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Question:
Hi There, Is there a centralized place I can look to search for state or federally funded evidence-based health promotion programs? I work at a community health center - we offer services for mental health, substance use, and primary care. We'd like to offer more wellness/health promotion/disease prevention services. I'm aware of a few state/fed funded programs like CARE program for HIV/AIDS clients and First Steps Together for pre/postnatal support for mom's with addiction. I'd like to investigate other programs we might be able to apply for and offer at our center but I'm having a really hard time finding anything online. Any ideas of how to search or where to look?
Answer:

HI Sarah,
Thanks for reaching out. I am sorry for my slower than usual response. I do not know if a comprehensive database exists. I have a few thoughts: The CDC funds various programs at state and federal levels. You may want to look there and see if any funding aligns with your services. I would also recommend checking with your local health department to see what local funding may exist. I think looking at the Community ToolBox's resources on Databases of Best Practices | Community Tool Box (ku.edu) might be helpful as you are searching for funding. I hope this helps and appreciate the work you are doing.
In Community,
Ask and Advisor, 2021

Question Date: ثلاثاء, 11/09/2021
Question:
Hello,

My name is Chelsea Crockford and I work as a Recreation Therapist at a neurorehabilitation center in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Myself and co-worker, Dr.JoAnne Savoie, Neuropsychologist, were successful in a grant from the Chalmers foundation to do a project on health and wellness for persons with disabilities. The proposed project will involve a series of six 90-minute classes (offered quarterly) where persons with disabilities can learn tools and activities that aim to promote emotional well-being, connectedness to their families and communities, and healthy living. Each class will have an educational component, exploration of barriers to participating in new wellness activities and sharing of community resources to open doors to new connections. Classes will be facilitated by a health professional and trained persons with lived experience (identified as mentors in the proposal) who can offer knowledge, expertise and support. Topics are still being considered but we were thinking it might include Goal Setting and Motivation, Physical Activity and Sport, Emotional Well-Being and Coping, Use of Technology to Enhance Well-Being, Social Connectedness and Finding Purpose, as examples.

We are hoping to not have to reinvent the wheel to provide online training for our mentors who will be providing peer support. Do you know of any peer support volunteer training services we can use ? Or do you have any materials to share that could be helpful/relevant?

Thank you very much,

Chelsea
Answer:

Hi Chelsea,
Congratulations on your grant! The opportunity to serve your community and those with disabilities is amazing. I have a few suggestions that I hope help you as you are preparing for your classes. Conceptually, I think it may be helpful to take an assets development approach as you design your classes. Here is a link from the community toolbox that can introduce you to some of that framework:  https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/overview/models-for-community-he...
Another resource I would recommend in establishing some programming around goal settings, etc. is positivepsychology.com. There are a lot of worksheets related to coping and goal setting, specifically located in the solution focused materials. Additionally, here is some information from the community toolbox on peer mentoring with links at the end to more resources which can help you in pursuit to find more information to train your peer mentors: https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/implement/improving-services/pee...
I hope this helps you. Best of luck.
In Community,
Ask an Advisor 2021

Question Date: اثنين, 11/15/2021
Question:
Hello. I am a Research Dietitian, and part of our pre-screening questionnaire for our study will be asking about social determinants of health. If a person scores often true on both questions of the Hunger Vital screening they are ineligible. For these people we want to provide them with food insecurity resources in the area, but also something a little more active. Do you have any resources for screening for SDOH in a research setting? I see a lot about clinical settings, but not in the research/study trial space. Thanks.
Answer:

HI Kayla,
I appreciate your questions and service to your community! What wonderful resources you are offering. Here is a chapter you may find helpful with some additional resources embedded in the resource: Chapter 2. Other Models for Promoting Community Health and Development | Section 17. Addressing Social Determinants of Health in Your Community | Main Section | Community Tool Box (ku.edu). This is from our Community tool box. Additionally, I would recommend looking at the CDC's research on Social determinants of health: Social Determinants of Health | CDC
I also came across this resource on the American Academy of family physicians web page which has 3 suggested tools for addressing social determinants of health. Three tools for screening for social determinants of health (aafp.org) However, they may not be what you are looking for in terms of research, but might help.
In Community,
Ask an Advisor 2021

Question Date: ثلاثاء, 11/16/2021
Question:
Hi,
My name is Shipra . I am 16 years old and a student of DPS Vasant Kunj , New Delhi, India. I am looking to open a club which is a free and safe space for the students to talk about youth and social issues faced by the country which impact the youth. In 2 years of time we will all be eligible to vote for the upcoming central elections i want to make sure that all of my school mates are fully aware of the present situation of the country and use their vote wisely. I wish to educate people of different gender identities and to respect. Some times we might not be aware and might unintentionally hurt someone.
i sincerely hope u will help us. My friends and i look up to you and are open to all suggestions to help introduce the plan to open this club in our school and help us present this to our principle .
Warm regards
Answer:

HI Shipra,
I am so excited to hear about your passion for your community and wanting to establish a safe space for youth in your school to discuss politics. This resource from our community tool box will be a great place to start Chapter 20. Providing Information and Enhancing Skills | Section 9. Establishing Youth Organizations | Main Section | Community Tool Box (ku.edu) This resource gives an example of a youth club. I wish you the best in your important work.
In Community,
Ask an Advisor 2021

Question Date: جمعة, 11/19/2021
Question:
Can you provide an example using the Community Tool Box where a after school educational enrichment program for middle school students was launched by a non profit entity!
Answer:

Hello Arnold,
Thanks for your questions. I apologize for my slow response. I believe that you may find this example helpful on the toolbox: Summer Enrichment Program | Community Tool Box (ku.edu)
In Community,
Ask an Advisor
Fall 2021

Question Date: جمعة, 11/26/2021
Question:
Greetings

I am Enaam Al-Ananbeh from Jordan, a registered nurse hold the PhD in nursing. It was an interesting topic "Windshield survey" and I got fruitful information from it. Nowadays I am working on a Home Visit project and I need a guidelines for conducting HVs in Jordan for nurses and midwives who will conduct the HVs.
Further, I need to know how to establish a work plan on HVs.
thank you
Answer:

Dear Enaam,
I am glad to hear that our resources have been helpful thus far and applaud your commitment to best practices in your community work. You may find this article/case study helpful as it discusses best practices for developing an intervention and the intervention is related to public health and includes home visits: Example 7: Sanitation in Komo, Kenya: An intervention Developed by The Ministry of Public Health & Sanitation | Community Tool Box (ku.edu)
In community,
Ask an Advisor 2021

Question Date: سبت, 11/27/2021
Question:
Dear Madam/Sir;
I am Molla Gojam Arjejo, male, 47, from Ethiopia, married, Christian and graduate of MA in Organizational Leadership, and 1st. Degrees in Leadership Development Studies, and in Theology and I have been working for 25 years in Church Wholistic services in different Societies and Communities under diverse traditional Leadership, Religions, clan, and ethnic groups and I am coordinating, empowering, and leading them how to work for tolerance and for communal objectives and to reach the intended goal in resolving conflicts and up warding the healthy peace building in people’s whole lives. I am serving them as the community Resource Coordinator with care, integrity, valuing their precision perceptions, advocating for their rights, and without partiality. . .
I am very happy reading your blessed ministry the “COMMUNITY TOOL BOX” and interested to contact with you and like to have an advice from you because the plan, the Community Tool Box table of contents, the objectives, the setup goal. . . are very important for to my Country Ethiopia/Community.
Therefore, as the “Community Tool Box” ministry is launched out globally, would you please be kindhearted to guide me to have your care to start the Community Tool Box in my Society and to assist my Society to test the healthy life Wholistically?
I appreciate and thanks for your guidance to change my Communities unawareness.
Honestly submitted.

