1. STG International A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network Paducah Head Start Community Assessment Presented by: Frances Smith, Director Developed By: Anne Blackburn Kentucky Trainer Level 570054Expiration Date: 6/11/2012 Material was taken from the eclkc website and the The Five Steps to Community Assessment Book.

2. STG International A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network What is the key to a high quality Community Assessment?

3. STG International A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network Decisions Informed by Community Assessment

4. STG International A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network CA Process

5. STG International A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

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7. STG International A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network Suggested Outline for the Community Assessment Abstract Service area map Introduction – STEP 1 (agency & program information – “State of the Grantee”) Methodology – STEP 2 (methods used for data gathering & analyzing data) Service Area – STEP 3 - Describe the basic geographic, economic and demographic features of the service area of the HS-EHS program. The service area may be one county, many counties within a state, or a combination. Report

8. STG International A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network Report Outline (continued) Racial and Ethnic Composition, Culture, and Language(s) –Provide data on racial, ethnic, cultural and linguistic composition of the service area in general and public schools in particular, and compare it with that of the HS-EHS children and staff –Discuss needs and characteristics of specific racial, ethnic and cultural groups and their implications for HS-EHS program design and service delivery Community Resources to Meet the Needs of Head Start – Early Head Start Eligible Children and Families –List relevant resources which are used or may be used directly and indirectly by Head Start-Early Head Start eligible children and families –Identify problems in resource availability or accessibility –Gather data from internal and external sources Information on Children with Disabilities –Present data on the number of Head Start – Early Head Start and other children with disabilities by category and services currently available to them.

9. STG International A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network Report Outline (continued) Review and Analyze Data – STEP 4 Identify the most significant strengths and needs of HS-EHS eligible children and their families. Present an estimate of the number of HS-EHS eligible children by geographic location Describe trends suggested by numbers Include an interpretation of what the numbers mean in terms of results and benefits for families Discuss the reasons for selecting program options, center, and or family child care home locations, and recruitment areas

10. STG International A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network Report Outline (continued) Make Decisions – STEP 5 –Based on information from all aspects of the CA process, identify and prioritize issues and problems to be addressed by the Head Start-Early Head Start program –Refer to data that pertains to eligible families –This is the section to propose any changes in service area, program option, based on the findings from the CA

11. STG International A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network Page Estimate for a Community Assessment Report (one page)Abstract (one page)Map (one page)Table of Contents (2 pages)Introduction (1-2 pages)Methodology (5-7 pages)Service Area (4-10 pp)Families in the Service Area (2-3 pages)Community Resources to Meet Needs of eligible Children & Families (15-20 pp)Data Analysis (1-3 pages)Conclusions (1-2 pages)Proposed Changes

12. STG International A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network Suggestions for Shortening the Document Be brief: –Purpose of a community assessment –Composition of the CA team –Process used to gather data –Businesses and industries in the service area Use maps & illustrations strategically Use charts & tables to make points and comparisons –Explain in a short narrative Be selective about the data you use * Write clearly and make your points Archive information not used in the CA Report * * You may need it at another time!

13. STG International A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network Suggested Layout for a CA Report Electronic document Maps and charts embedded in the document 1-2 page table of contents Full page state/county with a few major cities reference map of grantee service area – one per state. Summary Abstract

14. STG International A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network Still rough going… Predicting where eligible families will be next year Describing program design & program options Assessing entire service area Incorporating enrollment into the big picture Drawing objective conclusions from the findings

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16. STG International A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network Effective Use of Data Give numbers –How many –What percentage or portion of total –Compare data sets –Written conclusions about what you’ve just stated with numbers or illustrations If using a sample, say so –Is it significant –Is it representative Cite data source(s)

17. STG International A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network Target Data to Collect Finding meaningful Census data: –Ethnicity and language of families compared to general population –What are patterns? Factors that affect family movement such as job or educational opportunities, affordable housing, children entering a certain grade in public schools, etc?

18. STG International A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network Meaningful Rural Data Rural compared to urban In U.S., 20% of population is rural 11% of physicians practice in rural areas 10% of specialists practice in rural areas Areas designated “health specialist shortage areas” Doctors/dentists refusing Medicaid or uninsured patients Availability of critical care & extended-hour clinics

19. STG International A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network Relevant Information - Census Maps and Quick Facts http://www.library.wisc.edu/guides/govdocs/census/a ff.htm Boundaries and Features

20. STG International A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network Data subsets may be hard to pull out of a larger set because… Data not kept in a database No records kept No method to use No one knows how to do it Not exactly sure what you want to know

21. STG International A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network Where the CA Mines Are… Introduction Confused with summary findings and abstract Methodology CA process methodology Describing methods used to analyze data Pulling out data on eligible families System used to prioritize Data Analysis Deriving meaning from Census & national or state studies that is relevant to population served Bogging down in all of the data for service area or the state Connecting enrollment with certain findings Conclusions Confused with findings, recommendations, and decisions Questioning center locations and program options

22. STG International A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network Suggestions for Improvement of CAs Focus data collection on information needed to make key decisions CA process outline awkward for CA report Accept community assessment as a priority – 45 CFR 1305.3

23. STG International A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network Revisiting the CA Process and Product 5 Steps to Community Assessment workbook is designed to assist programs to develop and use a team approach to plan and organize the task, to collect and analyze relevant data, to discuss the results as a team, and to draw conclusions that can inform program decisions. This can be found at the Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center website, http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov The CA Report is the end product.

24. STG International A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network