Ask an Advisor Answers

Thanks for contacting CTB, Helen.  Although we offer information about how to organize and work with Boards of Directors (See Learn A Skill, Chapter 4, Section 9) we do not allow recruiting through this Toolbox.   We are an information source only.  We do appreciate both your motivation to establish a nonprofit and your struggle to date.  We can only encourage you to recruit locally.

Thanks for contacting CTB, Adnan.

We are an information resource only and do not make referrals to grant writers. Please feel free to review Learn A Skill, Chapter 42, and also Toolkit 14, for information about grant writing.  

Hi Jacqueline.

Although the Toolkits are priceless in content and usefulness, we do not charge for their use.  Feel free!

Hi Teresa, and thanks for your question.

We really don't do top 10 lists, so I cannot answer your question directly.  If you read through Chapter 22 in our Learn A Skill section, you probably can derive four or five good reasons.  I think it all boils down to that fact that relationships between adolescents and judgmental adults tend to become stormy and counterproductive, rather than effective and helpful.  

Hi Rhea,

Please review Chapter 8 (Developing a Strategic Plan) in our Learn A Skill section.  We think this addresses your question, but if not, please submit a new question with a bit more detail about what you want to know.

We hope this is helpful.  Thanks for contacting Community Toolbox!

Let me refer you to Chapter 8 (Developing a Strategic Plan) under our Learn A Skill heading.  That chapter, along with Toolkit 15 will provide guidance on developing the information you need to generate when planning an initiative and establishing a basis for evaluating your initiatives.

Thanks for contacting Community Toolbox.  We hope this informatioin is helpful.

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Hi Carlos,

My first impression is that you are really up against a wall with what sounds like little support, intense political opposition, and little time to prepare.  I hope you do have some allies among your neighbors.  This may be a situation where you loose this battle, but not necessarily the war.  I will explain that later.

I want to refer you to several chapters in our Learn A Skill section.  First take a look at chapter 35 (Responding to Conterattacks), to acquaint yourself with common attack strategies and possible ways to respond.  

Chapters 6 through 8 address Promoting Interest and Participation in Initiatives.  They may be helpful in tonight's meeting, or later.

If time permits, contact the city official responsible for coordinating with neighborhood associations and ask that person to attend or send a representative.  The city has a stake in supporting neighborhood associations.

I suggest that you try to focus the meeting on understanding the purpose and potential benefits of having a neighborhood association (Passing out a succinct handout may be a good idea if you have time to write or copy one explaining the purpose of a neighborhood association), and that you then facilitate the discussion, inviting all (including the poitician) to have their say.  Encourage all to limit the time they speak, so all may be heard. Depending upon how the politician speaks and behaves, you may either gain or lose support.  But it will give you an opportunity to identify and explain the attack on neighborhood rights and values.

At the end of the meeting, you might want to ask for a show of hands to indicate how many of those attending want to have a neighborhood association and how many do not.  Ask those favoring an association to leave their contact information with you before they depart (e.g. a signup sheet).

This neighborhood association may or may not survive, but if enough neighbors want an association one can be built or rebuilt in the future.

Finally, please do not take what is happening personally.  This will be a win or loss for the neighborhood, but not the end of neighborhood advocacy,

I hope this is helpful and I wish you well in this very difficult situation.  Your courage is impressive.

Hi Katherine, and thanks for your question.

First, I want to refer you to http://www.unodc.org/documents/hiv-aids/NSP-GUIDE-WHO-UNODC.pdf.  That is a complete guide to starting a needle exchange program - almost more than you might want to know, but much practical information.  In addition, ir is a very good idea to talk with your local health department about how best to proceed within your own community, and to identify others interested in needle exchanges or AIDS prevention.  If you have a local AIDS Foundation or similar organization, please collaborate with them.  

I should say that some communities aren't thrilled about needle exchanges and may offer resistance.  In that case, you might want to google "Point Defiance Needle Exchange" in Tacoma, WA for a history of the first needle exchange, started by a private individual and subsequently made acceptable by a forward looking Chief of Police.  (Tacoma is my home town.  Please excuse the gratuitous bragging.)

Within our Learn A Skill section, CTB offers general information about how to assess community needs and get the issue on the public agenda, promote interest and participation in the initiative, develop a strategic plan and organizational structure, and evaluating the initiative.  As you plan, remember to think about how to maintain the initiative over the long term.  Too many people overlook that last step until close to the time when funding runs out.  The chapters on Generating, Managing, and Sustaining Financial Resources are relevant to that very important consideration.