Molla Gojam Arjejo
From Ethiopa



Answer:

Dear Molla,
Thanks for your question and dedication to community work. I am thrilled that you are applying community psychology principles in Ethiopia. As you are considering how to use and/or link the Community Tool Box to your agency, here are the guidelines: The CTB  has a Use Policy governing such situations, which you can find at https://ctb.ku.edu/en/use-policy.  
In Community,
Ask An Advisor 2021

Question Date: خميس, 12/09/2021
Question:
I am a volunteer leader in a large HOA. I would like to conduct a member survey to steer future investment in amenities. I am having a hard time finding a consultant to help create and implement this survey. Where might I look to find such help? (I live in Delaware)
Answer:

 
          Thank you for writing to us with your important question. We certainly respect the work you are doing as a volunteer leader,  and appreciate your desire  to conduct a member survey.
           In our experience, many ingredients go into a good survey. In particular, we think it will help you to work together with a small group of others in your HOA so that your questions will ask what you really want to know.  It also will help if your survey is clear and specific, not overly long, and has a friendly tone, for all these qualities will both increase return percentage and help get members more involved in what you are doing.  If you can pilot-test the survey on a small group before making it available to all members, so much the better.
        Beyond that, you can find some further information on surveys in Chapter 3, section 13 of the Community Tool Box, on Conducting Surveys. See https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/assessment/assessing-community-needs-and-resources/conduct-surveys/mainnks.  Other sections in Chapter 3 may be useful to you as well.
         As for a consultant, while we have no specific suggestions, in your place we might look to local universities or colleges, in particular to their psychology or sociology departments, to see if someone there might help you. Or perhaps there are other HOAs, or a national group of HOAs, who have done something similar and whose survey you could borrow from or adapt. Why reinvent the wheel?   
          Thanks again for writing. We hope this may be helpful to you, and that your survey turns out to be a productive one for all concerned.  

Question Date: خميس, 12/30/2021
Question: What are some barriers/ approaches to protect and conserve catchment area?
Answer:

Thank you for your question, but it is not clear to us what you mean by “catchment area” in your question. 
If you can provide some more details about your situation and what you are looking for, we might be able to advise you.

Question Date: ثلاثاء, 01/04/2022
Question:
Hello, I am looking for a crosswalk document for CSAP 6 prevention strategies of community change (Information Dissemination, Education, Alternatives, Problem ID & Referral, Community-Based Processes, and Environmental) which compares and equates activities with SAMHSA's 7 strategies for community change (Providing Information, Building Skills, Providing Support, Enhancing Access/Reducing Barriers, Changing Consequences, Physical Design, and Modifying/Changing Policy.) In Michigan we are transitioning our focus and need to report on both to funders. A T-chart or flow-chart helping community workers determine what category their activities fall under with both would be really helpful.
Answer:

          Thank you for your question. It is a highly specialized one, and we must frankly tell you that in this case we do not have the particular expertise to answer it properly.  You might try SAMSHA itself, if you haven’t already done so.  In any event, we hope you find what you are looking for.

Question Date: ثلاثاء, 01/11/2022
Question: I am urgently in need of an action plan in starting an organization.
Answer:

Thank you for writing to us with your question.  And it is a very big one!
In starting most any organization, or group, or even many individual activities, we believe the best place to start is with your goals – that is, what do you want to accomplish, first in general terms, and then specifically?   That comes first. It may take some reflection before you decide, but that is natural, and it is positive.
Then you might ask yourself what you need to do to get to your  goal.  In other words, you’d most likely want some kind of organizational plan, meaning the actual action steps that you’ll need to take to reach your goal.  It often helps to write these down specifically, in sequential order. Even better, can you attach rough timelines to each step, and assign responsibilities for who will do what?
 All this preliminary work may take some time, but it will be time well spent.  There’s much more to add of course, and the details will vary with each organization  (e.g., what kind of resources are available to you?). But these are the basics.
In addition, many sections  in the Community Tool Box should help you learn more, and provide more ideas you can use. In particular, we’d recommend  the different sections in Chapter 9, on organizational structure, especially Chapter 9, Section 1.   Many of the sections in Chapter 8, on planning, should also be especially useful in your case.
We hope this much may be helpful to you.  Thank you again for writing, and all best wishes for success as your important work continues.

Question Date: ثلاثاء, 01/18/2022
Question:
Good evening, This is a follow-up to emails and a phone call. I am in search of validated community assessment instruments focused on CTE entry level job recruiting. I am a EdD student at the University of Idaho. My dissertation focuses on the Perkins V Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment in rural communities. When would be a good time to discuss my project with your staff?
Phone: (208) 634 6369
Answer:

     We're sorry, Forrest, but this question calls for highly specialized knowledge which in this case we unfortunately do not have. Best wishes in finding what you are looking for.   

Question Date: خميس, 01/20/2022
Question:
Can you help me learn online how to do Community Development work?
I am very interested to learn all that I can to help my people and communities.
Answer:

            We are very glad you want to learn more about community development work and also to help your people and your communities. There is a lifetime of learning ahead of you, and the potential for you to do some wonderful things.
            How best to learn?  There are multiple ways. You can learn about community development from reading any of a variety of print sources; or by taking courses (which could also be part of a degree program); or by talking with people who have actual community development experience; or by gaining that experience yourself.  All these ways are important and valid.
            And you can also learn online.  Here, we do think the Community Tool Box, which is online, may have much to teach you.
            How can you best use it?  There are no fixed rules.  You could start, though, by looking at https://ctb.ku.edu/en/using-tool-box, which is a general description of how to use the Tool Box.  After that, it might be useful for you to skim through the Tool Box table of contents and the various Tool Box features to see what is available to you. Then you can go back and study more carefully those sections that seem most relevant to you, and learn a little more each day. 
            Another idea: It’s sometimes helpful to read materials in the order in which you would use them.  That is, you might start by reading about community needs, since many community actions are designed to meet those needs. You could then read about planning to meet those needs, adapting what you learn to your particular situation. 
             After planning, what often comes next in community work is bringing people together to work with you, commonly followed by deciding upon what actions to take, publicizing what you do, attracting more members and supporters, and evaluating your work. The Tool Box contains sections on all those topics – you’ll find them in the Table of Contents. You could therefore read Tool Box materials in that approximate order.
            What’s above are just examples, and only some of the many ways you could proceed.  To summarize, though, if you can plan in advance how you’d like to go about your own learning, carry out your plan steadily, and learn a little bit each day, you will soon be rewarded, and others will come to gain from your knowledge.
            We hope these thoughts will be helpful to you. And we wish you every success as you pursue your important work.

Question Date: سبت, 01/22/2022
Question:
Hi! I'm excited to connect with your team. I'm on Prince of Wales Islands in Southeast Alaska and am looking for support as I'm coming out of sabbatical (from clinical practice as a behavior analyst) moving into a variety of roles related to community development and will be in a position to make recommendations and support the implementation of Community Toolbox tools. I would appreciate guidance around the best approach to my particular situation and areas of involvement including (1) president of the local chamber of commerce - economic development, (2) owner of homeschool collective - quality of life development, (3) host of study circles - literacy and prosocial skills development, and (4) volunteer with a number of local organizations - community development. Look forward to connecting!
Answer:

 
 
            It sounds as though exciting times are ahead for you. That's excellent! And of course, with your background as a behavior analyst, we’re sure you already have a great deal to offer.
            As for the best approach to your particular situation, our initial response would be very basic, and would reflect what you almost certainly know.  Still, it is fundamental, and worth restating:
            That is, at the beginning you would want to meet your key contact people face to face, Covid conditions permitting. You want to get to know each other as people, and to form a relationship. Relationships are key. In your initial discussions, you’d want to learn how your target persons describe their situation, what their feelings are about it, and what they see as their basic personal and community needs,  Then, if you both agree, together you can shape action strategies that meet those needs.
           Those are the basics as we see them; they would apply in a great many community settings, transcending particular roles.. The resources in the Community Tool Box can then help provide needed details, and you can pick and choose and customize their use to the situation at hand. 
            In our own reading, we’ve also come across a contact that you might enjoy making. This is in Sitka, not all that far from you, which recently won a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health award. See https://www.rwjf.org/en/library/features/culture-of-health-prize/2019-winner-sitka-alaska.html.  That link describes some of their activities, which perhaps you could adapt and build upon in your new role.
           We hope this much may be helpful to you. All best wishes for success as you move into what will very likely be a rich and fulfilling part of your career.

