A LEARNING NETWORK FOR GROWING FIRE-ADAPTED COMMUNITIES: PILOT PROJECT KICK-OFF

FAC Net kick-off - Boise, ID - April 10-11th, 2013

Outline

The big questions Review agenda Intro to Fire Adapted Communities The thinking behind a FAC “Learning

Network” approach FAC Network pilot - structure and function Criteria for hubs Leadership and partnerships Proof of concept and proceeding

What am I doing here?

What is the Fire Adapted Communities Network?

What am I/we going to be expected to do?

Intro to Fire Adapted Communities

A Fire Adapted Community takes responsibility for its wildfire risk. Actions address resident safety, homes, neighborhoods, businesses and infrastructure, forests, parks, open spaces, and other community assets. The more actions a community takes, the more fire adapted it becomes

Being a Fire Adapted Community is not an end-point, but rather a continuous process

Intro to FAC - continued

Many communities at-risk from wildfire have been taking steps to become fire adapted for years or even decades.

After years of disparate and varyingly successful local, state, federal and institutional efforts, more coordinated national focus and strategies are emerging

FAC programs The FAC Coalition FAC in the Cohesive Strategy An emerging language, toolkit and community of

practice

Multiple elements and roles, coordinated

The FAC “Learning Network” approach In-person and interactive communications are the

preferred and most effective way to make and move knowledge, best practices and innovations among individuals, institutions, communities and geographies

The FAC Net will leverage, integrate and build upon existing FAC strategies, tools and programs

The “learning network” approach will provide multiple levels of learning and feedback on practice, programs and policy in support of fire adapted communities

Multiple levels of learning and feedback

Within communities Among

communities at the sub-regional level

Among communities nationally

Feeding back into national strategies, programs and policies

FAC Network pilot - structure and function

The Watershed Center and FLN will; serve as “network maintenance organizations” coordinate with FAC Coalition and individual members for

steering, guidance and integration engage and work with diverse organizations serving as sub-

regional “hubs” provide cost-share funding, process guidance, and technical

assistance; empowering “hubs”, to serve as regional conveners and

leaders empowering FAC communities and organizations to adopt and

innovate FAC strategies and engage in the process of FAC aggregate high-level learning – feeding back into strategies,

tools, programs and policies

Structure and function - continued

Regional “hubs” and local partners work in year 1 to; strengthen and exemplify FAC strategies and coordination at local level, share learning across national FAC Net communities, and share lessons learned about strategies, programs and policy

Beginning in year 2, “hubs” will; convene sub-regional FAC practitioners and local FAC

groups/communities in peer-to-peer learning exchanges (1-2 per year) accelerating FAC adoption, learning and adaptation across communities

Participating local FAC groups/communities and regional partnerships will access, implement and innovate around FAC strategies, tools, programs and policies

FAC network leads will meet annually to share learning across sub-regional Nets and to aggregate high-level learning feeding back into strategies, tools, programs and policies

Criteria considered in recruiting pilot “hubs”

Overall Geographic diversity, organizational diversity and a diversity of partnerships, focus and strategic approaches

Hubs existing organizational capacity, a strong fit with existing organizational portfolio and mission, existing staff capacity, proven experience convening outcome and product oriented

workshops, pay-it-forward culture, technical assistance capacity, a culture of innovation, an existing sub-regional peer network, and a culture of learning

The first eight pilot “hubs”

Leadership and partnerships

FAC Network steering will come from The Watershed Center, FLN, FS FAC program leads and NFPA

Strive for diverse leadership and participation in the network at all levels

Integrate the work of other partners in the FAC Coalition and in states and regions where the FAC Net is operating

Look at broadening partnerships for funding support

Proof of concept and proceeding 2013 will serve as a “pilot” year Establish structure, support work of initial

hubs and participating communities, develop metrics for evaluation, develop a communications plan and materials and communicate with partners and interested stakeholders, conduct shared-evaluation, adapt

Growing and proceeding beyond 2013 will be contingent upon efficacy and funding

Questions or discussion