Community Assessment Assignment (Competency 7)
There are multiple tasks involved in carrying out this assignment. First, your task will be to complete 5 individual listening sessions with residents in Monmouth County (Part 1). You will then compile the information you obtained from the 5 sessions and provide field notes at the end of which you will reflect on your experiences (Part 2). Once this this is complete, you will work with a team of peers for the community assessment assignment (Part 3). Your assessment will be based on data you gather through research, interviews with residents in Monmouth County, and participant-observation. Based on that assessment, develop a community action plan (Part 4). At the end of the semester, you will present your work to the class (Part 5).
About NJ Together
https://www.njtogether.org/
Part One – Preparing for the Listening Sessions (10%) Week 5
In this assignment you will begin the preparation for 5 individual listening sessions of residents in Monmouth County. This preparation is vital for your community assessment. You will be given time in class to work with your peers to research and identify questions that you want to ask. Each student must prepare and complete 5 listening sessions in person (preferably) or by phone or video chat. Every student must conduct 5 individual listening sessions. These Monmouth County residents could be:
A family member
Clients from your agency where you intern (seek permission from your field supervisor)
Friends
Neighbors
Individuals from your faith organization
Individuals from any of your networks
Monmouth University students
Part Two – Listening Sessions Feedback and Self Reflection (10%) Week 7
Please take detailed notes during or right after each listening session.
You need to provide information on the 5 sessions you carried out with as much detail as possible. No identifying information should be included unless the individual has permitted you to do so for further follow-up or participation in the work with NJ Together. (3-5 pages)
Reflect on your experience conducting the listening sessions. How difficult was it to recruit individuals? How did you prepare for the sessions? What was helpful in conducting the sessions? Were there things you changed in how you conducted the later sessions after doing the first few? (1-2pages)
Part Three – Community Assessment (15%) Week 10
Each group will submit one 12-14 page paper (not including references or appendices), using APA format. Individual assignment grades are based on the grade for the paper. The appendix must include notes from each interview conducted, including date and time of interview, questions that were asked and notes of answers (this can be scanned or typed up).
The paper must include the following components:
Demographic information about the community including the cultural groups found in the community. You must use the most current demographic info from the US Census.
A community asset map that identifies institutions, schools, religious communities, libraries, existing social services, political structure (mayor and city council-town committees, etc), active voluntary associations (Lion’s Club, Geneology groups
(Use the McKnight and Kretzman article identifying the resources and networks available to the community as a resource).
A descriiption and history of the community you selected (use community newspapers, talk to the librarian for any town archives and info). A discussion of how this community has changed as a result of societal changes, population changes and/or technological developments and a written descriiption of the community asset map.
Identification of the residents with whom you conducted listening sessions in the community and content from interviews with them (these must be cited, APA style as personal communications) on what they perceive to be the main strengths, challenges, and issues in the community.
An explanation of the human rights issues that are found through the assessment using the theory of social capital for your analysis (bonding, bridging, and linking). Does every sub-group in the population have access to resources, power and decision-making in the town? Are the needs of all groups met or are some groups left out? In what institutions and associations are there opportunities to build bridging capital and leverage linking capital? Are there any environmental justice concerns? Is the demographic make-up of the town/city government reflective of the racial, ethnic, religious, and socio-economic demographics of the community?
An assessment of community strengths, key issues based on the data you gathered, and a discussion of how you see people in the community as partners in the process of community change.
An appendix that includes the notes of interviews, conversations and observations that were made to do the assessment. These should include the date, time and location for each note. A scan of handwritten notes is acceptable.