Question Date: أحد, 01/23/2022
Question:
Hello! I am working on conducting a community based needs assessment for a non-profit where minors will ideally be able to answer. However, I am unfamiliar with parental permission in this case since it does not go through IRB since there will not be a publication. The target group is LGBTQ+ folx and young people, hence the need for privacy and asking that they need.
Answer:

            Thank you for writing to us with your question.  We hesitate to provide a definitive response, since your best response will be shaped by local conditions particular to your survey.  But we can offer some general observations that we hope might be helpful for you.
              Ideally, we think you’d want a survey that everyone will feel good about and get behind – both parents, youth, and your agency – and that will also be used  in actual practice to create better outcomes for your target group.  You don’t want it to be a dust collector!
            This suggests the value of outreach and discussion with all stakeholders before the survey actually begins, regarding survey purposes, specific content, and methods of administration. All of this should of course be as open, transparent, and responsive to input as possible. (It should actively solicit input as well.)  We realize that while this may be conceptually easy, it can practically be more challenging.  
             Beyond that, since we are not familiar with your particular situation on the ground, we think it will help to consult with those who are, or who have more specific expertise in this area than we do.
             More specifically, this would include your local IRB, whose general guidance could be useful to you, even though you state that IRB approval would not be necessary in your case (and we would double-check that assertion).
            Regarding the legalities of consent, which might be governed by state or local laws or regulations, do you or your nonprofit have access to legal counsel?
            And can you search for similar surveys that have been done with similar target groups, either inside or outside your area, and learn how they have dealt with the challenges you describe?
            By taking these factors into account and resolving them as best you can, your survey will be more likely to make a positive difference in your community. We hope so.  And we wish you great success as your work proceeds.  
 

Question Date: خميس, 01/27/2022
Question:
Good afternoon,
My name is Maria and I'm from Portugal. I work on a project to train and integrate people with special needs into the job market.
At the moment, I have a group that is in the field of ceramics, so I need some help to think about physical adaptations to increase their autonomy in this area.
I'm looking for some kind of training to help me with this.
thank you for your attention.
Sincerely,
Maria Quaresma
Answer:

             Thank you for writing to us about the important work you are doing.   
             In your situation, we think it would be most helpful to find someone with expertise who is already in Portugal, and who could come to your work setting in person, look at the facilities there, and then make recommendations based upon what he or she sees.  It is hard of course to do that from a distance.     
            We must also say that we are not experts in training programs for people with special needs for the job market, including programs in  ceramics. So if we were in your place, it might be good to investigate who else in Portugal is involved in this area.
            What degree or certificate programs might exist in this field?  Can you research this? Or can you reach out to people who might know, which would bring you a step closer to your goal?  These are steps we would consider.  We will also be in touch with colleagues in Portugal (in Lisbon) who might be able to provide more specific advice.     
           We hope some of these thoughts may be helpful to you. All best wishes as your work continues.

Question Date: ثلاثاء, 02/01/2022
Question:
We are a small shared leadership school (Charter k-8) with 408 students. We have a shared leadership model that is confusing and ineffective in terms of timely decision making. We need help clarifying what decisions go to what committee and what decisions are made on the leadership team. Help!
Answer:

 
           Thank you for writing to us with your question.  We think it’s a natural and not surprising question, as it can easily occur in any organization, especially in a relatively new one, if your charter school fits that description.  The good news is that your issue is certainly solvable, through open and transparent and honest dialogue among those who are part of your shared leadership model.
          The basic problem-solving process here is quite simple, at least in theory.  Can you think of a basic matrix, with a listing of key decisions that need to be made as one axis, and the people who should make them on the other?    The basic logical task is to fill in the matrix, or chart, until you have a rough consensus, assuming that shared leadership model.  You’d want to keep in mind that it may take more than one discussion session to achieve this.  But that is to be expected when you are still developing an organizational structure for the school.In this sense, the answer to your question is found in the question itself.
         There are also several variations that might make your process more effective:  
        * You could distribute your chart in advance, and invite each staff member to fill in the cells in the matrix with their own viewpoint. Those comments could be made public, though still anonymous.  You could do this online through interactive digital whiteboards such as Jamboard or Miro.      
         *  You could hold your discussion sessions in the form of a retreat,  such as a planned weekend retreat in a pleasant and neutral location, when people have an extended time to work these issues through.   
         * If needed, you could bring in an outside consultant, not necessarily to give advice, but rather to facilitate the process.  
         *  You could Look at other charter school structures (do you belong to an organization of charter schools?), and borrow or adapt features of those features that you think would work well in your own setting.
            We hope this much may be helpful to you. We cannot provide a full response in a few short paragraphs, but we hope what’s here may give you some ideas that you can develop and begin to implement where you are.  Thanks again for writing, and all best wishes as your important work continues.

Question Date: ثلاثاء, 02/01/2022
Question:
Hello. I have a nonprofit that specifically helps single parents and children affected by domestic violence as well as food insecurity. We have been successful in providing basic household needs, groceries, and clothing. Our biggest challenge is fulfilling our long-term mission of building tiny homes (different sizes) to assist the families during crisis mode with suitable housing. This stems from my personal experience in lack of "suitable" housing twenty years ago, especially for women and children. I'm often told to go to shelters that are either full, have a long waitlist, deny the application, and/or not safe for children. This is why I'm determined to change that. However, funding is a huge undertaking. I'm reaching out to you in hopes that you can point me in the right direction. Thank you for your time.
Answer:

            Thank you for writing to us. We very well understand your important question, we agree that finding funding is a big undertaking, and we wish we could point you to specific funders eager to support your work, but that’s not the case.  Of course, you could always start a GoFundMe, or similar fundraising drive, but even if successful that would not give you the sustainable and ongoing funding you probably want.
          Even so, you do have options. And you might think of your situation as not having a single “right direction,” but rather a number of different directions you could pursue, perhaps even at the same time.  Thinking this way can open up your options, and be empowering.
         We’ll mention several of these options (not a complete list)  in the form of questions to you for your consideration: 
        *  Does your nonprofit consist of a group that is working (or is able to work) actively on this project?  (For of course working together and sharing the tasks will make your search a lot easier.)  *  Have you investigated the possibility of linking up with local government, so that you would become a service local government provides?  If not by a staff position, then by renewable contract?  *  Can you become part of an existing agency that is already working on domestic violence or similar issues?   * What about applying through your local government for federal block grant funds?  *  Can you become part of your local United Way (or similar local group), where you might be able to get a regular (if relatively small) local allocation?   * If your focus is actually on building homes, then could you approach large building supply companies (e.g., Home Depot. Lowe’s) with your request?  Or Habitat for Humanity?  
         Also:  *  Can you learn what other domestic violence organizations in your area (or even nationally) have done? How have they met similar challenges?   What lessons can you learn from them that will help you in your own work? *   Is there a national association of domestic violence service providers, for example, that you could contact with your question and learn from?   *   Of course, you would also want to keep in touch with funding-related developments on local, state, and national levels.
        These are some directions we think you could consider; we hope some of them might be useful for you.   
        We’ll close by noting that there are a great many general sources about fund-raising and grant writing that you can consult. Within the Community Tool Box, for example, you could look at Chapter 42, Section 4, on Applying for a Grant, at https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/finances/grants-and-financial-resources/grant-application/main, as well as other sections in Chapter 42.
         We hope some of these thoughts may be helpful to you. We applaud your determination (it’s so important), and wish you the very best as your work continues.   