You are taking on a very important initiative and we applaud you for that!  I hope these suggestions are helpful.

Hi Charonda,

Thanks for your question. Take a look at Chapter 42 in our Learn A Skill section for information on the grant-writing process.  

If you are asking about how to market your services, you might also want to review Chapter 45 on Social Marketing to promote awareness (of you and your services).  Some portions of that chapter will be relevant.  Beyond that, a lot of getting started is "pounding the pavement" by identifying and visiting potential customers, conducting information interviews to learn about their needs and to obtain references to other potential customers, offering samples of your work, and following up with repeat contacts.  If there are other local or regional grant writers willing to offer mentoring and leads, they can be great sources of help to get started.

Grant writing is an important and needed skill set.  We hope this brief advice is helpful and wish you success.,

Hi Annie,

Sorry.  We can't offer references to possible keynote speakers; but we wish you success in building this conference.

Hi Kingsley,

Although we cannot provide the links you request, we do suggest that you might want to look at our Connect With Others pages, especially Community Stories.  That might be a place to post some of the stories you mention, and to connect with others having similar documentation interests.  Also, you might want to take a look at Chapter 45 on Social Marketing in our Learn a Skill section.  Facebook, YouTube and similar social media sites may be good vehicles for drawing interest to these stories.

Thanks for contacting CTB and best wishes for success in your endeavors.

Hi Danielle,

Thanks for your question.  Please take a look at chapters 28 and 29, within our Learn A Skill section.  Those chapters are fairly recent.  Also, you might want to ask around your communities to identify specialists in cultural competency training who might be willing to advise/mentor you as your work proceeds.

Hi Jacqueline, and thanks for your question.  You have raised a very important community health care need but probably face some big challenges on the way toward achieving your goals.  I hear two goals:  1) to increase access to dental hygiene and care within hospital settings, and 2) to expand the utilization of your alternative practice colleagues within those settings.   Therefore, you probably face at least two sets of potential challenges: 1) to persuade hospital systems, and 2) to persuade the Dental Society.

I could not tell from your question whether you are asking how to start locally or how to start statewide, and whether to start in King County or in Eastern Washington.  It sounds like you already have a start in your home community, and your hospital administrator is one very good resource for advice as you think about how to proceed in that geograhoc area.

If I were in your shoes, I would go first (or next) to your local health department, because you are raising a public health issue.  Partner with them in formally assessing community need for this access to dental hygiene and care.  Work with them to raise the visibility of this need in their own formal community needs assessment, and also to ask that hospital systems raise the visibility of this issue in the community needs assessment reports required of hospitals.  Ask if they are willing to invite the hospitals, dentists, advanced practice dental practitioners, and hygienists to participate in a health department-sponsored advisory committee to study the issues and develop strategy and implementation plans.  If you can get the key parties talking together about this issue, your chances of eventual success improve.

A useful early focus might be to propose a pilot study offering these services to Medicaid-eligible persons, now that Washingon State Medicaid does provide some dental coverage.  These are the people with the highest and most complicated physical and dental health care needs who have been underserved until now.  If you want to start in King County, I suggest talking not only to King County Health Department but also to Harborview Medical Center early on.  You might also want to talk to the Washington State Health Care Authority and to DSHS.  They have an interest in preventive health initiatives.  Wherever you start, make certain that the Washington Department of Health is aware of your efforts.

If all of that sounds like a big job, it is.  However, it is also a very important undertaking well worth doing.

You are already familiar with CTB and its Learn a Skill chapters, so I won't spend time on them.  I have flagged the relevant sections for your review

Best wishes!  We hope this is helpful.

Hi Phumudzo, and thanks for yor question.

Planning is one important step among a series of thiings that need to be done in order to bring the organization into operation.  Presuming that you did not plan the organization alone,the next step is to recruit and build leadership and management (Chapters 13 through 15 in our Learn A Skill section, plus the Toolkit on Building Leadership).  If you did the planning alone, you probably will need to recruit leadership and then "loop back" and let those recruits have their say about the plan, making modifications as necessary.  That will take you to Chapter 19, plus Toolkits 3 and 7.  Our chapters on Implementing Promising Community Interventions also are relevant.  Early on, you and the leadership should consider two important issues: how you will evaluate, and how you and your community can sustain, the youth organization.

