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Ask an Advisor Answers

Question:
I am a resident and planning to have a workshop about different relegion in our areas, my turn is coming, i will do a workshop about Roman Catholic. I have never done a workshop, please help
Answer:

That must be a very interesting workshop series, and we hope this will help you in planning. Take a look at our Table of Contents, Section D, Chapter 12. Click on Providing Training and Technical Assistance and on Section 4: Conducting a Workshop. That section will give you a strong outline about processes for planning and carrying out a workshop. Thanks for asking, and we hope this is helpful to you.

Question Date: ثلاثاء, 09/08/2009
Question:
I have funding for a small CBPR project it Latin America and am looking for a Spanish speaking researcher who has worked with poor communities in Central America and/or Southern Mexico. How can I find such a person?
Answer:

I regret that we cannot provide you with direct help to locate a Spanish speaking researcher, because we do not keep lists of individuals in this database. You might take a look under "Connect With Others" and click on the "Links to Other Online Resources." By contacting some of those that look relevant to your search, you might get leads to individuals. I noticed, for instance that there is a link to a "CBPR" listserv where you might post your inquiry. Thanks for asking, and we hope your search is successful.

Question Date: سبت, 09/12/2009
Question:
How can we In Uganda East Africa angaged in the same community development benefit from your organisation?
Answer:

Welcome! We invite you to use any of the resources available through CTB, and to ask specific questions as the needs arise. We hope that all people involved in community development know that we support your efforts and will assist with information whenever we can.

Question Date: جمعة, 09/18/2009
Question:
I am a development staff member at Rose Brooks Center, and was forwarded information on Latino Health for All with respect for grants. Do you have any information available regarding grants? Are there any upcoming meetings I could attend for more information? Thank you.
Answer:

CTB does not have a database of grant information. Sorry, but we cannot help with your specific query.

Question Date: اثنين, 09/21/2009
Question:
We have a piece off of this cite that an instructor of ours gave us as a reference to determine how we were suppose to complete an assignment. We are trying to determine what type of source your cite or info. from your cite would be considered.
Answer:

If you mean how to credit the CTB in general, then you could simply state the name of our site and its web address. (At the end of each Tool Box section, there is the tag line, "We encourage the reproduction of this material, but ask that you credit the Community Tool Box: http://ctb.ku.edu/." ) * But if you mean how to credit the CTB in a reference list for a school paper, then it would probably be: "Community Tool Box. [Then, cite chapter number, section number, and title of section in the CTB Table of Contents] Retrieved from [then cite the URL of the section]." This basically follows the style of the APA Publication Manual, which you could consult for further details. An alternative would be to cite the author listed in the section first, followed by section title, chapter number, section number, and "retrieved from" followed by the section URL. We think one of these forms might satisfy your instructor, but ask your instructor which form of citation is preferred. We hope this is helpful. Thanks for using CTB!

Question Date: أربعاء, 09/23/2009
Question:
I am looking for information on the communities of excellence planning model. Can you refer me to any resource that provide a good overview of the process and when it is most appropriate to use? Thank you!
Answer:

We did a simple google search on the name "Communities of Excellence". The search results indicate that there are a handful of programs and planning models with this name. You may want to start there so that you can accurately pin point which program or model best meets your needs. I would also encourage you to review some of the tools and resources in the CTB. Specifically Section D - Developing a Strategic Plan, Organizational Structure, and Training System (Chapters 8-12). Thank you for contacting Ask an Advisor and best of luck!

Question Date: خميس, 10/01/2009
Question:
We are conducting an assessment of Pacific Islanders Youth on obesity. We are looking for a standardized tool and a good focus group guide discussion.
Answer:

When conducting your focus group be sure to attend to the cultural dynamics of your target audience. A simple google search may result in resources that will guide you in this area. In terms of idntification of an instrument, we were able to find several that are free or no cost that may be appropriate for your use. Go to http://www.toolfind.org/ to search their database of available insturments. You may also want to check out the SAMHSA website to see if there are instruments there that would be helpful. Specifically, there may be questions on the YRBS that might be relevant. https://preventionplatform.samhsa.gov/Macro/CSAP/dss_portal/Templates_re... Best of luck.

Question Date: أربعاء, 10/07/2009
Question:
I work in a shelter for homeless pregnant women. I am looking for group exercises to use to help build community in the shelter. Any ideas? Our residents stay with us during their pregnancy (3 - 6 months) and then move out into the community or return to their hometown. They are young adults (16 - 23, on average). I am looking for skill building exercises for use in groups, especially those with low literacy skills
Answer:

You might start by considering the concept of "sense of community." Sense of community is the belief that one's needs will be met by being part of a group. Members feel a sense of belonging, that their opinion is important and a strong connection to the group. This concept is well defined in a paper by D. W. McMillan and D. Chavis (Sense of Community: A Definition and Theory, American Journal of Community Psychology, 14, 1, 6-23. Once you understand the concept you might be able to identify a variety of group activities that strengthen such feelings.

