Class 7: Assessing Social Conditions & Communities UTA SSW, SOCW 5306 Generalist Macro Practice UTA school of social work Dr. Dick Schoech Copyright 2005 (permission required before use) Suggest printing slides for class using: Print | Handouts | 3 slides per page | grayscale options

Summary of Classes 1- 7 Generalist macro practice history, change process, roles, levels of intervention Theories, values, perspectives The community as client Social conditions as problems/opportunities Assessing social conditions/communities Intervening in social conditions Administrative practices

Learning Objectives of Class Function of needs and capacities Learn types of needs & capacities Learn data sources Learn collection methods advantages/disadvantages of each Learn about data analysis in CAP environment Learn the logic of presenting data Learn other ways of presenting data §

Basic Definitions & Functions Needs Help focus solution Try to base needs in outcome is strongest Summarizes what need & who has need One need per statement Do not confuse need with solution, e.g., need is for more therapy Capacities Helps design a solution Cover individuals experience/knowledge/skills, associations, and organizations Barriers Identify roadblocks during solutions

Steps in an Assessment (review) 1. Identify the condition of concern 2. Developing a vision and principles to guide action 3. Identify and mobilize stakeholders into guiding coalition 4. Explore condition, why problem, history, causes, politics 5. Develop baseline measure to measure future impact 6. Best practices, intervention models, guidelines 7. Profile community (client) 8. Document existing solutions/service system 9. Develop list of capacities/resources to build on 10. Develop list of needs (gaps in services, felt need, etc.) 11. Identify barriers to solutions 12. Make report understandable/politically acceptable §

Goals of an assessment Unite, educate, coordinate, mobilize people/institutions Understand a condition/problem Collect information on a condition/problem Provide information to design a solution, e.g., capacities, model programs, research Provide baseline data to measure progress Provide data to see if vision impacted

Relevant Definitions Incidence = number during a time period Example: 5000 people were homeless in 1999 Prevalence = number at any one time Example: on 1 Dec 99, 500 were homeless Valid = measures concept under study, nothing else Reliable = consistent over time Baseline data = starting point from which to measure results §

Logic of Needs/Capacities Clients Living in condition Have needs That are caused by xxx And not solved due to xxx And related to other problems Others addressed these needs by xxx with xxx results So given strengths xxx The most promising approach is xxx

Need Types Normative = compared to standards (poverty rate) Perceived = What people say, e.g., expert opinion Expressed = squeaky wheel, e.g., waiting lists, unemployment rate, public forums, surveys Relative = compared to similar situations, concern is equity, ( infant mortality rate)

Types of Capacities Local Institutions: Businesses, Schools, Parks, Libraries, Colleges, Libraries, Churches, Social Services Citizens Groups and Associations: Junior League, Lions Clubs, JC’s, League of Women Voters, AAUW Neighborhood Watch clubs Individual Contributions: Money, spending patterns, time, music, art, computer work, mailings, relationships with people with resources, power, fame, or influence, etc. Kretzmann/McKnight suggest citizen groups and associations, rather than local institutions, control community change. Institutions tend to benefit themselves at the expense of the community. Citizen groups and associations rarely do.

Sources of Data Primary (you collect for current purpose) Experts Key informants Citizens/consumers Secondary (others collected for other purposes) Census bureau Research studies Agency reports §

Methods of Primary Data Collection Surveys Public forums Interviews Document analysis Observation Group process (focus groups) §

Surveys (household, consumer, etc) Targeted High validity/reliability Many analysis tools (stats) Cost effective (sampling) Online options are possible Experience required Time consuming Requires a pretest Return or missing rate Sample size vs. accuracy § advantagesdisadvantages

Public Forums Easy to set up Gives all the opportunity to participate High validity CYA Hard to control Can be dominated by a few Hard to summarize results May not be reliable (hard to replicate) § advantages disadvantages

Interviews Easy to conduct Can discover political realities Delphi technique Can get ‘off the record’ information High validity/reliability Can explore answers Can get capacities via stories & histories Hidden agendas Hard to summarize Can be biased by who is interviewed § advantages disadvantages

Document Analysis Readily available information Inexpensive High reliability Analysis tools exist Can get at capacities via histories Hard to analyze Hard to summarize Moderate validity because you can not always find documents on topic § advantages disadvantages

Observation Inexpensive High validity Gives information on the context Hard to analyze Hard to summarize May be biased due to values of the designer/ observer Moderate/low reliable (hard to replicate) § advantages disadvantages

Group Process (Focus Groups) Detailed analysis Quick Can use techniques as brainstorming & Nominal group Online techniques are available, e.g., Listservs, chat rooms Requires experience Requires planning Hard to get diversity Difficult to summarize § advantages disadvantages

Data Analysis in CAP Environment When using statistics for the general public, remember the following principles: Minimum data collection, maximum analysis KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) Distinguish between data and interpretation of data Use totals and average, percents, etc. §

Data Presentation Techniques Know your audience (research vs. program grant) Executive summaries (assume multiple readers) One picture worth 1000 words Use indicators Use graphics (Excel charting feature is great) Geographic Information Systems (GIS) help Assume a 6 th grade reading level for public Use tables and figures Put data in appendices unless needed to understand text §

Politics of Data Collection Your sanction helps in collecting data Collection imposes on those providing data Use incentives/payoffs for those providing data Primary data is a heavy burden on collectors Secondary data usually easy to obtain The Internet is the first place to search Beware of biases and personal agendas §

Conclusion Data is best for identifying need Stories, histories, etc. best for identifying capacities People know needs but need help with solutions Data presentation should be logical Minimum data collection, maximum use Assessment should present a picture/tell a story Credibility is hard to regain -- get 2 nd opinion to avoid misinterpretation §