community organizing

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UNFREEZER

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Community Assessment
(Understanding and Describing the
Community)

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In community organizing , we need to
understand these basic concepts:
• What is a community?
• What do we mean by understanding and
describing the community?
• Why make the effort to understand and describe
your community?
• Whom should you contact to gather information?
• How do you go about understanding and
describing the community?

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What is a community?
A community is any group sharing
something in common:
• Locale
• Experience
• Interest

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Community organizer must gather
these data:
• Geographic boundaries.
• How long the community has existed.
• General history.
• Key people and leaders.
• Demographics (e.g. age, sex)
• Expenses and income.
• Important issues.
• Morale and involvement levels.
• Key allies and rivals.

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Why should you use a community
description?
• To capture unspoken rules and norms.
• To gain understanding.
• To get a feel for attitudes and opinions.
• To take stock of strengths and shortcomings.

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How can you use a community
description?
• For your own reference.
• To share with others who do work in your
community.
• To present as background information to
reporters.
• To use as a basis for a grant proposal.

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When should you write a community
description?
• When you’re new to a community.
• When you’ve been working in a community
for any length of time and want to take stock.
• When you’re considering introducing a new
initiative or program.

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Basic Principles for Understanding the
Community
• View the community as the teacher and yourself
as the student.
• There is not always cause-and-effect logic for
social interactions.
• Question the accuracy of all information.

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Low-effort Situations for Finding Info
Seek situations that offer—
• Simplicity
• Accessibility
• Unobtrusiveness
• Permission
• Frequent activity

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Gaining an Understanding of Your
Community
• Gather basic tools.
• Drive through the area.
• Adjust boundaries.
• Review area with a list of things to watch for.
• Contact and interview key individuals in the
community.
• Visit local hangouts.
• Work with a partner.

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Interview Tips
• Start with small talk.
• Explain your motives.
• Ask for a definition of the community.
• Follow up on leads and go on to subjects and areas
you haven’t reached yet.
• Ask who else you should talk to.
• Let interviewee end the interview.
• Thank interviewee for his/her time.

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How to Write Your Description
• USE graphs, tables as appropriate
• Draft your initial description and analysis.
• Share draft with key community members; get their
feedback on accuracy.
• Consider results so far.
• Get feedback from varied sources before completing
final description and analysis.

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Sample Community Assessment Data
Survey Question Average Importance
Average
Satisfaction
Vaccinations are available and affordable. 93% 84%
Emergency Medical Services are available. 95% 79%
Transportation is available for people who may need special
assistance, such as older adults and people with disabilities.
87% 80%
Hospice services are available and affordable. 89% 77%
Older adults get enough nutritious food to eat through home delivered
meals or are able to attend group meals.
87% 78%
Adequate skilled health care is available for older, frail adults who need
it.
89% 73%
People have access to basic, affordable health care services, including
regular checkups, dental, eye exams, glasses, mental health, and
orthodontic care as needed.
91% 65%
Older adults get the help they need to stay in their homes even if they
have health problems.
87% 68%
Medical care is available and affordable for all pregnant women
throughout their pregnancies.
86% 67%
Health insurance is available. 91% 61%

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Survey Question Average Importance
Average
Satisfactio
n
Communities are encouraged to recycle items that contribute to environmental
pollution.
81% 40%
Health insurance is affordable. 82% 45%
Insurance companies offer lower rates for patients who practice healthy
lifestyles.
82% 45%
Victims of child abuse, domestic violence, and sexual assault get the help they
need.
90% 51%
The community's drinking water is of good quality. 88% 50%
Community education programs provide knowledge of sexually transmitted
diseases and safe sex practices.
82% 47%
Employers give bonuses or time off to employees who attend classes designed
to promote exercise, stress management, and a healthy diet.
68% 36%
Treatment services for drug and alcohol abuse are available and affordable. 83% 49%
Laws against selling alcohol to minors are strictly enforced. 89% 53%
Teens have access to pregnancy prevention services and counseling. 83% 52%
Prescription drugs are affordable and come with clear instructions. 88% 56%
Health care providers assess and counsel patients about their physical fitness as
a normal part of routine physical examinations.
81% 54%

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