Question Date: سبت, 10/10/2009
Question:
I am a intern with the American Heart Association. I need to draft a letter requesting potential members of the community to form a task force for addressing high rates of cardiovascular disease in a borough or community. How can I pose this letter to attract potential members?
Answer:

Developing letters and other communication devices is a difficult task. Part C (Chapters 6 and 7) of the "Toolbox" address a variety of techniques for promoting interest and participation in community initiatives. I often refer to Don Dillman's "Mail and Telephone Surveys: The Total Design Method" (1978) to write letters soliciting participation in various community based activities. Dillman's book refers specifically to increasing response rates for surveys but the techniques he describes have application to any effort where the intent is to encourage participation.

Question Date: أربعاء, 10/14/2009
Question:
My position is grant funded and my job description was created with lofty ideals. It has been very challenging working in an unorganized and chaotic work environment. I work with a very diverse refugee population and it has been very challenging finding culturally appropriate health education materials. I was hoping by reaching out to my fellow colleagues in public health practice in order to find some helpful resources. My current position requires that I develop tools for program evaluation and needs assessment for my health education program. I have many questions so please accept my apologies in advance! How do I choose good health indicators? How do I measure health outcomes? For program evaluation for a refugee health program, how I measure behavior change? Especially in when different cultures interpret things differently. What tools (i.e., logic models, surveys, questionnaires, etc.) are available on the topic of refugee health? Are there videos available in different languages (e.g., Arabic, Karen, Burmese, Spanish, Nepali, Hindi, etc.) on health ed topics? How do I develop pre-/post-tests for low literate or illiterate refugees? What books or website would you recommend? Also, how do I rectify deterioating community partnerships? These task are beyond my scope of training, but I am very interested in learning how to do so...I just need additional training and guidance. Your time and patience is greatly appreciated. I look forward your reply. Thank you again for your assistance.
Answer:

The questions you pose here require more detail explanation and perhaps training/profesional development. Any overview response that we would give you would not adequately meet your needs. Therefore, we recommend that you start with reviewing all the tools available in the community tool box. I think you will find many that may be of some assistance and meet your immediate needs. For the longer term, however, we suggest that you connect with an evaluation expert in your area. This could possbily be someone from a local agency or university. This person could then help you narrow your focus so that you can appropriately define program outcomes and develop an evaluation plan. Best of luck. NOTE: Because of a glitch, the response to your question did not get published. We publish it now with our apology for the delay.

Question Date: أربعاء, 10/14/2009
Question:
Hello, I am a manager of a complex community building initative. There are so many details and projects I am tackling and I am feel overwhelmed and disorganized. Do you know of any books, places on the internet, or have advice on how to manage it all (i.e. task, projects, to do lists). My old system of doing things is not cuttingi it. Many thanks!
Answer:

Managing a community building initiative is a huge undertaking and we understand your need to feel organized and on top of the details. You might want to begin by just organizing your tasks by project. To do lists are easier to manage if they are organized that way, and it will help you logically think through the things that need to get done for that task. Also, I might suggest that you google project software. I know microsoft has a project management software that might be helpful to you once you learn how to navigate the program. Project software would be a great way to list and track your tasks. Best of luck.

Question Date: ثلاثاء, 10/20/2009
Question:
Hi, I am an intern at the Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health. I am doing some research to guide a strategic planning process for a Boston-based alliance of neighborhood health coalitions. The Boston Alliance for Community Health is a health planning partnership between 9 neighborhood-based coalitions (each has CBO, health clinic, and resident members), hospitals, and state and local government. I have been searching for examples of comparable "coalitions of coalitions" in which neighborhood coalitions convene as a larger group at the city level. I've yet to find anything, aside from some defunct organizations that came out of the Turning Points Partnerships of the 1990s. I would greatly appreciate any insight you could offer. Thanks, and take care, Justin Feldman MSW/MPH Student Intern Office of the Commissioner Massachusetts Department of Public Health (617) 624-5295
Answer:

There are actually many resources that may be useful to you. The "Toolbox" provides several tools that may assist groups whether they are coalitions or coalitions of coalitions. For example, the Toolbox sections about agenda setting (Part B-Chapters 3-5) and promoting interest and participation (Part C-Chapters 6 and 7) may be particularly helpful. Some other resources that you might find useful include "Evaluating Collaboratives" (University of Wisconsin Extension, 1998), "The Collaboration Primer" (Health Research and Educational Trust, 2002) and a special issue of the American Journal of Community Psychology (Vol. 29, No. 2, 2001). These resources provide considerable detail about the collaborative process and include many useful tools.