If you are not familiar with it, take time to review many of the Learn A Skill chapters.  That entire section can serve as an outline for you and your leadership as you proceed to build and implement the youth organization. 

Thanks for conacting CTB.  We hope this response will be helpful as you proceed.

Thanks for your question, but CTB does not keep a roster or recommend particular speakers/facilitators.  We hope the training goes well, as trust is a major ingredient in any effective collaboration.  There may be relevant resources in our Connect With Others section.

Thanks for asking, Sara.  At the bottom right hand corner of our main pages, in green letters, you will find "Use Policy."  Guidance on citation  of CTB will be found in that section.

Hi Moses, and thanks for contacting CTB,

You will find helpful information in our Learn A Skill section.  Take a look at chapters on Community Assessment, Promoting Interest and Participation In Initiatives, and Developing A Strategic Plan and Organizational Structure.  Those chapters, and two relevant Toolkits are listed in the Table of Contents page under Learn A Skill.  Other sections may be useful as the project evolves, and as reference material for your future efforts.

Best wishes for success!

Hi Christopher,

While it is true that CTB is based at your university, we are not able to advise KU students about curriculum.  Please contact your faculty adviser or Registrar Office for the information you seek.  

Have a good academic year!

Hi Mitch, and thanks for asking.

Many factors might have an effect on community leadership, ranging from the strengths and needs of the community, the leaders' knowledge of leadership skills, the community's awareness (and opinions about) of the needs being addressed and the strategies chosen to address them, cultural competence of the leaders and facilitators, the administrative structure and financial options chosen, the necessity for figuring out how to sustain the initiative, and methods chosen to evaluate results.

An important place to start resourcing and supporting leaders is to develop a clear description of need and project goals, for use in raising community need and for recruitment and training of leaders.   CTB encourages open communication with both leaders and constituents, and flexibility in response to feedback.  We offer several chapters on Leadership and Management (Chapters 13 through 16 and the related Toolkit #6 in our Learn a Skill Section).  Although not specifically addressed, it is important that some leaders have knowledge of Business Administration and can educate other leaders about those skills.  It is a good idea to build ongoing training into the leadership agenda, keeping leaders up to date not only on organizational status, but also changes in community dynamics and outcomes of the initiative.

Your questions cover a lot of territory.  In addition to information you may find useful here, we encourage you to connect with persons in your community who might serve as mentors to your ledership group.

Hi Dave,

Given the apparent complexity and sophistication of your initiative, I am going to refer you to our Work Group for further discussion.  You can contact them by clicking on "Services" at the top of this page and then clicking on "Capacity Building and Participatory Evaluation."

Thanks for contacting CTB.  Your project sounds very ineresting and worth more discussion than we can provide here.

Hi Marcia,

We can provide general information about needs assessment and development of strategic plans, but we do not offer model drafts. Please see our chapters 3 through 5 and 8 through 12 in our Learn A Skill section.  Applying that information to your topic, however, we must leave up to you.

Hi Maria,

Thanks for contacting CTB.  We hope we can be of assistance as you work to revive that training center.  Answers to your questions are best attained by direct contact with the CTB Work Group.  Please click on the "Services" icon at the top of our home page, and then click on "Capaciy Building and Participatory Evaluation."  That will tell you how to contact the Work Group to get answers.

Best wishes for success in your effort!

Hi Lisa.  Thanks for contacting CTB.

While we do not offer specific indicators regarding gaps in health care, we do offer guidance on Community Assessment, and in Promoting Interest and Participation in Initiatives.  Please see our chapters 3 through 8 in the Learn A Skill section.  We hope these can be of some assistance in your very worthy effort.

Hi Danny, and thanks for contacting CTB.
I have delayed answering your question because I really wanted to think about possible initiatives.
There are several possble strategies:  Please click on our Learn A Skill icon and within the Table of Contents take a look at chapters 4 (Getting Issues on the Public Agenda), chapter 7 (plus Toolbox 8) on promoting interest and participation in the initiative, and chapter 45 (Social Marketing).  I suggest you focus social marketing  upon respect for ancestors, honoring and preserving memories of them.
I have been much impressed recently by the work of a website: www.frameworksinstitute.org, and a free e-tutorial there that suggests most effective ways to communicate with the wider public about the values of human services.  In general, they suggest one start by highlighting the important community values surrounding an issue and moving toward promoting solutions that may enable a wide range of people to arrive at consensus.  
Although they have not built frames for issues such as yours, their general research findings and strategy may help you shape your own message to your community.  Your major challenge will be to involve and empower enough caring citizens and community leaders to demand that both developers and politicians respect this war memorial and cemetery.
I have great respect for what you are attempting to do and hope this response is helpful.  