Question Date: خميس, 02/10/2022
Question:
Aloha I am interested in learning how any faith based communities are involved with community transformation, what role they play and how they assist.
Answer:

 
          We have no doubt that faith-based communities have played a significant role in community transformation, and that there are many opportunities for that role to expand further.  And we are sure that a book (or many books) could be written about it.
         But to give you a start toward clarifying your own answer, we can point you to two sources: One is a short bibliography on faith-based resources for action, published by the Asset Building Community Development Institute at DePaul University, at https://resources.depaul.edu/abcd-institute/resources/Pages/Faith-based-Resources.aspx.   The other is a report from the Center for Religion and Civic Culture at the University of Southern California, at https://crcc.usc.edu/report/community-transformation-outlining-a-process-for-change/.
       We hope these sources may help further develop your own thinking and action. All best wishes as your efforts continue.

Question Date: جمعة, 02/11/2022
Question:
I am looking for resources to more clearly define my organizations board responsibilities. Specifically in regard to strategic planning and what role they ideally should play in that.
Answer:

       Thanks for writing to us at the Community Tool Box.  The Tool Box does contain several sections on organizational boards, in particular Chapter 9, Section 4, on Developing an Ongoing Board of Directors, at  https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/structure/organizational-structure/board-of-directors/main,  which we think provides a solid overview.  You may also benefit from the related materials in Chapter 9, Section 5 and 6 – see the Tool Box table of contents for details.      
      There is a large literature on this topic, and other good sources should not be difficult to find.  For example, you might check out William Bowen’s The Board Book, even though parts of it refer to corporate as vs. nonprofit boards.  
       Regarding the board’s role in planning, there are no official rules about this, for each organization is different. In our experience, most boards should and do in fact have a planning role, but this itself can take several forms – either through the board working as a whole, or in a subcommittee, or in a subcommittee together with an executive director.   The arrangements may properly vary, depending on the nature of your organization and the people and resources on hand.  The task is to find an agreed-upon arrangement that will work well for you.  
       We hope this much may be helpful to you, and wish you and your organization many successes in the future.

Question Date: أربعاء, 02/23/2022
Question: what are your community issues that concern you and how you can address them?
Answer:

Thank you for being in touch with us.  If you mean “How do you determine your community’s issues?”, we suggest you might consult Chapter 3 in the Community Tool Box, “Assessing Community Needs and Resources,” and the various sections within that chapter. Check the Community Tool Box table of contents on our home page for details
As for how you can then address those issues, we would recommend looking at the different sections within Tool Box Chapter 19, “Choosing and Planning Community Interventions”  in particular, though many other Tool Box chapters and sections also speak to this topic.  
Best wishes for success in finding and using what you need.

Question Date: خميس, 02/24/2022
Question:
Hi, Thank you for all the helpful information on the website. I am a student at Athabasca University. I am using Chapter 4 Section 2 in a paper. Do you know how I should cite the url below in APA 7th edition format? Thank you
https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/assessment/getting-issues-on-the-public-agenda/commmunicate-information/main
Answer:

  Thank you for writing to us. A suggested format for citing Community Tool Box materials in this case would be:
  Community Tool Box  (n.d.). Chapter 4, Section 2,  Communicating information about community health and development issues.  Retrieved from https://ctb.ku.edu, [insert date of your retrieval] 
  (FYI, the “n.d.” above indicates that no date of publication was cited in the original source..)
  Additional style format guidance is given in the APA Publication Manual, as well as in other online sources you may find through a simple search engine query.
  Best wishes as your studies continue.

Question Date: أحد, 02/27/2022
Question:
Hello!

I hope this message finds you well!
My name is Arick and I'm working on special projects at the Family and Community Engagement Office in the School District of Philadelphia.
The reason I'm writing is because we are attempting to institutionalize a feedback system internally within our District regarding garnering useful feedback from families concerning District policies and procedures that are periodically due for revision. We want to provide a list of options (e.g.: send out a survey, hold a focus group, etc.) for our offices which they can choose from in order to best engage families/the public constituency within our District and thus get feedback on policies and procedures. I was wondering if you have any suggestions for how to structure the framework/system, or what options should definitely be included?

Thanks so much for all your great work!
Answer:

Thank you for writing us with your interesting and important question. We can offer some suggestions for your consideration, which may seem indirect at first, but which we think address the broader issue of getting good feedback – of course essential for a system like yours to achieve your goals.
One suggestion has to do with framing. Rather than give the impression that feedback is a task or chore, as something a parent has to add to one’s list,  can you present it a positive opportunity?   As in, for example, “Please help us work together with you, to improve education for your child, and also for all children at school in our district.”  You’d want to make giving feedback as a warm and special invitation, a happy thing to do.
Another suggestion has to do with branding, or phrasing.  When you talk about improving policies and procedures, we believe many parents’ eyes will glaze over.  They may think (perhaps not without reason) “This is not for me,” or “This stuff is beyond me,” or “I’m not interested in policies and procedures; I just want my child to get a good education.”
 So might you consider a different and more accessible phrasing, such as “Making our school work for you,” or “How we do things at our school,” or something along those lines?  Something that would draw parents in and make them feel like partners in their child’s education and with their school (which they should be in any case).  The idea is to make feedback seem simple, feasible, enjoyable, and, ideally, fun.
A third suggestion has to do with timing.   It’s fine to have both focus groups and surveys, but your feedback mailbox should be open 24/7 and advertised that way.  For example, “In our district, feedback is welcome,  encouraged, and valued anytime; and here’s how you can give it.”
You could also promote a more regular feedback opportunity –  let’s call it Feedback Monday – where on the first Monday of every week, as part of a short weekly bulletin that goes out to all parents,  you promote a specific opportunity for feedback on a particular topic selected in advance (often with parents doing the selecting). You ask for feedback on this topic in particular, then post and use the results. You keep it upbeat and positive, paying attention to colorful graphics to attract the eye and stimulate response.  You could certainly also combine this with larger parent assemblies a few times a year to talk about these issues in a group, in addition to smaller focus groups and surveys.
We think you may see where we are going with this.  To get the feedback we think you desire, you may want to go beyond traditional boundaries, and see yourself as true partners with parents, closely working together for mutually-held goals.
We don’t pretend that our comments provide a complete answer to your issue.  But we hope they indicate a general direction you could head in, and a general spirit you could build upon.  We think it’s possible to create a culture of feedback, and a sense of excitement to go with it.  Perhaps you can  do this!
In any case, we hope some of these thoughts may be helpful to you. Thanks again for writing, and all best wishes for success.

Question Date: جمعة, 03/04/2022
Question:
Hello. My name is Yvette. I have aspirations of developing a (AWSOME) Community Park in my Neighborhood. I have already Envisioned it. I'm not SAVY TECHNOLOGY WISE. I HEARD THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO RECEIVE THE FINANCIAL GRANTS TO BRING EDUCATIONAL, LIFE PRESERVING, SELF SUFFECENTCY, EMPLOYMENT, SAFE OFF ROAD OBSTACLES, ECT..... I would appreciate any advice resources in order to make an AWSOME, SAFE, EDUCATIONAL, ENLIGHTENING, OPEN PARK IN MY COMMUNITY. MY ZIP CODE IS #92114. THANK YOU. YVETTE ARVIZU
Answer:

Thanks for writing to us at the Community Tool Box.  Your excitement and motivation to create the park shine right through your words. That’s impressive, and it’s important too, for in community work having a powerful desire to reach a goal will take you much of the way there. We hope you keep your passion alive!
 Beyond that, when starting your park (and many other new projects) we recommend you consider getting together with others to help you in planning and execution.  Working with others, in a small group, can (1) take some of the load off you, (2) generate some ideas you might not have thought of by yourself, and also (3) result in a better eventual outcome.   In your case, it can also help your project acquire more technological savvy.In addition, some sections in the Community Tool Box may help you with this, in particular the sections within Chapter 19, “Choosing and Planning Community Interventions. Take a look if you can.
While we cannot point you to specific funding resources, you might do some research on similar parks and learn from them how they went about funding their operation.
All best wishes for success. We hope that the opening of your park will. joyous and celebratory, and not too far away!

