mapping your community's needs
TRANSCRIPT
**Mapping your Community's Needs**
A guide to conducting a Community Needs AssessmentEastern Michigan University SWRK 350
Olivia Bouchard
Connie Laveille
Jamie Rigby
Megan Wild
IntroductionWho we are
Who we worked with:
*Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office-Community Engagement
*Liaison-Natalia Harris-Community Outreach Coordinator
What was our project goal?
*To complete a Community Needs Assessment
*What is a Needs Assessment?
What was our project outcome?
*A completed Needs Assessment starting from the planning phase and ending with engaging the community.
Phases of the Assessment
● Planning● Assessment● Summarizing Data● Action Plan● Engaging the Community● Resources● Recommendations for future classes
Planning A process that involves identifying goals and constructing a plan for change that is reasonable and measurable.
*Gathering community participants and leaders
*Defining goals for assessments
*Focus Groups
*Planning for challenges..
*What kind of challenges?
Example Planning Worksheet● Your community's top 5 strengths? Activities? Cleanliness? Sense of Community?
Best Guess Based on Data
● Who or what is responsible for these strengths? A person? An organization?
Strength Provider of strength
Assessment● Surveys:
A quick and effective way to gather the concerns and feelings of communities as a foundation for change or action.
*Gather information such as:
Goals, wants/needs, problems
– Types of surveys:
phone, mail-in, door to door/in person
Example Survey Questions● Availability of Grocery Stores in the community 1 2 3 4
● Police response time to emergency calls 1 2 3 4
● Availability of bus routes in the area 1 2 3 4
● Neighbors taking care of property appearance 1 2 3 4
● The City's response to sanitation complaints 1 2 3 4
● Well lit streets 1 2 3 4
● Availability of Parks and Recreation facilities 1 2 3 4
● Availability of a Community Center 1 2 3 4
Summarizing Data
Row 1 Row 2 Row 3 Row 40
2
4
6
8
10
12
Column 1
Column 2
Column 3
* T y p e s o f D a t a t o g r a p h :
• W a n t s / N e e d s
• S t r e n g t h s
• I m p o r t a n c e
• P o p u l a t i o n c h a n g e s
• P a r t i c i p a t i o n
Action Plan*Process of identifying problems and taking the steps to create viable solutions.
*How are community assets relative to solutions?
*SWOT analysis- Identifies strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
-beneficial for establishing what can propel action plan and what can impede it.
*Asset inventory- identifies resources and other things in the community that are positive.
-helps identify what you lack and what you already have.
*Know your collaborators (who is supporting you) in creating and implementing your action plan.
*Work plans are helpful in tracking progress and who is completing specific tasks.
Engaging Community
● Bringing residents together:
*Create focus groups to gather ideas from community
* Create the event--BBQ, Community Cleanup, Basketball Game
* Personally invite community residents● Ask Community to volunteer for a cause
* Willing to teach a trade to the community?● Hold Fundraisers:
* Silent Auctions, Bake Sales, Rummage Sales
Example Engaging Worksheet WILLING TO HELP?
Name: ________________________________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________________
Phone Number: __________________________Best time to contact: _____________________
Dates/times available: ___________________________________________________________
What are your skills/trades that you are willing to teach members of your community? *Auto Repair *Cooking/Baking *Landscape/Yard work *Computer skills
*Sewing *Tutoring *Mentoring *Sports
*Construction *Carpentry *Electrical Skills *Drawing/Painting/Art
*Interior Design *Tax help *Playing an Instrument *Hair design
Wrapping up the Assessment
Information for Washtenaw County Residents
● Resources included
*Bus route information
*Food pantry information
*Crime notification hotlines
*Counseling services
*Health services