YWCA USA

Implementing

Hallmark Standards

June 2007

YWCA USA Hallmark Committee

YWCA Hallmarks

Eliminating racism

Advancing women’s economic empowerment

Hallmark History

Hallmarks were central to YWCA USA 2002

Change Initiative:

Need for distinct national identity Consistency across YWCA system Increase public awareness and

understanding Authenticity of corporate identity Affiliation requirement

Hallmark Rationale

Align ourselves with mission

Basis for national corporate identity

Become core competencies for which all YWs are known

Reduce confusion with other organizations

Meeting the Standard

At least one qualifying activity in each Hallmark area (Racial Justice and Women’s Economic Empowerment); or

Implementing a specific compliance plan

The Ultimate Goal

Our intentional commitment to the elimination of racism and the empowerment of women guides and informs all work anddecision making of the YWCA.

Adopted as part of visioning group work November 2006

Achieving the Goal

Every local association can answer affirmatively:

If you described the association’s activities to an unfamiliar person, would the connection to eliminating racism and economic empowerment be self-evident?

Would an average person in the community identify the YWCA as being involved with work to eliminate racism and empower women?

Do community leaders consult with or involve the YWCAin issues related to racism and economic empowerment?

Are actions to eliminate racism and empower women foremost in what the association is known for doing?

Hallmark Definition

YWCA Hallmark Programs and initiatives in racial justice and women’s economic advancement are:

intentional, have direct impact and measurable

results, and create meaningful change.

Four Hallmark Standards

1. Hallmark activities and programs must be implemented with the intention of influencing racial justice and women’s economic advancement.

2. Hallmark activities and programs must have a demonstrable and direct impact on hallmark issues within the local community.

(Standards continued)

3. Hallmark activities and programs must have measurable results.

4. Hallmark activities and programs must create meaningful, mission-focused change in a condition or set of conditions versus just raising awareness.

Assessing Compliance

Local association self assessment

Peer review or other regional assessment

National standardization under review

What is a qualifying program?

May be stand alone program like financial literacy, or

May be embedded in transitional housing, domestic violence, leadership development, etc.

May be activity, initiative, collaboration, etc.

Help in Meeting the Standard

Regional Technical Assistance

Peer Review

Hallmark Initiative: National Model Programs

2007 Model Hallmark Programs

Racial Justice Models:

Getting Started in Racial Justice What’s Wrong with Different

Racial Justice Dialogues

Racial Justice Social Marketing Campaign

2007 Model Hallmark Programs

Women’s Economic Empowerment:

New Directions

Pathways to Success

Women$Finances

Assessment Factors: Y N ? Required Action/ Comments

1. Intended Impact        

       Is the primary purpose to eliminate racism?        

2. Demonstrable and direct impact        

       Is there a direct and logical link between initial outcomes and the reduction of racism?

       

3. Measurable results        

       Are outcomes being measured?        

       Are the outcomes focused on reducing racism?        

4. Meaningful Social Change        

       Has the activity achieved its objectives?        

       Does the activity reduce the extent of racial bias in persons, organizations and/or society at large?

       

       Is the type of change significant?        

       Is the amount of change significant?        

       Can the change be expected to endure over time?        

If a pre-launch, planning process is underway:        

       Is there a written plan with time frames, benchmarks, accountabilities and costs?

       

       Are Board and Staff committed to plan implementation?        

       Is reasonable progress being made in accordance with the plan?        

       Are adequate resources and expertise invested or planned?        

Hallmark Checklist: Racial Justice

Hallmark Checklist: Economic Empowerment

Assessment Factors: Y N ? Required Action/ Comments

1. Intended Impact        

       Is the primary purpose economic advancement of women?        

2. Demonstrable and direct impact        

       Is there a direct and logical link between initial outcomes and achieving economic advancement?

       

3. Measurable results        

       Are outcomes being measured?        

       Are the outcomes focused on economic advancement?        

4. Meaningful Social Change        

       Has the activity achieved its objectives?        

       Does the activity increase the economic status of women or their opportunities within organizations and /or society at large?

       

       Is the type of change significant?        

       Is the amount of change significant?        

       Can the change be expected to endure over time?        

If a pre-launch, planning process is underway:        

       Is there a written plan with time frames, benchmarks, accountabilities and costs?

       

       Are Board and Staff committed to plan implementation?        

       Is reasonable progress being made in accordance with the plan?        

       Are adequate resources and expertise invested or planned?        

Frequently asked questions

Can internally focused activities in a local association count?

How much impact is required?

What is the deadline for compliance?

Who decides if progress is fast enough?

Can advocacy count as hallmark activity?

How do you measure social change?

What is the definition of economic empowerment?

More questions

Does child care qualify?

Do services to immigrants qualify as eliminating racism?

How can health and fitness services qualify?

Do women’s leadership or domestic violence programs qualify?

What about transitional housing?

Do special events count?

Must women’s economic empowerment activities be offered in a single gender setting?

Do activities targeting other “isms” count?

The future

Racial and gender justice filters are institutionalized in every facet and every level of the YWCA.

Every local association is a “go to” resource for its community.

YWCAs achieve significant impact on

eliminating racism and economic

advancement of women.