Question Date: سبت, 03/19/2022
Question:
1 what are the most prevalent concerned that you have?
2 what do you think are the reason why the respondents have those answers?
3 as a student what programs can you recommend addressing their concerns?
Answer:

Thank you for writing to us. If we understand your question correctly, we can say this:
1. In conducting our Ask an Advisor service over the past 15+ years, and responding to nearly 2000 questions, it’s hard for us to say that any particular concerns are prevalent.  That’s because we hear from a very wide variety of community builders from all over the world, working in an equally wide variety of different community settings, and with an equally wide variety of concerns of their own.
 2.  All of them want to make their communities better and stronger, and that’s the common reason for their writing to us. But the particular circumstances they are in, and challenges they face are all different.  
3.  To address these concerns, we at the Community Tool Box attempt to provide some general information and ideas that will help community builders in their work.  We hope and believe they are helpful. 
      Of course, you can also learn a great deal from other programs in your studies in school, as well as from books, articles, and reports in the field, and other resources available to you. There’s no shortage of good information you can learn from and apply.
      These combined resources, together with experience you acquire in practice, will all help make you more effective in the community work you may be doing later in life.  We wish you great success in the work ahead of you.

Question Date: أربعاء, 03/23/2022
Question:
Good morning,
I am employed with a local department of social services and will be launching a new program geared towards helping older citizens who do not have anyone/family to depend on. Our program needs funding and I would like to apply for grants but need suggestions on available grants that are out there and may be able to help.
Answer:

    We appreciate your important question, but unfortunately we are not able to provide information on specific grant availability.

Question Date: ثلاثاء, 03/29/2022
Question:
I would like to open up a homeless shelter or a just a shelter to help people and I don't know what my first step would be
Answer:

 
Thank you for reaching out to us. Actually, we think you have already taken your first steps, by identifying and expressing your wish to create a shelter. That’s because without your intention, and your desire,  nothing else can happen!  
What comes next?  In your case, we think it would be a good idea for you to clarify what you have in mind. You can do this by simple reflection and by using your imagination. Can you visualize the shelter in action?  Try giving yourself an imaginary tour. You can certainly be creative, but be specific too.  This exercise may help you get clearer on just what it is you want.
Having done that, what would need to happen before your imagined (so far) shelter could operate?  For example, you would probably need a physical property – either purchased, donated, rented, leased, or shared.  There would be costs involved – what are they, and how much? You’d need staff. For facilities like shelters, approvals of different kinds are often involved, for zoning, health, utilities, and the like. And you’d also need to learn and comply with relevant state and local regulations.
 These are some of the likely factors you’d need to consider. They can be resolved, but it will almost certainly take some effort to resolve them. That’s just part of real-life community work.
 After that, it should also help you to learn about existing shelters similar to the one you now have in mind.  Then reach out to them, to learn more about how they operate and what advice they might have for you. The point here is to learn and be guided from others’ experience, both positive and negative.
 At around this point, it would be helpful as well to find a small group of others to work with you – unless you want to take on the entire project by yourself!  Working together with others will help take some of the load off of you, give you ideas you might not have thought of, allow others to contribute their particular strengths, provide practical and emotional support, and also help build relationships with others, which can be satisfying in their own right. That adds up to many advantages.
 There’s more involved of course, but we hope this will give you a start. In addition, some sections in the Community Tool Box may help you further, in particular the sections within Chapter 19, “Choosing and Planning Community Interventions.” Take a look if you can.
We hope this much has been helpful to you. If you follow through, we think you will find the work both engaging and challenging. And you may be able to help create something that is both beneficial to others and to your community. We hope so! We wish you every success as your work proceeds.

Question Date: خميس, 03/31/2022
Question:
Greetings. I am curious if there are any known government agencies, foundations, and/or banks that sponsor Leadership Development in the Community Development arena, or in Community Development work. My (U.S. small business) consulting company creates community development programmes, and I want to enroll in college-university to complete my education, which I plan to perform, (even) as I labor, away from school, to improve the lives of low-income ethnic and minority community residents.
Answer:

       Thank you for writing to us at the Community Tool Box. Some good news is that there are surely more leadership development programs than we can reasonably count. What’s best for you, in your circumstances, will likely depend on:  
         What kind of credentials you might want to get from the program, if any – e.g., a degree, certificate, CEUs, or possibly none of the above
         How you intend to apply what you’ve learned – that is, who would be your audience?
         How much time, and perhaps money, you have to invest –which could range from a few weeks to a few years.
         Your preferred program format – in-person, online, or hybrid
         In your case, you mention a special interest in serving low-income ethnic and minority community residents, which is excellent.  Two sources that might be helpful for you are the Center for Creative Leadership, at https://www.ccl.org/leadership-programs/leadership-development-program, and the organization Community Change, at https://communitychange.org/leadership-development/.
        In addition, our own discipline of community psychology offers many graduate degree programs that include community leadership. More information can be found at https://www.scra27.org/what-we-do/education/academic-programs/.  And the Community Tool Box itself offers an interactive Training Curriculum, including a module on leadership. Details are at  https://ctb.ku.edu/sites/default/files/files/ctb_training_curriculum.pdf
        All these are just examples. We’re quite sure you’ll find more helpful sources as you investigate further.
        So to summarize, we think it makes sense first to clarify the particular aspects of a program you are looking for, as noted above, and then investigate and prioritize the different options available to you within that area.    
        Thanks again for being in touch; we wish much success for you and your company as your important work proceeds.

Question Date: خميس, 04/07/2022
Question:
Are there recommendations on the best ways to connect with potential community partners or stakeholders for outreach activities? E-mail or phone call? I find it is difficult to reach individuals in large organizations or nonprofits at times.
Answer:

 
 
Thanks for writing to us at the Community Tool Box. We’re not surprised that you sometimes have challenges in reaching people, and we’re confident in saying that you are not alone!    Many of us live in busy worlds, with much information continually surging by, and it’s hard for even the most dedicated people to pay full attention to everything that’s going on.     
How, then, can you best ensure that your own message gets through? We’re not aware of any definitive study on the best way to connect with community partners or stakeholders. But based on our own experience, we can offer several suggestions that might help shape your own strategy.
The best strategy will depend on the person and the organization you are trying to reach, and also upon the local culture of your community in general. For some it might be an e-mail, for others a text, for others still a phone call.  The general principle here is knowing your audience, and adjusting your efforts to suit. If you’re not sure, you might ask someone else in your target organization, or some similar organization, “What’s the best way of reaching X?”
Sometimes it takes more than one contact to get through. Repetition can help, and persistence and tenaciousness can be virtues, up until the point where you simply become annoying – and there can be a fine line here.  When you do repeat your message, though, you could also vary the form of contact.
As for your actual message, you want to keep it short and clear. And vivid – how can you make it stand out from other messages, in a positive way?  And to emphasize the benefits for the recipient as well: Why is it in their interest to participate in your outreach activities?  (And when they do participate, a short thank you – positive reinforcement – is almost always a good idea.)
We hope these suggestions may be useful to you. With experience, you will continue to learn more  about how to adapt these principles  and find what works best in your own community setting. We wish you much success as your work continues.

Question Date: ثلاثاء, 04/12/2022
Question: Developing plans to achieve defined objectives
Answer:

If you mean how should one develop plans to meet pre-established objectives, you might benefit from consulting Chapter 8 on the Community Tool Box, on planning, at https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/structure/strategic-planning.
 

Question Date: سبت, 04/16/2022
Question:
Consensus within our community serving org questions on no-vote or abstaining and change of vote after the main vote:


Hello!

Nice to meet you. Thank you for all your free resources!!

My name is Clare and I am a staff member at a non-profit in Indianapolis, IN , USA. We focus on Peace Education, with content/programing focused on Equity learning, Social Emotional Learning and Conflict Resolution, as well as Restorative Practices.
www.peacelearningcenter.org


As an org we have been looking internally to include more equitable practices, and have been working to use consensus. We are creating a handbook to help connect consensus to our internal processes and have a few questions and concerns that have come up we cannot find answers to in on-line material.

Can you help?

