The Youth Opportunities Unit (YOU), Human Services Department, City of Phoenix, AZ, has engaged Blackerby Associates to facilitate development of its strategic plan. This site contains the relevant documentation of this process, so that participants and other interested people can monitor the project's progress and activities.

Strategic Planning Process Goals

• To produce a strategic plan for YOU, including the mission, strategic issues, goals and a high-level action plan.
  Planning horizon: 3 years, July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2007.



• To produce an implementation plan (for year 1, July 1, 2004 - June 30, 2005) for YOU that will include the action steps necessary to implement the strategic plan.



• To ensure that every voice is heard.

1.  Plan-to-Plan

Plan-to-Plan Summary document, Youth Opportunities Unit Strategic Plan 2007

Plan-to-Plan document, Youth Opportunities Unit Strategic Plan 2007

2.  Environmental Scan

The following documentary sources will be reviewed as part of the environmental scan, focusing on internal strengths and weaknesses, and external threats and opportunities (SWOT).

• 2002-03 Annual report, City of Phoenix Human Services Department.
• 2002-2003 School Based Program Survey.
• Step-Up Client Survey, (summary report) June 2003.
• Young Families CAN Client Survey (summary report), June 2003.
• Young First Offender program Parent Evaluation Report, 2002-2003 Data Comparison.
• Human Services Department Diversity Survey, October 15, 2002.
• Human Services Department Organizational Report Card, 2001-2003, undated.
• Human Services Department Strategic Plan, January 2002.
• Human Services Department Strategic Plan Highlights, January 2002
• City of Phoenix Strategic Vision for Youth (DRAFT).
• City of Phoenix Youth Vision (DRAFT).
• Human Services Department 2003-2004 and draft 2004-2005 Operating Budgets.
• Various brochures and marketing materials, undated.

Environmental Scan Analysis Report, Youth Opportunities Unit. Based on a review of the documentary sources described above.

3.  Focus Groups: Analysis and Validation of Fact-Finding

Focus Groups Facilitator Role and Ground Rules governing focus group sessions

Focus Group Questions

1. Youth Opportunities Unit service delivery personnel (A group), Tue., May 25, 8:30-10:00 a.m., Travis L. Williams Family Services Center, Room 150, 4732 S. Central Ave., Phoenix.
2. Youth Opportunities Unit service delivery personnel (B group), Tue., May 25, 10:30 p.m.-noon, Travis L. Williams Family Services Center, Room 150, 4732 S. Central Ave., Phoenix.
3. Youth Opportunities Unit senior staff, Tue., May 25, 1:30-3:00 p.m., City Hall, 17th floor East.
4. Youth Opportunities Unit executive managers, Thu., June 3, 8:00-9:30 a.m., City Hall, 18th floor sm. conf. rm.

4.  Strategic Planning Retreat — Tuesday-Wednesday, June 15-16, 2004

Strategic Planning Team retreat to be held at:
Flinn Foundation
1802 North Central Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85004-1509
Main: 602-744-6800
Fax: 602-744-6815

Dress: Business casual
Bring: Open mind

Follow-up Session — Monday, July 12, 2004

Strategic Planning Team follow-up session to be held at:
Travis L. Williams Family Services Center
4732 S. Central Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85040
602-534-4732

Dress: Business casual
Bring: Open mind

5.  Documentation & Communication of Youth Opportunities Unit Three-Year Strategic Plan

• Draft YOU Strategic Plan 2007 PDF 913 KB



• Final YOU Strategic Plan 2007 Note that final Strategic Plan 2007 is virtually the same as the draft Strategic Plan 2007 PDF 908 KB

Key Participants

Responsibility for each step in the Project Timeline is assigned to a group of individuals. In general, the Blackerby Associates Project Manager, acting in concert with the YOU Project Coordinator, will prompt these groups and individuals to accomplish their responsibilities in a timely manner. The key participants include:

YOU project team consists of the Lead Deputy Human Services Director, the YOU Strategic Plan Project Coordinator, YOU Human Services Program Coordinator, YOU Human Services Program Coordinator and any other individuals they may designate from time-to-time.

Blackerby Associates includes Phillip Blackerby, Principal and Project Manager, and Lynne Brown, Senior Associate and Facilitator. In most cases, Mr. Blackerby and Ms. Brown will work together as a team.

YOU Employees includes all approximately 31 paid employees of YOU. All YOU employees are encouraged to provide input into the strategic planning process, so that every voice is heard.

Strategic Planning Team members are the approximately 31 individuals who are YOU employees. Selected other stakeholders may also be named. Members of the Strategic Planning Team will participate in a two-day Strategic Planning Session, make decisions about the future development of YOU.

Focus Groups are made up of people—8-12 individuals per group—who will participate in group discussions, giving their input into the strategic planning process. Each focus group session will begin with a brief review of key themes derived from the environmental scan, followed by a facilitated discussion. Focus group participants are YOU employees. Each focus group will be facilitated by one consultant, while another consultant takes detailed notes on the discussion.

The three focus groups include:

• YOU employees (2): two focus groups will be made up of front-line employees. These two focus groups will both be held at the Travis L. Williams Family Services Center, Room 150, 4732 S. Central Ave., Phoenix.



• YOU Senior Staff are key YOU employees charged with managing, overseeing, evaluating and allocating resources within the Unit. This focus group will be held at City Hall, 17th Floor East.

YOU and Human Services Dept. Management includes the YOU Human Services Program Coordinators, Lead Deputy Human Services Director, the Director of Human Services and others whom they may name.