2014/08/16 One more thought:  You describe the cemetery as being closed.  Perhaps it could be unofficially "opened" by recruiting volunteers to hold cleanup and landscaping picnics on weekend days at the cemetery.  The more actively interested and involved people there are, the better the odds of building a movement to accomplish saving the cemetey.

Hi Katie,

For general information about Youth Mentoring Programs, please click on Learn A Skill and then Table of Contents.  Chapter 22 may be of some assistance as you plan the mentoring program.  We also suggest that you ask school or youth organization leaders help you find trainers in your local community who can advise and assist with the actual training.

Angelina, we are deeply sympathetic but we have no way to help you.  We urge you to consult immediately with your physician and ask for help in contacting the appropriate local authorities.

With concern, and also with regret.

Hi Danielle,

You will need to contact a faculty adviser with this question.  This site does not offer academic guidance to KU students.

Hi Patsy.  Thanks for contacting CTB.
Feel free to use any information in this site, with proper attribution.  (See the attribution guidelines found under"Use Policy" at the bottom of our home page.)
In regard to your question about training, please contact the KU Work Group directly for information about training availability and costs.  You can access the Work Group by clicking on "Services" at the top of our home page and then clicking on "Capacity Building and Participatory Evaluation."

Hi Chris,

Recruiting is a common challenge among nonprofit participants.  We have a couple of chapters in our "Learn A Skill" section that are relevant, especially Chapter 11 on Recruiting and Training Volunteers and the related Toolkit 15.

Recruiting is a skill most comfortably done when the recruiters are thoroughly familiar with the goals and purposes of the organization, can explain generally what it does, can give information about outcomes achieved, feel pride in being members, and can define the time commitments involved.  It is important to be clear that someone's refusal to join is not personal rejection.  Rather it is a product of the fit between the organization's purpose and the interests of the invitee.  It is a very good idea to use role playing exercises when training members how to recruit.  The practice and feedback can really help strengthen confidence about recruiting.  One element of role playing can be an exercise in how to respond to refusal (Note I did not use the term "rejection.").

Hi Elizabeth.  Thanks for contating CTB.

I don't know much about food policy councils per se, so I spent some time on the internet before responding to your question.  The article I liked best was:

www.markwinne.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/FPC-manual.pdf, specifically chapter 6.  It doesn't offer best practices, but does suggest a number of very practical ideas.

Within CTB, please click on our Learn A Skill graphic and then on Table of Contents.  Go down to chapters 36 through 39 for our evaluation recommendations.  In addition, look through Related Toolkit 12 for specific guidance on evaluation process (which best begins during the planning stages of the initiative).

You might also take a quick look at a Community Story on the Helena, MT community gardens initiative (Click on connect With Others, and then on Community Stories)  That article is brief, but you might consider contacting them for evaluation advice.

I hope this response is helpful.  You have opportunity to design a good evaluation process of your own if there are not yet any best practices specific to food policy council evaluation.

Hi Kathleen,

I regret that CTB is unable to help you locate potential internship opportunities.  We do have one possibly relevant story under our "Connect" graphic.  Click on that and then on "Community Stories" for a description of a project in Montana.  They might be able to give you some leads.

Thanks for asking and best wishes for locating an internship in your area that fits your interests.

HI Wandisanga, and thanks for contacting CTB.

Please click on our "Learn a Skill" graphic and then on "Table of Contents."  Go to Chapter 43 for information on grant writing.  In addition, see chapters 45 and 46, plus the Related Toolkit 16: Sustaining the Work or Initiative

Your dilemma appears to arise in part from "waiting until the last minute" to consider how the project might be scaled up and to do the necessary needs assessment and planning - not an uncommon dilemma.  CTB encourages all to begin planning about how to sustain their initiative while they are planning the initiative itself.  Being able to describe to the initial grant source how the project might be scaled up or spun off adds credibility to the initial grant request and also prepares the grantor for possible later requests.  