Question Date: جمعة, 10/30/2009
Question:
hello, I am a communicastions professional presnetly assigned to Zaria LGA in Kaduna state of Northern Nigeria working on polio immunization prog. My request for advice is on the following: 1.Data shows that non compliance is in terms of anti preaching by religious leaders, 2. lack of motivated vaccinator's team and also hard to reach areas leading to missed children. 3. Lack of awareness among community on why immunization is important. I found that media advocacy had not been explored earlier. I have managed to garner free airtime on TV and radio and would seek your advice on drawing up a detailed media plan for at least 16 weeks. And also an M&E plan. We are in the process of having ashort burst campaign before the upcoming IPD on 21st Nov. 209. The content will be: For Radio: information on importance of immunization, How to identify AFP cases, danger signs of WPV Information on the upcomimg IPD, discussion on last round stats During the IPDs, constant info about the rounds and jingles For TV: Week 1 is the same as for radio Week 2 is discussion with a doctor who is arep of the Emir. week 3- during the IPD we will be doing live coverage of the wards Please advice me as to how to proceed and what else should I look for in this short time. Also advice will be greatly appreciated in terms of drawing up a detailed media plan. Grateful if a speedy response is provided. Thanks and regards Sunetra Ghosh Communications professional
Answer:

It seems that the foundation of your question goes to a community social marketing campaign. You have clearly identified areas where you would like to target your message, intervention, and/or marketing efforts. The Community Toolbox would be a great place for you to start. They have a range of resources that would be helpful to you. The link to go directly to those resource is http://ctb.ku.edu/en/tablecontents/chapter_1045.htm Best of luck.

Question Date: ثلاثاء, 11/10/2009
Question:
I work for an eye care organisation and am in the process of developing patient education material. As I look through this great website - rich in resources - I wonder if you could help me find methods to evaluate health education material.
Answer:

There are many good resources that you might find useful regarding evaluation of health education materials. The sections of the "Toolbox" (Section J) dealing with evaluation provide a good summary of the evaluation process and various tools that might have application. I often refer to Thomas Valente's Evaluating Health Promotion Programs (2002). This is a detailed treatment of the process of evaluating health promotion programs but is very readable.

Question Date: أربعاء, 11/11/2009
Question:
in dealing with community development, what are the implications approachs to the social care practitioner?
Answer:

If social care refers to direct service delivery, we believe there are considerable implications. Community development might provide an alternative or at the very least an adjunct to direct service delivery. Community development approaches typically encompass efforts to change environments, community norms and/or power relationships that might ultimately benefit individuals. Part A of the Toolbox may provide some good background information. In addition, there are numerous books and journals that provide good summaries. One that we refer to often is Strategies of Community Organization which is edited by Fred Cox, John Erlich, Jack Rothman and John Tropman.

Question Date: سبت, 11/21/2009
Question:
A non-profit is desirous of hiring the services of a good proposal writer. Can you assist.?
Answer:

There are probably many individuals in your community who have experience writing grants. There are also many training opportunities available to individuals who would like to develop such skills. The Toolbox provides an overview of procedures that are quite useful in developing grant applications (see Part L, Chapters 42-44). We suggest that you review a good grant writing resource and then interview several individuals in order to find a qualified person.

Question Date: أحد, 11/22/2009
Question:
Is it possible for me to get a scholarship to persue a degree course in communityu health and development?. If yes! kindly forward to me some of the probable scholarship offers so that I can apply. Thank you in advance.
Answer:

We are not aware of specific scholarship opportunities independent of programs that offer community health training. We suggest that you identify a program that offers coursework consistent with your interests and contact the financial aid office. Best of luck.

Question Date: ثلاثاء, 12/29/2009
Question:
Good afternoon, I have taken over working with the Nevada Cancer Coalition after many problems: 1) The first manager did not care to work with the people, and it showed. She did very little to work with the Coalition. 2) The second manager was well liked, but she only was in the position for a few months and then moved on to a new job. 3) The total time that these two were in place was approximately 1.5 years. The Coalition -- which tries to cover southern Nevada, northern Nevada, and rural Nevada -- found that it was breaking apart. No-one seemed to care as to moving the Coalition forward, except for 2-3 people. 4) In the midst of all of this, the recession/depression took place. I am now finding that there are very few employers who have bought into the Coalition, nor do they care to at this point. Getting through this recession/depression is their top priority. In essence, I guess my question is this: in the midst of this horrible economy in which employers have trouble allowing their employees take extra time handling anything besides work, after trying to pull a Coalition together and people feeling that this is a failed enterprise, and with the vast area of Nevada --- what would be the best process in putting this Coalition together? Any insights? Thank you for any help you can provide!
Answer:

