Working toward continuous improvement

Most managers strive to improve their programs — the policies and ordinances that underlay them; funding; training; establishment and maintenance practices, among other program elements. Vibrant Cities Lab’s Community Assessment & Goal-Setting Tool, based on original work by Clark and Methany, incorporates 28 criteria each with its own set of indicators. The tool allows you to characterize the current status of your program, and then set a goal for each criterion based on your community’s needs and potential capacity. When completed, the tool automatically calculates a “gap analysis” on nine different categories:

The Assessment Tool can be used by individuals, or by groups as part of a facilitated planning process. Please note that the tool is most useful for people already familiar with urban forestry programs and practices.