What We Do “Our mission is to promote long-term changes in how social services are provided to Tacoma’s children, youth and their families; to improve the quality, coordination and success rates of services.” — Mission Statement Meeting our mission:The TUN is an adaptable and dynamic organization that works in many different ways in Pierce County. From organizing educational efforts to supporting countywide partnerships and prevention initiatives, the network stays focused on what actually works and how it can be accountable to our public. Utilizing outcome data and leading edge research in targeted problem behaviors is the cornerstone for the systemic reform effort the TUN has embarked on with the following three Strategic Initiatives.
Strategic Initiatives
Outcomes Initiative
The Outcomes Initiative has been the center of our work since the TUN’s inception. This work focuses on building the outcome evaluation capacity of community-based organizations and the Tacoma-Pierce County funding community. The TUN board believes that the evaluation of the service impact on individuals (clients) is a key component to the long-term effectiveness of the human service system. At the same time the funding community must learn to accurately and effectively utilize outcome achievement data and outcome process information. The TUN continues to evaluate and provide systemic improvement strategies for the utilization of outcomes in the Tacoma-Pierce County funding community.
Traumatized Children CampaignLeading edge research in brain chemistry and the negative impacts of adverse childhood experiences led the TUN board to embark on a long-term campaign to improve policy and practices related to children traumatized by violence. This campaign, in its infancy, has summarized important research for our community to begin digesting. As we converse with representatives from all sectors regarding this vital information a “tipping point” to action is anticipated. In 2008 the H.O.P.E. Initiative was born as a community collaboration working to improve systems serving traumatized children. The TUN board is proving that this long-term process that will engage multiple organizations and individuals in process & policy improvements. A goal for this project is to have intentional services for the children in our community who have multiple adverse childhood experiences.
The Tacoma Urban Network is working with the Pierce County Juvenile Court to create and maintain data and management systems that embed learning using data into the culture of the Court. This project started in 2003 with the first Review of Community Efforts leading to a decategorization of Consolidated Juvenile Services funds. In order to improve services to youth the funding is tied to intermediate outcomes, and improvement in probation and program services. The outcome data, contextual data and best practice research has helped the PCJC to make powerful improvements in their services. In 2009, the state legislature using the model developed by the TUN and Pierce County Juvenile Court expanded the decategorization and LEARN→MANAGE→IMPROVE model to all courts in Washington. "With the assistance of the Tacoma Urban Network, the Pierce County Juvenile Court has gone from a data challenged court to a court that regularly utilizes data in decision-making." Shelly Maluo, Pierce County Juvenile Court Administrator.
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