To begin with, I think Nevada is very lucky that you are on the scene! What you describe certainly sounds like is a difficult situation, and it's good to acknowledge that squarely. However, there are positive things that can be done, keeping in mind that this will be a gradual process that will take some time. But with skill and tenacity you can accomplish a lot. A good initial step is to talk to the two or three people you mention who care about moving the collation forward. They will be your sources of support, and are also likely to have ideas. Ask yourselves together: What are the best steps we can take together at this time? - steps that will generate a sense of forward momentum, that are feasible to accomplish in a relatively short time, and that will take only a modest amount of time and energy? This may take some discussion. But when you have agreed upon some small actions - your beginning game plan - then you might selectively contact some of the others who were previous coalition members, or who could be new coalition members. You can openly acknowledge that the coalition has been stalled for the past year or two (certainly not through any fault of yours!), but now you are regrouping. What do they think, given the remaining need out there? What ideas might they have for moving ahead? Listen carefully; record their suggestions. After talking to a sufficient number of people, you can expand and refine your game plan, and gradually begin to move ahead with more people on board, each of whom might take on a small piece of work. As you mention, it's also important to be aware of the local economy and the natural reluctance of employers to allow much release time for coalition work. That is understandable. So it will help to respect those feelings and keep your requests modest, although you can also mention how the work of the coalition can (hopefully) benefit the employer as well. Given the size of Nevada, you will naturally want to do much of your coalition work via e-mail and/or monthly conference call (I'm part of these myself), or possibly Skype. You could also get a free Google Docs or wiki site to exchange ideas electronically. As a local tech-savvy person about this if you need more details. With thoughtful planning, some initial core group support, and (not to underestimate these) desire and persistence, you can make some good things happen. I hope you will. Making some inroads on the larger problem of cancer will make it worth your effort. Thank you for writing us at the Community Tool Box, and all best wishes for success.

Question Date: اثنين, 01/04/2010
Question:
I volunteered for 14 months as the Director of Volunteers for a virtual agency dealing with domestic violence. I left the organization recently by resignation citing breach of policies and other volunteers having their own personal and confidential items shared with me and others within the organization. Since I have resigned a meeting was held telling the volunteer advocates that I resigned because of a alchol abuse problem and for having a daughter who is in a rehab center for substance abuse... How do I make a report on the agency as I am not the first one this has happened too. Really not sure where to start...thanks for this tool box..
Answer:

We're sorry to hear about the situation you describe. While we might wish it were otherwise, a full answer to your question is really outside of our scope, for we are not lawyers and cannot offer what may come close to legal advice. But we can offer a few informal comments. Assuming the that the allegations against you are not true, you could politely but firmly write to the organization, copying all members, specifically denying the allegations and asking for a written retraction. You might also respectfully suggest alternative policies and procedures for dealing with personnel disputes should they arise in the future, since neither you nor presumably others want to see this type of situation happen again. You also do have the option of seeking legal advice where you live, and being guided by it. We are not certain if you have legal recourse. In a very extreme situation, you would also have the option of communicating the situation to other domestic violence providers in your area. However, this does have the possible downside of negatively impacting local domestic violence services in general, and one would want to be very cautious about embarking on such action. We hope some of this may be might be helpful, although we must reiterate that it should not be considered as legal advice. Thanks for writing us at the Community Tool Box. All best wishes for a successful resolution. _____________________

Question Date: خميس, 01/21/2010
Question:
I am wondering if there is a resource you know of that provides information about the kinds of employment available for someone with a MA in community psychology
Answer:

Many types of employment are available for someone with an MA in community psychology. For example, in my own graduate program, a free-standing community psychology Master's program, our graduates have assumed positions such as: * Grant-writer for a local police department (upwards of $5 million in federal grants) * Director of an affordable housing agency * Director of community relations for an anti-poverty agency * Human Resources Director at a large regional corporation * Coordinator of a local YouthBuild chapter * Research Director for a substance abuse consulting firm * Director of Development for a community hospital * Neighborhood outreach worker and program developer * Health clinic manager * Head of one's own consulting firm * Executive coach and leadership consultant * Fund-raiser for a local public school system * Community Liaison to a local police department * Outreach Director for a local area agency on aging * Director of church-based youth programs * Family Support Coordinator at a local housing project * Directors of agencies serving recent immigrants (e.g., African Assistance Center, Massachusetts Association of Portuguese Speakers) This is a very partial list, just off the top, and does not include academic or university-affiliated positions. These graduates may not have the formal title of "community psychologist," but: * They are practicing community psychology. * They are fully engaged in community practice. * They and their community are benefiting from the community psychology skills we have taught them. * They are employed. (Our track record in placing graduates has been noteworthy in both good economic times and bad.) * They are doing distinctive, and often distinguished, local community practice. We will also share your note with other colleagues in case they have anything to add. So we think there is good reason for optimism. Thank you for writing to us at the Community Tool Box, and all best wishes for success!

