Values Institute of America

Answers to Questions About Implementing
The Values in Alignment™ Process in Youth Organizations

How long will it take to internalize the Process?

Two to three years is required assuming the values identification process can be concluded within three months. Once the values are identified and the Process Manual can be written, both leadership and staff training must be undertaken. Then at least three cycles of member training must be conducted and evaluated.

What is required for successful implementation?

Youth organization’s board of directors must indicate long-term support for the process by making it a priority for funding

Executive director must fully embrace the process and commit to engaging in leadership mentoring including the LSI-360, peer input to helping leaders identify their styles.

A staff member within each organization must be designated as a Values in Alignment Coordinator with responsibilities that include:

ensuring that employees participate in ViA Orientation
helping human resources apply a core values screen for prospective employees and volunteers conducting orientation classes for new hires
regularly addressing ViA in staff meetings
coordinating training for staff and volunteers assigned to deliver the youth curriculum to youth ensuring that curriculum delivery is conducted in a timely manner consistent with ViA guidelines maintaining a calendar of activities for the entire year
tracking participation in the various ViA activities
passing along weekly activity guides to staff members
participating in conference calls and/or meetings with counterparts in other organizations to discuss ideas to improve the process

What have we done to validate our process?

Members at more than 20 Boys & Girls Clubs in Virginia took pre-and post-pilot surveys designed to identify beliefs, attitudes and likely behaviors associated, with the core values of the clubs. The six values—Achievement, Integrity, Responsibility, Respect, Self-Esteem, and Compassion—were taught and reinforced by the Values in Alignment curriculum for youth. Data from more than 1,000 surveys were analyzed by a Doctoral candidate at the Life Skills Center at Virginia Commonwealth University, indicating that full implementation over time would yield significant positive changes.

What is the cost for implementing ViA?

TIME – People throughout the organization must be trained not only to deliver a curriculum to children, but more importantly to learn how to function in unison around a set of core values.

STAFFING – Depending upon the size of the organization, some or all of one individual’s time must be focused on the many aspects of Values in Alignment.

LICENSING FEE – The Values Institute licenses Values in Alignment as a total package for an initial three year period with an option to renew the program annually. The license fee is negotiated on an individualized basis with a variety of factors considered, including, but not limited to: number of youth served, number of locations involved, size and makeup of staff.

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