The state children’s policy council is changing up its needs assessment instrument and launching a new pilot program, and it is likely that the Covington County Children’s Policy Council Coalition will be selected to participate.

CCPCC Director Susan Short said that Liletta Jenkins, state manager for the Alabama Children’s Policy Councils and Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education, said that the changes would go into effect for the needs assessment due in June.

“The CPC needs assessment format will change this year,” she said. “The state CPC members are working with the Annie E. Casey Foundation to expand the evidence of success model for youth data collection through youth enrichment surveys.”

Short said the survey will ask youth a series of questions that will result in finding out what youth think about their lives.

“The needs assessment will also include a fund mapping tool to track where the resources in each county are going and where the gaps in services are,” she said. “The Annie E. Casey Foundation will provide technical assistance with this process.”

Short said that the new format will be piloted in some counties in 2017 and she expects Covington County will be chosen.

“Covington County is likely to be chosen as we are much more active than most CPCs around the state,” she said.

Short said she will receive more information and instructions soon.