Question Date: خميس, 01/21/2010
Question: Are you aware of any readiness guides to help people just getting started?
Answer:

An excellent guide to get you started is the Community Tool Box itself! Look at the Table of Contents to give yourself an overview of the material you can find inside. Or click on some of the other home page tabs to explore other aspects and capabilities of the site. We hope this will lead you to what you are looking for thanks for writing to us at the Community Tool Box, and best wishes for success.

Question Date: اثنين, 01/25/2010
Question:
Hello, Thank you for the initiative and massive effort behind this excellent resource. I am presently part of a steering group setting up an Australia wide, not for profit corporation, linking many water advocacy groups around Australia. We want to convene 'real time' meetings - electronically. What would you advise is the best means of achieving this? I've bookmarked your site for on-going reference. Best regards,
Answer:

They should send out an agenda in advance of the meeting. Confirm the partners have internet access and test it. It is free for the people to join it, but there is a fee for you to host it. "Go to meeting" has a voice feature; however, if using a different program be sure to have voice capabilities such as a conference phone.

Question Date: أربعاء, 01/27/2010
Question:
What should I have together before I present my idea to area churches to solicit them as a Fiscal Agent? Do I have to a sponsor agree to be a Fiscal Agent before I can apply for grants?
Answer:

Many of the requirements of the grant are listed in the application. We encourage you to have a memorandum of understanding available for this process.

Question Date: اثنين, 02/01/2010
Question:
In developing individualized recreational surveys for people with intellectual disability, what are the necessary factors that may ensure that they participate in integrated activity in the community which can raise community awareness positively about them?
Answer:

It appears that you are asking a number of questions that need clarification.

Question Date: اثنين, 02/01/2010
Question:
What is the best program to be in for a community health bachelors degree? Does KU have a master's program in community health? If not, what program does KU recommend?
Answer:

You may wish to consider contacting the Applied Behavioral Science program at the University of Kansas. A number of researchers in that department work on public health types of issues including health disparities research.

Question Date: أربعاء, 02/03/2010
Question:
Hello my name is Resa Berger I live in Benton County Iowa. I am interested in Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Violence. I don't feel there's enough awareness in our community and school systems. I desire to be part of bringing this awareness to our community. I started in an abusive relationship at 16 years old. By the age 17 had 2 children. Then had 2 more children in the abusive relationship. Myself and my children have suffered and and have been scared from the trauma we experienced. I didn't know anyone cared and it was kept in silence. Ten years later I was able too Break the Silence. And I feel there isn't enough support. I also feel there isn't enough openness or interest from others on being educated on domestic violence and the effects it has on children. Therefore I desire to share my experience to raise awareness and continue to work with my community to ensure there is proper support systems. I am looking for the steps I need to take in getting started. Any information that you can provide me with would be greatly appreciated! Thank you for your time, Resa Berger (319)214-4145 or responded back by e-mail blondresa30@gmail.com
Answer:

We suggest you contact Iowa Coalition against domestic. www.icadv.org. Also make contact with other domestic violence groups in your area. You might also consider starting a domestic violence support group or joining a domestic violence support group in your area to share your story. We encourage you to get your children involved as well to share their stories.

Question Date: اثنين, 02/08/2010
Question:
Dear Srs. I need to develope, a cuestionary, abot drug use and abuse, violence, and gangs. Its gona be employed in a pilot proyect for 24,000 public students, in El Salvador. It has to be short, but whitin that produce a deep impact. Where can I find this kind of info. Sincerily yours
Answer:

Please check out the Youth Risk Behavior survey, which is from the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention). You should be able to use google search to find this survey. While this specific survey is extensive, it should serve as a good guide to develop your own. Also, check out the website for the Violence Prevention Center, which is located in Colorado. This organization may have a gang related survey.

