Using Ripple Effects Maps to Identify Story Threads: A Framework to Link Private to Public Value

Extension professionals must demonstrate organizational value to garner public awareness and support.  Measuring and communicating outcomes that have public value can be challenging.  In this study, Ripple Effects Mapping incorporating the Community Capitals Framework was used to evaluate a childhood obesity prevention study, iCook 4-H, of youth-adult pairs in Maine.  The objective was to describe the process of generating impact statements through story threads about program benefits to the participants and the potential benefits to nonparticipants, such as family members, friends, and other community members.  Extension professionals can use storylines, or story threads, as a qualitative research technique to generate stories about private and public value from participants’ actions, experiences, and emotions following community programs.  The story threads process can be used across disciplines to leverage community program data into public value messaging.