One question is: What role could/should no vote/abstain play in a consensus decision? How may abstains can exist without jeopardizing the proposal voted on and the group collaboration needed? Under what circumstances are abstain votes allowed?

(We have used them when staff have not been involved in the conversation enough (only work as contractors , less then part time or just started their job the day of the vote, or when a staff member did not do research/gather enough info on the different proposals that they felt unsure on their understanding of what was being discussed and suggested to vote)

Another question: What happens if someone wants to change their decision after the official vote? Is there suggestions around time frame or times when allowed, or why or why not it should be allowed?

We had one such situation recently. After our proposal stages and discussion, we took an e-mail based vote. The decision was 3 stand asides, which took us back to the need to go back to discussion. When e-mails started to come up about the time frame for changes and participation, and how to move forward, one of that stand asides asked to change to approve. Thus, the proposal was passed, after the first vote. It happened within 24 hrs I believe. I am sure this kind of situation could pop up again.

Also, do you do training on consensus with staff groups in USA?

Thank you for any ideas or suggestions you may have!
Answer:

 
 
Thank you for writing to us with your very thoughtful questions. While we are not experts in this particular field, to our best knowledge there is no official source that has been universally adopted on these points. The fact that you report working on your own in-house manual would itself seem to confirm this; accordingly, developing your own manual seems like a good idea.
Our own view is that several different policies regarding consensus decision making are justifiable, and one criterion for the “best” may be a policy that your group will agree to and use in practice.  In different words, whatever policies or guidelines you do adopt need to be both agreed to and followed by the members of your organization, over and above their particular content.  The same basic analysis would probably apply to vote-switching as well.
 One source that has impressed us and shaped our own thinking is Facilitator’s Guide to Participatory Decision-Making (3rd edition), by Sam Kaner et al.  The authors there point to different meanings of “abstain,” and different degrees of “consensus,” which they regard as different from “unanimity.” We found their chapter on “Striving for Unanimity,” toward the end of the book, to be especially thought-provoking and enlightening.
In addition, in your own work, once you have arrived at decision making policies, you might also decide to review them on an annual basis, to see if they are working as intended, and if any adjustments might need to be made.
Regarding training, we don’t usually do formal training\on consensus building, but you could write my colleagues at toolbox@ku.edu, mention that you wrote to Ask an Advisor, and see if they have any leads. Alternatively, you might  try to track down the authors of the Kaner book.
We hope this much may be helpful to you.  Thanks again for writing, and all best wishes as your important work continues.

Question Date: ثلاثاء, 04/19/2022
Question:
Hello, I have a question. When was chapter 27, Section 2. Building Relationships with People from Different Cultures published?.
Answer:

The approximate publication date of this section was 2006.

Question Date: أربعاء, 04/20/2022
Question:
Hello,
I am currently working in my community to address mass incarceration. Does the CTB have an outline or tool used to evaluate policy change efforts?

Thank you!
Answer:

 You will find an outline for evaluating policy initiatives in the Community Tool Box, Toolkit 12, Evaluating the Initiative, at https://ctb.ku.edu/en/evaluating-initiative.
There is also extensive information on evaluating policy change in Chapters 36-39 of the Community Tool Box (see the Tool Box Table of Contents for details).  
Best wishes in your search! 

Question Date: خميس, 04/21/2022
Question:
Hello

Thank you for your modules on communication planning. Do you have any suggestions on how to practice writing a Communication plan so you feel ready and confident about preparing plans?
Where can I find startups looking for someone to help them write their (simple) communication plan to start with.
Finally, At what part of communication planning should the company use facilitation services?

Thank you for your help and suggestions
Kelly
Answer:

   Thank you for writing to us with your question. Our basic recommendation is very simple: The best way to practice writing communication plans is to practice! As with so many other things in life, we get better with practice -- and that is surely encouraging to know.
  In real life, since we are not aware of any centralized listing of start-ups, we think there’s value in starting locally. See if you can identify some local groups or organizations whose goals and values you share.  Perhaps you can then find a person or persons there to provide feedback on a sample plan you might write. If you have more time, you could volunteer to help them on their planning; or if you have more time still, you could apprentice yourself to them for a while, and learn how plans take shape in real time in the community.  
   You can find further details by reviewing the sections on planning in the Community Tool Box, especially those in Chapter 8. (See the Tool Box table of contents.)   But basic planning concepts are not complicated. As we see it, they boil down to identifying what needs to happen, who will do it, and by when?  Or, in shorter form, “Who will do what by when?”  The other key ingredient is making sure that those concerned buy into the plan, so that they will implement it properly ad abide by the results.
   Regarding facilitation services: Two key junctures in plan formation are when you begin to create the actual plan, and when your plan is ready to be tested in the real world. Facilitation will be especially helpful at those times, but outside facilitation services may not be necessary, as inside resources may suffice.
   We hope this much may be helpful to you. Thanks again for writing, and all best wishes as your investigations continue.

Question Date: خميس, 05/05/2022
Question:
Hello

How does a “plan for communication “ differ from “a strategic plan” ?
Answer:

For most everyday purposes, one could treat a ”plan for communication” and a “strategic plan” as essentially the same thing.

Question Date: خميس, 05/05/2022
Question:
Thank your answers. If I am asked to write a communication plan, should I talk let the management decide on which “messages/ channels….etc” to incorporate in the plan and then I just write the plan for them . Or should I chose for them the channels and other parts of the action plan?

Do I facilitate any management meetings to help organization reach a shared decision on the planning details they want to incorporate?

You recommended that facilitation may take place at the creation level and the testing level. Can you clarify how facilitation work at the testing level? How does it actually happen and what is the theme of discussion?
Answer:

           Thank you for your additional thoughtful questions. In response, we feel the best answer to your first question depends both on your skill and experience in communication planning, as well as the skill and experience of the organization staff you are working with.  
            For example, if you had proven and widely recognized accomplishments in this field, and your organizational staff were relative novices, you might best write the plan as you see it and present that as your best recommendation.   On the other hand, if the circumstances were reversed, and you were the novice, you would most likely want to be more deferential to organization wishes.  
         There is another alternative, however, roughly in-between the two above. That is, in your plan you might present different options for management to consider.  For example, you could say in effect “One possible option for you to use is Option #1, which involves ____ . Its strengths are ___ and its weaknesses are ___.  (You would fill in the blanks.) Or alternatively, you could employ Option #2 (fill in description, strengths, and weaknesses); another possibility is Option #3 (with same format).” In other words, you’d  lay out the different options as you see them, and then work with management in making a decision; or you could simply then let them decide.
         The same basic analysis would apply to facilitation – again, a decision here depends on the relative experience and skills for both planner and organizational staff.
         Regarding your last question, a typical pattern for facilitated meeting is to have the facilitator set and communicate the agenda in advance, most likely with members of the organization; this may also include the desired outcomes for the session. In short form, the facilitator then steers the meeting to help ensure that the agenda items are properly considered and that desired outcomes are reaced.
            As before, we hope these thoughts are helpful to you; we continue to wish you much success in your own community planning and facilitation.

Question Date: ثلاثاء, 05/10/2022
Question:
I am interested in providing an assessment to the community for early educators, and daycare services.
Answer:

 
 
 
            Do you mean that (1) early educators and daycare service providers would be conducting some form of assessment about the community, or (2) that you and/or others would be conducting an assessment on early education and daycare services? 
             We suspect the latter; but in either case, it should help you to be clear on several basic questions before you begin:  Who in fact wants the assessment? What are the purposes of the assessment? What outcomes you would like to see as a result of the assessment? What resources you have to carry it out?  More specifically, who else is available to help you design the specific content, layout, and sampling format for the assessment, and also to conduct it in practice and analyze the results?  Finally, what would you like to do with the results you find?
            Once these questions are clarified, you may benefit from reviewing further information on developing a needs assessment in the different sections in Chapter 3 of the Community Tool Box, on community needs and resources.  A good place to start would be Section 1 in in that chapter, on developing a plan for assessment.
            We hope these thoughts may be helpful to you.  All best wishes in carrying out a successful and meaningful assessment.