Question Date: جمعة, 02/12/2010
Question:
Hi I am a BSN nursing student doing a health fair project on stress management. We are required to go out into the community and get resourcess/information on ways to reduce stress and therefore decrease chances of illness. I was wondering if there any national resources that may be able to offer us help. Such as providing stress balls, etc? Thanks, Rebekka
Answer:

Check with local resources (such as, Nurses Association, any local Universities and hospitals, etc.). You could also do a web search on "stress reduction techniques" to get more information. You may consider finding a sponsor i.e., a doctor/chiropractor.

Question Date: ثلاثاء, 02/16/2010
Question: The Tool Box available for purchase?
Answer:

This tool is free to the public.

Question Date: أربعاء, 02/17/2010
Question:
I am seeking a little guidance regarding starting a youth program/ center in my community. I have found a lot of useful material on your site, but I am not clear 100% as to where I should start. This has been a dream of mine for many years, and now is the time in which my community needs it the most. As do I !
Answer:

Conducting a needs assessment in your community would be a first step to get this process started. Partnering with existing organizations (Child Care Agencies, Parks or Rec Department, other existing youth related programs, etc.)would be advisable, since they could provide resources that would help with this process. These organizations could also help with seeking funding too. If you have other questions, then please let us know where you are located so we can better direct you.

Question Date: ثلاثاء, 02/23/2010
Question:
I am having a terrible time with this paper. I have decided to support the Levy in my community that is needed for the fire department and EMS system because it is terribly understaffed, outdated equipment, etc. I am having a problem trying to figure out how to implement and evaluate my goal which is to educate the community on this need. My diagnosis is prevention/safety
Answer:

Please provide more information. We are unable to address your question. We are not sure what you are asking.

Question Date: أحد, 02/28/2010
Question:
I am not good in coversation in English. Is there any book that you can recommend for me to read
Answer:

I would recommend you getting an English dictionary. This should help you learn the language.

Question Date: أحد, 02/28/2010
Question:
Hello I am a member of a small community group and we need to encourage members and get feedback about what the community wants...we have tried a questionnaire and got 22 out of a couple of thousand..any ideas?
Answer:

I would suggest you do a focus group instead of a questionnaire. Find a school, home or religious organization who would be willing to host such an event. Don't forget to have refreshments.

Question Date: أحد, 02/28/2010
Question:
Do you know of any assessment tools that measure skills of coalition coordinators? I already have a coalition self-assessment tool that addresses the coalition's effectiveness but really need something to address the coordinator. If a tool is not available, a comprehensive list of skills that coalition coordinators should have would be helpful. Thanks!
Answer:

Check with the Dr. Stephen Fawcett, at the University of Kansas. The Work Group developed a planning guide and a few questions focused on the leadership and their skills and abilities.

Question Date: أربعاء, 03/03/2010
Question:
I am a grad student and I am interested in working with Native American youth at risk. I am looking for information and resources for working with kids creating a community art studio format. Any information or resources you could supply me with would be most helpful. Thank you, Natalie Norrell
Answer:

We recommend google scholar to find innovative programs designed for Native American populations.

Question Date: خميس, 03/04/2010
Question: Do you have section covering how to gain entry into the community?
Answer:

Check out the KU tool box website. There is a section on gaining entry into a community.

Question Date: ثلاثاء, 03/16/2010
Question:
I have a coalition that would like to use ACS services to call voters in their area to remind them to vote. They will not say anything about which way to vote, just to remind them to vote. If they pay for this service will it be considered advocacy or would it be a lobbying issue to use their grant funds for this. Thanks for your help.
Answer:

Thanks for your question. I assume that you are asking this because the group is considered a nonprofit organization and you want to ensure that you are within the rules that govern being given this designation. The best way to ensure that you are not engaged in lobbying activities (which is prohibited for 501(c)3 orgs) is to check with the IRS web page to determine the current rules and regulations. As of 4/6/10, any organization can engage in get out the vote campaigns (as well as other things that you have not asked about). The key is to make sure that positions regarding those running or ballot initiatives are not mentioned. See here for more details http://www.irs.gov/charities/charitable/article/0,,id=120703,00.html. These rules do change from time to time, so it's always good to double check before you start doing the work that you are interested in doing. Good luck with your voting drive.

Question Date: اثنين, 03/22/2010
Question:
(1) Do you plan to come out with a CTB workbook? I don't like killing trees, but especially in communities that don't have good internet access, a paper workbook might be the only way to go. (2) Have you come across workbooks that are good enough to recommend? My personal favorite is INRC's Organizer's Workbook (pretty pictures!)* Which ones, if any, do you like best? Thanks; Leo * http://ourblocks.net/organizers-workbook-and-other-resources-from-gini
Answer:

Thanks for your two questions. I'm doing some checking on the first one and will post again once I have more information. As for your second question, of course CTB is the best! That said, when choosing a book, I think it really depends on the style of organizing and the community in which you are organizing, as well as the theory of change being followed. It's all about fit. One book that is somewhat popular in our area is titled, "Consensus Organizing: A Community Development Workbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Designing, Implementing, and Evaluating Community Change Initiatives" by Ohmer and DeMasi. I think people like this one because of the use of Alinsky as a starting point (Alinsky organizing is popular in our region - Central CA - as many subscribe to this theory of change).

