benefit of completing the SLAQ/OAQ annually, focusing on how important the data collected is to planning programs that are customized to their partners' needs and measuring progress over time. We encourage you to work with the school district to build the SLAQ/OAQ into the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) in order to further formalize the assessment process. More information on LCAP can be found on the California Department of Education website.
We recognize that there may be challenges to obtaining buy-in from all partners, and that even with buy-in staff may not find time to complete and return forms. We encourage you to work with staff to find ways to make the process as easy and efficient as possible, without reducing data quality. We also recognize the barriers to completion during health or safety emergencies. All of the questionnaires include spaces for sites to identify where practices have been impacted by health or safety emergencies.
Can you share an example of language we can use in an existing MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) or other participation agreement we have with our sites?
Here’s an example of a few bullets or sentences you can add to your existing MOUs. Please adapt as needed.
- Staff at [INSERT NAME OF SITE] will complete the Site-Level Assessment Questionnaire (SLAQ) annually to document current nutrition and activity policies and practices that are in place.
- The SLAQ should be completed at the beginning [or end] of each school [or program] year and reflect the current situation at the time of assessment. (Note: the current situation does not include policies and practices that will be implemented in the coming year, but have not yet begun)
- Completed SLAQs will be submitted to [INSERT NAME OF SNAP-Ed IMPLEMENTING AGENCY], who will share and review results with [NAME OF SITE] to use in planning future activities to continue improving nutrition and physical activity practices at [NAME OF SITE].