Community Assessment
Before you begin conducting one-on-ones, it is important to be familiar with your community you will be organizing in. You need to learn about your neighborhood or community's resources and strengths, as well as its needs. In some cases, you may already be quite familiar with the area you will be working in. Even if you know your community well, the community assessment is a useful and required first step to your work — it helps to think constructively about the current state of your community.
The following links contain questions to serve as a guide to assess your community:
The community/neighborhood
• If you have more than one community, how are your communities different? What are some of the unique and distinguishing characteristics of your community?
• What newspapers serve your communities? Do they serve just your communities, or others? Are any control community areas covered by the papers? How often do they publish? Where are they available, etc.? Is there anything unique about them or do they serve a specific audience (are they primarily an advertising vehicle, or do they serve a specific population or have other special characteristics)?
Resources: Organizations
• What are the existing youth organizations in the community? (Park and recreational programs, Boys & Girls Clubs, Girl/Boy Scouts, Police Athletic leagues, 4-H, YMCA/YWCA, etc.)
• What faith-based organizations serve the community? What programs do they offer? Youth groups, parent groups, etc.
• What other organizations are there in the community? (Community/neighborhood organizations, parent groups, citizen groups?)
• What kinds of fraternal and business organizations exist in the community? (Lions Clubs, VFW's, Chambers of Commerce, Business associations, etc.)
• Are there other community organizations? (Public health groups/agencies, prevention coalitions, etc.)
Resources: Facilities
• What facilities exist in the community that can be resources?
• What parks are in your communities, and do they have facilities the community can use?
• Are there buildings that can be used for public meetings and activities, where you may be able to hold meetings?
Law enforcement
• Who are the law enforcers in your community?
• Are there active block clubs in your communities?
• Are police visible in the community and/or school? Do they patrol on foot, by car, on bike?
• Where are the nearest police stations/offices in your communities?
Business community
• Describe the business community in your area? Are there adequate shopping opportunities within the community? What kinds of businesses exist?
. Malls?
. Grocery stores?
. Convenience stores?
. Is there a downtown?
. Are there movie theaters?
. Arcades?
. Other?
. Which of these do kids go to?
Liquor outlets and advertising
• How prevalent is alcohol in your communities? How available? Are there a lot of stores? Is there a lot of advertising? Are there billboards? Lots of storefront advertising? Promotions in area stores?
• What evidence do you see of alcohol use and attitudes in the community? Is there public drinking, and if so, in what context? Is the area around bars and outlets well maintained or disorderly? Is there trash around outlets? Do areas where liquor is available seem well cared for?
Write it up
Prepare a short report of your findings in your community assessment including your perceptions of your communities and the areas around your schools. |
