Community Assessment
As part of United Way of Mower County’s ongoing commitment
to change lives in our community results from the Community Assessment of Assets and Needs are below. As demand for health and human service
needs continue to increase the community must focus resources
on areas of need that will maximize the impact of the community’s
investments. It is our hope that everyone in Mower County will take advantage of this information.
2010 Needs Assessment
2010 Asset Inventory
Statistical Reference documents
are listed below.
General Results-All Other Ethnicities
General Results-Hispanic/Latino
Results by Age-All Other Ethnicities
Result by Age-Hispanic
Results by Employment-All Other
Results by Employment-Hispanic/Latino
Results by Ethnicity-All Other Ethnicities
Results by Gender-All Other Ethnicities
Results by Gender-Hispanic/Latino
Results by Household-All Other Ethnicities
Results by Household-Hispanic/Latino
Results by Household Income-All Other
Results by Household Income-Hispanic/Latino
Results by Marital Status-All Other
Results by Marital Status-Hispanic/Latino
Results by Quadrant-All Other Ethnicities
Results by Quadrant-Hispanic/Latino
Results by Zip Code-All Other Ethnicities
Results by Zip Code-Hispanic/Latino
More information on the Community Assessment of Assets and Needs
What is a Community Assessment of Assets and Needs?
- Comprehensive document outlining a community’s assets
and needs (areas identified by public as concerns)
Why does Mower County need to do a community assessment of
assets and needs?
- Improve community’s understanding of needs
- Provide a standard set of community data
- Coordinate effort to make best use of limited resources
- Foster cooperation and collaboration
- Emphasis on measurable results
- Establish community priorities
- Develop strategies around priorities
- Address critical needs
- Call attention to key social and economic issues reflecting
quality of life and capacity for people to care for one another
in our community.
- Raise awareness by providing users a compact analysis of
local, state and national performance points for future evaluations.
The broad set of local indicators included in the community
assessment can be incorporated into several phases of community
building efforts including:
- Forming partnerships
- Development of ongoing collaborative data gathering and assessment
activities
- Establishment of priorities and measuring of results
- Incorporation of information from the community assessment
into the active process of community improvement.
What topics might be included in a community assessment?
- Characteristics of Mower County residents
- Employment and economic development
- Income and finances
- Education
- Housing
- Health
- Public safety, crime and abuse
- Transportation
- Child care
- Environment and pollution
- Community life & volunteering
What will be the components of the assessment?
- Household Survey
- Business Survey
- Organization Survey
- Service Provider Survey
- Community Leader Luncheon
- Key Informant Survey
- Analysis and compilation of existing community data
- Compilation of survey information and secondary research
into document
Who will do the work?
- Community Partnership with United Way as the “sponsoring
organization”. Partnership will be made up of the
following committees:
- Steering Committee – 12 to 25 people from whom
the assessment will impact, natural leaders, representatives
from diverse populations, ANYONE.
- Data Collection and Analysis Committee
- Inventory Committee
- Communications Committee
What is United Way of Mower County’s Role?
- Bring people together around the community assessment (staff
time to lead partnership)
- Work with other cities who have already completed community
assessments
- Secure financial support for project
Time Line
- 12-18 months
- Identify needs
- Identify assets
- Collect demographics
- Collect research (surveys, focus groups, etc.)
- Analyze data
- Share results with community!
What do we need?
- Volunteer Support
- Financial Support
- Cooperation in answering surveys and participating in focus
groups
This report will made available for community leaders, businesses
and organizations to utilize in their future planning and community
building efforts. United Way will work closely with community
members to survey residents at a statistically significant level
and with local community leaders and agency partners to assure
a community assessment that focuses not only on needs in the
Mower County community, but its strengths and assets.

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