Targets: Promoting Youth Civic Engagement

Target-setting is an important step in achieving positive outcomes for children, youth, families and the community.  In order to achieve better results, leaders can commit to setting a measurable target and a timeframe for its accomplishment.

Questions to Consider

• Based on trend and projection data what is an achievable target?

• How will the target be used?
  • As an inspiration for mobilizing public will and action?
  • As a benchmark for measuring performance and accountability?

• Can targets be set for specific groups or regions within the state?
  • How will local targets be incorporated, if at all, into the state target? What support can the state give to local entities to set and achieve targets?
  • How will racial disparities, geographic differences and other variations be considered?

• What will ensure targets are appropriately set and used over time?

Community Targets: During 2008 elections, the Community Voting Project, a project of the Center for Community Change, worked with community-based partner organizations in 26 states to meet the following targets, among others.

• Increase the number of registered voters by 239,201.
• Mobilize 283,284 new and infrequent voters to the polls.
• Increase by 6 percent the voter propensity of infrequent voters reached through the Community Voting Project, compared to those not reached through the program.
• Increase by 3 percent the number of trained volunteer members and leaders in partner organizations.