1. Module 3: Objectives You will be able to: Define your community; Describe the benefits that FWS brings to the community; Mod 3.1

2. Module 3: Objectives Describe the benefits to FWS and your vision that the community can offer; Identify the steps in conducting a community assessment. Mod 3.2

3. Defining ‘Community’ “As geographical regions come to be viewed as diversified biological and socio-economic systems, it is becoming increasingly difficult to constrain them within unnaturally imposed boundaries.” Eco-Mapping: Planning and Management of Bio-Social Ecosystems Dan Baharav, James A Kent and Eva Baharav Mod 3.3

4. Defining ‘Community’ “Historically, the places where people lived, worked and played in...communities overlapped strongly. Contemporary... communities have become less insulated, with residents involved in networks extending far beyond the traditional community boundaries. This disjuncture of the physical and functional challenges a community’s sense of itself, but can also provide important links to outside visions and resources.” Sustaining the Rural Landscape by Building Community Social Capital Community Development Reports Cornell Community and Rural Development Institute Mod 3.4

5. Defining ‘Community’ “Today, in ecosystem management...management boundaries [are being redrawn] to coincide more with watersheds, natural ecosystems, and geologic provinces. From mapping informal cultural systems over the years, we have found that the human geographic units often correspond at a certain scale to these ecological units. Differences occur when technological intrusions or economic changes affect boundaries...” Social Ecology: A New Pathway to Watershed Restoration Kevin Preister and James A Kent Mod 3.5

6. Criteria for Identifying Stakeholders Those individuals and groups: who are impacted, directly or indirectly; who support, directly or indirectly; whose support is needed, directly or indirectly; Mod 3.6

7. Criteria for Identifying Stakeholders with the potential to support, directly or indirectly, including non-traditional allies; who are responsible for or to the mission or vision; who have a legal, social/cultural and/or moral interest. Mod 3.7

8. Benefit: A benefit is a positive outcome or result; something that is gained because of... Serve or in service to… To help or aid; helpful or friendly action. To provide with; the act of providing people with the use of… To be of assistance to or promote the interests of… Mod 3. 8

9. Results of a Community Assessment A description of the community or planning area. An identification of community values. An inventory of natural and human-made features. Mod 3.9

10. Results of a Community Assessment An evaluation of economic conditions. An evaluation of public facility and infrastructure capacity and effectiveness. Linkages among social, economic and environmental issues. Mod 3.10

11. Steps in Conducting a Community Assessment Get the right people involved. Determine the Planning Area Boundary. Gather information. Get personal. Review and organize information. Mod 3.11

12. Community Assessment: Areas of Focus: Environmental/natural resources Economic resources Public policies, regulations and practices Public facilities and infrastructure Health and health resources Social capital/cultural resources Mod 3.12