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Needs Assessment

Community Meetings

Meetings with community leaders and organizations can give your coalition a better understanding of your community and potentially shape your policy agenda to better reflect the needs of your state. An accurate assessment of your community’s needs will enable you to effectively focus your coalition’s agenda on issues that will resonate with elected officials, the media, and other community stakeholders. A well-documented assessment also can also be used to persuade elected officials, funders, and other key groups to support your work.

Moreover, community meetings offer an opportunity to introduce your coalition to new audiences and expand grassroots support for asset-building policies. In order to make the most of these opportunities, it is essential to present only relevant and timely information to your audience. This will ensure that attendees not only pay attention during the meeting, but also become more involved in your coalition in the future.


Resources:

Community Engagement in the Massachusetts Asset Development Commission

Description: The MIDAS collaborative models a unique strategy for incorporating the experiences of community groups and members into its policy planning process.
Author Name: MIDAS Collaborative
Organization Type: Coalition

Community Engagement in the Massachusetts Asset Development Commission

Asset Building in Tribal Communities - Generating Native Discussion and Practical Approaches

Description: An example, by the Center for Social Development, of the importance of community analysis in creating an asset policy agenda.
Organization Type: Coalition

Asset Building in Tribal Communities - Generating Native Discussion and Practical Approaches

North Carolina Asset Building Taskforce's Overview and Recommendations

Description: This presentation provides information on the history of the taskforce; defines and explain the importance of assets; gives the purpose and goals of the taskforce as well as the framework and structure of the taskforce, including technical assistance utilized; lists members and funders; and provides descriptions of a broad array of policy recommendations.
Author Name: North Carolina Asset Building Policy Taskforce
Organization Type: Coalition

North Carolina Asset Building Taskforce's Overview and Recommendations

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Focus Groups

A focus group is a collection of individuals brought together by a moderator who uses the group and its interaction as a way to gain information about a specific issue.  A focus group is typically comprised of 7-10 people who are unfamiliar with each other.  These participants are selected because they have certain characteristics in common that relate to a specified topic. The moderator facilitates a discussion that encourages different perceptions and points of view, without pressuring participants to vote, plan or reach consensus. The group discussion is conducted several times with similar types of participants to identify trends and patterns in perceptions.  Careful and systematic analysis of the discussion provides clues and insights as to how a policy or program is perceived by the group.  Such insights can then serve as the basis for creating an asset policy agenda and communicating your message to a wider audience.

Resources:

Estimated Cost of Running a Focus Group

Description: This is a template for the costs associated with running a focus group. Cost of assessments of information/ data is not included.
Organization Type: Other

Estimated Cost of Running a Focus Group.doc

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Surveys

Content Coming Soon

Resources:

None Available

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