Question Date: جمعة, 05/13/2022
Question:
I was recently elected to a local community board (non-HOA, 55+ manufactured home community) whose primary function is to plan neighborhood events and represent the neighborhood in certain interactions with the property manager. The previous board is refusing to turn over any records (they’re saying there are no records and the bank account has been closed) and telling us the bylaws are no longer valid. The community is very divided over the election but business is business. Has anyone ever dealt with this type of situation? How did you handle it?
Answer:

 
       Thank you for being in touch with us with your question. We understand  the challenges you might feel in such a situation.
       We of course are not in a position to know all the facts of the matter, nor to offer a judgment on the previous board. But in your place, we would normally want to take a longer and inclusive view. That view would be based on the assumption that most everyone in your community shares some common goals — these would typically include safety, attractiveness, supportiveness, and a feeling of community.
       That’s where you can begin. You and your current board might best focus on these broad goals. Granted that there may have been division over the election, perhaps for good reason; but presumably the election is now over, and you have now taken on the responsibility of leadership.
            So how can you work together to achieve your common goals?  To us, this can involve having and communicating a mindset of making a fresh start. You can begin with adopting and modeling a stance of respect toward everyone, and both welcoming and encouraging everyone’s possible contribution, regardless of what might have happened in the past.
         More specifically, you might consider holding a well-publicized, community-wide, celebratory social event for everyone, where the emphasis would be on having a good time and enjoying each other’s company, and avoiding reference to records, bank accounts, or bylaws.  If you can build or rebuild community cohesion through that event, it will make it easier to plan others.
            We hope some of these thoughts may be helpful to you. Thanks again for writing, and all best wishes for both personal and community success.

Question Date: جمعة, 05/13/2022
Question:
We are providing online education by youtube channel about all application as Microsoft office and Photoshop and Coral draw etc.
Answer:

    Thank you for letting us know about your work, 

Question Date: ثلاثاء, 06/07/2022
Question: HOW TO WRITE BYLAW FOR YOUTHS' COMMITTEE?
Answer:

           You can find information about writing bylaws in Chapter 9, Section 7 of the Community Tool Box, on Writing Bylaws, at https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/structure/organizational-structure/write-bylaws/main.   Other sections  in that same Chapter 9, on organizational structure, may be useful to you as well.   
          Another approach to writing bylaws would be to ask similar organizations in your area or field about how they have dealt with this issue, particularly about bylaws they may have written themselves.  You may then be able to borrow from and adapt their work for your own organization.
          Thank you for writing to us with your question, and all best wishes for success in completing this task, and in your youth work.

Question Date: ثلاثاء, 06/07/2022
Question:
Good day
Can you please advise how one reference when using community toolbox
Answer:

Thank you for writing to us. A suggested generic format for citing Community Toolbox materials would be:
Community Tool Box  (n.d.).  Chapter  [insert number of chapter], Section [insert number of section],  [insert title of section, in italics].  Retrieved from https://ctb.ku.edu, [insert date of your retrieval]. 
To put this in the form of a specific example, if you were citing Chapter 4, Section 2 today (this section is chosen at random), your citation would look like:
Community Tool Box (n.d.). Chapter 4, Section 2, Communicating information about community health and development issues.  Retrieved from https://ctb.ku.edu, June 21, 2022.   
 (FYI, the “n.d.” in both cases above indicates that no date of publication was cited in the original source.)
  Additional style format guidance is given in the APA Publication Manual.
  We hope this is useful to you, and send best wishes for success in your work.
  
 

Question Date: ثلاثاء, 06/21/2022
Question:
Hello, I am enthused about your program which I just discovered.
I've been developing a graphical game plan generation device and wonder if I might speak with you about incorporating your "toolbox" ! Quite a daunting task obviously.
My first question is: How Might I provide myself income to do this even? Like: "along the way of development". Thank You!
John OBine
Answer:

Thank you for writing to us at the Community Tool Box.   Unfortunately, we’re not likely to be helpful regarding making money from this work.  That’s because we don’t yet know the details of your plans, but also because we are not business planners or business consultants.  Here you’d be better off looking elsewhere.
However, we are pleased to hear about your graphical game device, and utilizing the Tool Box as part of it. We’re not sure, though, that we know what you mean when you speak of incorporating the Tool Box into your plans; so if you were to write again, we might be able to provide a more useful response.  In any case, we wish you much success as your work continues.

Question Date: خميس, 06/23/2022
Question:
How to write an effective email to a large newspaper publication's editor to publish your own news about a good cause you'll be doing like hair donation for cancer patients.
Answer:

 
 
 Thank you for writing to us with your valuable question. There are techniques you can use in contacting an editor, and you can find some of them in different sections of the Community Tool Box.  We would especially recommend taking a look at Chapter 6, Section 6, on  Preparing Guest Columns and Editorials, and also at Chapter 33, Sections 1 and 2, on Writing letters to the Editor and Writing Letters to Elected Officials.  In addition, Chapter 6, Section 2, on Persuasion, provides some good general background.
You can find each of these sections by accessing the Tool Box Table of Contents.  To summarize them in a sentence, it will help if in your communication you are both friendly, clear, and specific in your request and in asking for a reply.  
  In addition, there are some other questions you would want to consider.  First, you want to be sure that you are communicating with the right editor.  If your target is a large publication, as you indicate, there are likely to be a number of editors.  Do you have the right one?
Once that has been established, what can you learn about that editor, so you can use that information in your communication?
Has the publication published reader-generated content similar to yours before?  If so, you can cite that precedent as well.
And how does that editor prefer to be contacted?  Is it by e-mail, as you suggest, or might it be by text, or phone call, or some other  way?  We probably don’t know yet until we inquire.   Publications and policies vary, and you want to know the procedures that apply to your publication.
A possible strategy for you here might be to first contact not the editor, but rather an editorial assistant, who works with the editor. Then you could describe your situation, and ask directly how best to contact the actual editor and send in your materials.  In other words, you can get helpful advice before you begin -- though this of course will take a little research.
 We hope some of these thoughts may be helpful to you. Thanks again for being in touch, and best wishes with your news story and your important cause.

Question Date: اثنين, 07/04/2022
Question:
Our unique community is wanting to do the planning, assessment, and evaluation to promote the continuation of our healthy, member-owned cooperative. I found you a year ago when I was proposing such. I am excited to talk with and perhaps participate with someone interested in a research project because I do not find good research on the evaluation of active 55+ independent communities. There are many details we can discuss if the interested person contacts me.
Answer:

 
            Thank you for writing to us.  We appreciate the importance and value of independent 55+ communities, as well as the need to evaluate them.  But we do not consider ourselves to have expertise in this area.   
           We would recommend contacting people or organizations that do have such expertise, conceivably starting with large and broad organizations such as AARP.  We will also keep an eye out for any relevant resources that might come our way, and will aim to share them with you.
         Best wishes as you continue your inquiries; we hope you find what you are looking for.

Question Date: أحد, 07/10/2022
Question: When was Section 1 of Chapter 33 published? I need it to cite my work.
Answer:

As best we can determine, it was 1998.   Best wishes in your work. 