Question Date: سبت, 04/03/2010
Question: What is the best method of study on drug abuse determinant like prevalence?
Answer:

Hello there. Can you please provide a little more context regarding your question? More context would enable a better answer. I look forward to hearing back from you.

Question Date: أحد, 04/04/2010
Question:
Hi, I am trying to conduct an environmental scan (or community analysis) of all the organizations, coalitions, agencies etc who deals with health within our community to determine who is out there and the connectedness between everyone. Are there best practices around doing a community scan? Are there surveys available? How can we best get this information? Any information would be great. Thanks, Claire
Answer:

You've come to the right place! In community psychology, we call this community mapping, and you can map different agencies within your community. You'll want to look here: http://ctb.ku.edu/en/tablecontents/chapter_1003.aspx and specifically, this section might be the most helpful to you: http://ctb.ku.edu/en/tablecontents/TableofContents3.16.aspx Best of luck with your work!

Question Date: أربعاء, 04/14/2010
Question:
Sorry- this is part 2 of my previous question... what I am trying to accomplish is a community network analysis which shows all the all the organizations, coalitions, agencies etc who deals with health within our community to determine who is out there and the connectedness between everyone. Do you know of any software that does this sort of network mapping? Or best practices around this also? My first questions were: "Hi, I am trying to conduct an environmental scan (or community analysis) of all the organizations, coalitions, agencies etc who deals with health within our community to determine who is out there and the connectedness between everyone. Are there best practices around doing a community scan? Are there surveys available? How can we best get this information?" Sorry for the confusion. Thanks
Answer:

Hello, I would suggest first examining the websites underneath the Databases of Best Practices on the CTB website. These links will help you find agencies or people you can contact to see if they are willing to share their instruments. Good luck!

Question Date: أربعاء, 04/14/2010
Question:
I am attempting to work on a scholarly projecct on community gardens for immigrant and refugee communities. My hope is that i might develop program guidelines to help create and sustain a community garden for this populations. Where can i find helpful resources? Do you have any suggestions?
Answer:

Hello, Can you explain what is the overall goal for the community garden? That will help me address your question better. Thanks!

Question Date: أربعاء, 04/14/2010
Question:
Team Up for Youth is a youth development sports organization that places volunteer coaches in after-school sports programs in Northern and Southern California. We have created a pre/post Youth Survey to be used starting Fall 2010 to gather information on youth's perceptions of their volunteer coaches and adults in their after school program, perceptions of sports and physical activity, and various youth development measures. We have 12 staff members who will be giving these evaluations to middle school youth. Our question is how we can make our data collection, entry, and dissemination easier and streamlined. Essentially, we need a database where staff could input the results from the survey, and it would be converted and stored in a way where we could easily pull specific responses to use for grants and share with our constituency. We have considered having the 12 staff members code the youth responses into an excel spreadsheet or using a scantron machine. Is there an easier way? Can you recommend database systems specifically geared towards this purpose? Any suggestions you could give us about what tools can be used to make evaluation easier and more useful, what technology is available for evaluation, and what types of reporting instruments can be used would be very much appreciated!
Answer:

Hello, I would suggest using a statistical software (like SPSS) since you are looking at quantitative data. This will allow you to access individual and group responses, as well as provide statistics regarding overall trends for your analyses.

Question Date: أربعاء, 04/14/2010
Question:
which kind of personal traits and characteristics that would not be a good fit with careers in community psychologist? and also, if I have___ would be good for be a community psychologist.
Answer:

Thanks for your question. Probably lots of community psychologists would have different answers to this question, so I'll share my ideas, which are partly based in what other community psychologists (like Jim Kelly, Anne Mulvey, and Julian Rappaport to name a few) have said. A community psychologist needs to have tolerance for the ambiguous, be humble, be open to new ideas and experiences, be able to persevere (especially when things are ambiguous), and let others (like community members) be in the lead. A community psychologist also needs to be reflective about her/his/hir position in the community and understand power. Also, knowing a lot of different community-based methods is also very helpful. Good luck with making your decision about going into community psychology!

