A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Appendix D
Conduct a Community Assessment to Inform the Selection of Education Programs

A community assessment helps a partnership turn a shared vision for continuous learning and safety into strategies that use resources efficiently to address local conditions. A community assessment will help reveal the context in which children live and learn, identify resources to use or develop, and indicate effective programs and strategies.

Assessment information can come from interviews, surveys, focus groups, and community forums. Try to include all stakeholders in the assessment process so that your resulting strategies address real concerns, and consider all possible resources. For example, is there a local college nearby which could provide work-study students or volunteers, or low-cost teaching assistants? Do parents feel that their children do not receive enough exposure to the arts?

It may also prove useful to find out what other community groups or partnerships have learned about how to improve the learning and safety of local children through their assessments. Compare information from several sources. Take inventory of which individuals, informal community associations, and formal institutions could help extend learning opportunities by providing funding, skills, or other assets.

Sources of Information on Communities Education data: State and local education agencies Economic data: Bureau of the Census (301-457-4608); Bureau of Labor Statistics (202-606-7828); U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (202-708-1422); annual reports prepared by cities, counties, and states Health data and vital statistics: State and local departments of health and human services Child welfare and juvenile justice data: U.S. Department of Justice (202-307-0765), local police and human service departments, state juvenile and criminal justice agencies Information on children and youth: The Annie E. Casey Foundation (410-547-6600), the Children's Defense Fund (202-628-8787), the National Center for Children in Poverty (212-927-8793), county and local agencies

-###-

[Appendix C: Build Consensus and Partnerships]

[Appendix E: Design an Effective Program]