Question Date: جمعة, 07/22/2022
Question:
Greetings,

I am finishing my doctorate in clinical psychology, but I want to shift my focus to community psychology. What additional education and training do I need to pursue to change my career focus? Thank you!
Answer:

     Welcome to a wonderful new world! We hope your transition is happy, smooth, and fulfilling. And please know you are not alone; a great many community psychologists started out as clinicians.
     In our experience, there are no set rules for making this kind of shift. Some good news is that a number of the same basic concepts and methods will transfer over from clinical to community psych. The extent of this will depend in part upon the type of clinical education you received.
     As for additional education and training, while we’re not going to send you to another Ph.D. program, you do have options. For one example, you could enter a master’s program to complement your clinical degree, at least some of which you might be able to take online, at your own pace.  Or you could check out the possibilities for a community psych postdoc. Or, you could instead pick up additional courses and workshops that particularly interest you as you go along.  Or, you could wait, do nothing formal or structured for a little while, check out the local employment and cultural landscape, and let your direction be guided by your conclusions. Local conditions are likely to vary, as will the requirements and standards of particular employers you may engage with.
     There are some specific resources that might aid you as you proceed. To familiarize yourself a bit more about community psychology, you might want to check the Divisional website, https://scra27.org,  and look around,  if you haven’t done so already.   The section on education at https://scra27.org/what-we-do/education/ provides some more specific resources, and a tab under that section, https://scra27.org/what-we-do/education/academic-programs/ will link you to a listing of community psychology graduate programs in the U.S. and beyond.   
      We should add as a footnote that the Community Tool Box itself offers some training materials, such as a multi-volume training curriculum on core competencies in community work. You can find more details at https://ctb.ku.edu/en/training-curriculum.
       We hope this much may be helpful to you. Thank you for writing to us – and who knows but that we may be reading about your own accomplishments in not too very long! We send all best wishes for success.

Question Date: اثنين, 07/25/2022
Question:
I live in a senior housing community . Independent living , I am interested in setting up a volunteer situation through a local high school . The volunteers would help with house keeping chores that are difficult for the seniors to accomplish . Any advise on making this happen ?
Answer:

          Thanks for writing to us with your interesting and significant question. There’s no question in our minds that a program like this can turn out very well. To make this happen, here are some short-form thoughts that may help guide you:
          *   Planning for a program such as this really helps; so careful planning in advance, before you start, will be well worth it.
           *  Program success almost always depends on relationships – in your case, this would include strong relationships those who will be coordinating the program from the high school end.
           *  Likewise with the students themselves. Before you begin, you might visit the high school, meet with the students, ask them what they would like to see in a program like this (how should it be run?), and be guided by their reply. You might also consider designating one or more students who could help in program coordination.
           *   Clear, written, and well-communicated guidelines about program operations should be developed and agreed to in advance, so that everyone is clear up front on what the students can and cannot do.
           *   Can you think of some other possible benefits for the students, beyond the general satisfaction of service?   It’s usually safe to start with pizza.  Beyond that, what about something involving music, where for example one group plays for the other, or they all play together, or you bring in an outside performer?  Or video game nights. Here’s a chance for you to be creative.  In general, you could look for events and activities that are enjoyable, where students and residents can simply enjoy each other’s company as humans.   (There’s also the possible of asking the community residents what they might be able to give – for example, tutoring, coaching, or sharing of their special skills. Inter-generational collaborations are also possible. All of this could come later.)
           *  For new programs like this, it’s often helpful to start small, with a pilot effort. You can then evaluate (again, plan in advance how you’d like to do this), adjust as necessary, and build carefully and gradually.
          *  But perhaps the most important advice we have is to look for and draw upon the work of others who’ve done this before. You want to learn from them, through reading about their programs, but also through personal contact if at all possible.  How did they do it?  What issues did they face? What worked well, and what worked less well?  What were the main things to look out for? 
               In community work, there’s rarely something completely new under the sun; instead, we borrow from what others have done and adapt it to our own situation. And that’s perfectly okay; actually, it’s to be encouraged. In the long run, we get better. 
                Where can you find such models? We’re not in a place to do the research for you, but in your situation we might start with those involved in senior issues in your own town or city (e.g., the Council on Aging, Senior Corps, senior organizations, etc.). Ask around, ask for leads, and accompany this with a simple Google search. You could also contact national groups such as AARP.   And is there an association of independent communities such as yours?
           We hope some of these thoughts may be helpful to you. Thanks again for being in touch, and all best wishes for success as your work goes forward,
 
 

Question Date: ثلاثاء, 07/26/2022
Question:
I would like to make it mandatory for all schools in the UK to educate their students on knife crime. The impact it has, the consequences, the statistics, the victims of knife crimes too. So how would i go about enforcing this topic to be taught in the suitable subjects?
Thank you
Answer:

   
      You have set a big agenda for yourself! Knife crime is surely an important topic, but aiming to  establish a mandatory curriculum in all public schools in the U.K. seems (to this U.S. observer) like an enormous task.  
     Which is not to say it couldn’t or shouldn’t be done.  We know little about knife crime education in Britain; but in your place we might begin by learning the status of current educational programs. For example, what knife crime education programs exist now? In how many schools, and where? In what grades? What is the actual curriculum content? And what is known about the effectiveness of such education in preventing later crimes? 
       Knowing the best available factual answers to these questions will help you decide your next steps. Those steps could include, as you suggest, figuring out where in existing school curricula your ideas might best fit.  They might also include designing a pilot program, or collecting data on existing programs or engaging in advocacy work. Or all those things; or other things. It will help you to put them together in the form of an overall action plan, 
       And the chances are your work will be more impactful if you join with other like-minded colleagues. This will help not only in dividing the work (which could potentially be considerable), but will also expose you to others’ ideas and thinking -- not to mention that often it’s simply more fun to work together, 
        Also, as you proceed, you may benefit  from consulting many of the resource materials in the Community Tool Box (especially those on planning, and on starting an intervention; see the Table of Contents). Putting all these steps together, you will be on your way to making measurable and meaningful progress on this significant issue.    
     We hope these starting thoughts might be helpful to you. Thank you for writing to us, and all best wishes for success.  

Question Date: أحد, 08/07/2022
Question:
Hi, Thank you for all the helpful information on the website. I am a student at Athabasca University. I am using Chapter 4 Section 2 in a paper. Do you know how I should cite the url below in APA 7th edition format?<a href="https://playboycartimerch.com/">Play Boy Carti Merch</a> Thank you
Answer:

  Thank you for writing to us. A suggested format for citing Community Tool Box material in this case would be:
 
Community Toolbox (n.d.). Chapter 4, Section 2, Communicating information about community health and development issues.  Retrieved from https://ctb.ku.edu, [insert date of your retrieval] 
   (FYI, the “n.d.” above indicates that no date of publication was cited in the original source.)
 
  Additional style format guidance is given in the APA Publication Manual.   Best wishes as your studies continue.

Question Date: أربعاء, 08/10/2022
Question:
I want to create a digital community that empowers the weaker sections of the society by educating them on technology, educational upliftment and emerging opportunities thus reducing cybersecurity borne risks, unemployment and mental health. It also intends to create a sense of opportunity with the digital trends and emerging opportunities
Answer:

 
       We surely admire and applaud your ambitious goals, which if achieved could do no less than transform civilization. Realistically, though, it seems like it would take several lifetimes to accomplishment what you want to do. But you may have only one. 
       We encourage you to pursue your goals and your dreams, but also offer these recommendations for you to consider;
      *  Narrow your focus to something that you think you can actually accomplish with the resources (people, money, time) you have on hand.
      *  It’s okay to start small, simply because you are more likely to actually get something done, and which you can feel good about. That small success will help keep you going.  And it will draw more people to your work – if they see the actual success, they are more likely to want to be part of it and join you. 
      *  So set clear and realistic goals, together with clear, realistic, specific, and measurable objectives. Thoughtful and careful advance planning will surely help you here.
      *  See if you can find other people to work together with you, as part of a core planning group.  Working with a group can help you divide the tasks, which can be considerable, and will expose you to other people’s good ideas as well.  And your planning colleagues can support you, both practically and emotionally. It’s generally also simply more enjoyable to work together.
     *   In particular, though, keep an eye open for wealthy people who might support your ideas, as they could potentially provide financial backing for them.
     *   Finally, keep in mind that the changes you want will not happen overnight, so you need to be prepared to keep at the work for some time.
   In addition, as you proceed, you may profit from consulting some of the many resources in the Community Tool Box, in particular those chapters and sections on planning and on starting an intervention. (See the Tool Box Table of Contents for details.)
   We hope these starting thoughts may be helpful to you.  Thank you for writing to us, and all best wishes for success as your work continues.

Question Date: خميس, 08/11/2022

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