Question Date: خميس, 04/15/2010
Question:
Dear Friend, Can you suggest or provide any resources for what kinds of careers graduates of community psychology programs go into? I am interested in this field but obviously concerned about the economy and wonder how I can learn the viability of making a decent living through this career path. Thanks very much in advance for your assistance. Warmly, Jeremy L.
Answer:

Hello, and thanks for writing to us at Ask an Advisor. Graduates of community psychology programs go into a wide range of different fields, spanning the areas of academia, the non-profit sector, community health and development, community mental health, and beyond. The opportunities available depend in part on what kind of community psychology degree (i.e., BA, MA, PhD) one graduates with. That being said, the breadth of potential job opportunities available after graduation makes community psychology a promising area of study in an unstable economy. If you are thinking about enrolling in a CP program you might want to arrange a meeting with someone from the department to talk about your concerns. Another idea is to talk to community psychologists currently in positions that interest you. You can often set up informational interviews with professionals in your field of interest. This gives you the opportunity to gather information specific to your particular interests and is also a way to network with people in the field. Finally, the Society for Community Research and Action (SCRA) has a resource page with some information on job opportunities (http://www.scra27.org/), and the Social Psychology Network (http://www.socialpsychology.org/community.htm) has a page devoted to Community Psychology resources. Thank you again for your question. I hope some of this information will be useful to you.

Question Date: ثلاثاء, 04/27/2010
Question: How do you deal with 'challenging' partners?
Answer:

As you note, working with others can be very challenging. I think different people would have different answers to this. For me, the answer has a lot to do with setting up goals and expectations at the beginning of the partnership. What seems to work for me is to have a conversation at the beginning of a partnership where we each discuss our values, goals, and the values and goals of our institutions (if we are representing them). We talk about where the similarities are and where there might be differences. It's also a good idea to talk about how you will handle conflict when it arises. This puts a lot on the table at the beginning and can lead to some really interesting conversations. It also normalizes conflict by pointing out that you know it will happen at some point. Then, when you are having challenges, you can return to this conversation and talk with your partners about what might be inconsistent with your values, or what might be getting in the way of you meeting your goals. Raise this conversation in a way that is consistent with how you agreed to deal with conflict. You can also look here for other ideas: http://ctb.ku.edu/en/dothework/tools_tk_1.aspx I hope this helps and good luck with maintaining your partnership!

Question Date: خميس, 04/29/2010
Question:
what issues are in involved in:-managing and evaluating vaccination programmes,including promoting and measuring vaccine coverage,monitoring vaccine efficacy and adverse events,refining vaccinationschedules and conducting serological surveillance?The barriers to the successful implemntation of animmunization programme including physical barrriers such as logistical and cold chain.
Answer:

Thanks for your question. You have asked fairly specific and technical questions that fall into the public health field. We can only provide general answers about processes that might be relevant. Take a look at the Table of Contents for the competencies checked, and they may be generally helpful. However, we encourage you to explore also the resources presented in "Connect With Others." Some of those may be more directly relevant to your public health focus, and they may be better able to respond to the important questions you are raising.

Question Date: جمعة, 04/30/2010
Question:
Hi, I am working with a community based participatory research project. Our goal is to prevent cvd and reduce risk factors in our community. We would like to get the word out about what our project has done for the community and the services that it offers. We are leaning towards poster presentations, newsletters and twitter and facebook. Do you have any addition suggestions on what we could do?
Answer:

Hello, Poster presentations and symposium presentations at professional as well at local conferences would be a great way to inform others of your work. www.scra27.org/ provides links to other organizations/potential conferences in various locations where you could present your work. In terms of the web, facebook will allow you to reach a larger audience, but you might also want to develop a website to promote your work. I would also recommend contacting the local papers/TV channels, as well as the local community government to inform them of what you all have accomplished. Best of luck!

Question Date: خميس, 05/20/2010
Question: how would i go about solving or prevevnting senior hunger in america?
Answer:

Hello, Can you describe what your goal is and how you have tried to combat this problem before? I am not sure I can help unless I have more information.

Question Date: جمعة, 05/21/2010
Question:
Hi, I plan an article or series of Q/A sessions around "what are the most effective building energy efficiency programs?" I'd like to know about a resource like yours that provides an advisor who would answer the above question. There are many community-level planners now weighing various program concepts and designs who may have little or no energy experience and the article, to run in Home Energy Magazine, will hopefully be a resource. I'm aware of the Rocky Mountain Institute community energy planning tool & want to learn about others.
Answer:

Unfortunately, CTB does not include a database of expert advisors concerning energy resources. We suggest that you contact key universities involved in energy efficiency technology development. Wish we could be of more help, because you certainly are pursuing an important topic.

Question Date: جمعة, 05/28/2010

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