Also, I want to refer you to an article by Tom Wolff that addresses this dilemma very well: http://tomwolff.com/collaborative-solutions-newsletter-inaugural-issue.h....  While you are there, you might want to peruse other archives within his site.

Hi Marisol, and thanks for contacting CTB.  I was away from my office for several days so have not beenn able to respond until now.

Attempting to achieve a transportation policy change probably will be difficult unless several families in your immediate neighborhood also join you in requesting either a change in policy or an exception to policy; or unless your child(ren) qualifies for reasonable accommodation because of a handicap.  So I suggest first that you canvas your neighbors to see who might be willing to join in submitting a request, and make certain that all of you have consensus about a reasonable solution.  You might ask everyone to sign a letter of request.  Then ask for a meeting with the school district''s transportation director to make certain the problem and need are understood, and to work together to find a solution that the transportation director can support.

Note that I have checked several "competencies" that may or may not help your planning.  Your issue is pretty straightforward and the above process represents a good approach. I hope this is helpful.

Hi Peter,

Let me refer you first to Chapter 2 in the Table of Contents under our Learn a Skill graphic.  That lists a number of models and may be helpful to you.

Then you might try a couple of things:  First, try entering each of those terms (e.g. "epidemiological model," etc.) one at a time in the search box at the upper right corner of  the CTB home page.  That will bring up lists of "hits" and you can click on the ones that seem most relevant to your search.  Also, try clicking on our Learn a Skill graphic and then on "Databases of Best Practices."  I hope this will lead to the information you seek.

Hi Shelley.

The quick answer is "You can't!"

In order to be exempt, you must have IRS certification that you are a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code (Assuming that your organization is located or based in the United States).  In order to obtain that certification, you must apply and be approved by the IRS,

While some people might just want to give you donations because they care about what your organization does, most people want to be able to take a tax deduction for their charitable giving, and all foundations require IRS certification.  You are required to give individual donors a letter confirming the amount of their donation, the date(s) of their donation, and your organizaton's 501(c)(3) number.  You are required to keep records of all donations received and to make reports annually to the IRS.  

Pretending to be exempt or asserting that you are when you really aren't can get you in a LOT of trouble with the IRS and with donors.

Good afternoon, Steven, and thanks for contacting CTB.

I regret that you have asked for opinions that we are not equipped to provide because we are not familiar with development and operating costs in your goegraphic area.  You might consider contacting a local advertising agency and asking them for a bit of pro bono consultattion regarding your questions.

Within CTB, you might consider entering "social marketing" in the search box at the top of the page.  That will generate a number of "hits" but probably not specifically relevant to your question.

You might also click on our "Help Taking Action" graphic and then on "Database of Best Practices."  You may find organizations listed there that can assist you.

Hi Itu, and thanks for contacting CTB.
One can look at training as the glue that molds an organization and helps it maintain consistent quality.  Those who work for an organization need to understand clearly its mission, its service delivery strategies, and the desired outcomes of its services.  Ongoing training helps both the organization and its employees to adapt to changes in mission and service delivery strategies.  Training helps build a "learning organization" that values both successes and mistakes/failures as opportunities to improve prformance.  In that sense, training compliments supervision as vehicles for improvement.  Training also assists managers who may not have had formal training in management skills - often true in human service organizations.  Learning to manage effectively helps all levels of the organization to achieve success.
It is also important to provide training to the organization's governing body, so its members also are clear about what and how the organization seeks to accomplish results, about their role in providing policy guidance and resources to the organization, and about the boundaries of their role..
Let me refer you to  our chapters 11 through 15  and the Related Toolkit 15 in the Table of Contents under our "Learn a Skill" graphic.  Those chapters will provide a much more detailed answer to your question and a lot of practical information about how to build training programs.  Chapters 40 and 41 allso may be relevant.
Thanks again for asking.  Best wishes to you and your organization.

Good morning, Kaitllyn.  Thanks for contacting CTB.

We don't have health education resources on file within this database; so we suggest that you explore our "Learn a Skill" section, within the Database of Best Practices.  That section contains descriptions and links to organizations that may be able to assist you.

Good Morning, George.  Thanks for contacting CTB.

I am operating on the assumption that you are reasonably well known to others in your community, and that you are interested in providing counseling within an educational setting.  In that case, I suggest you begin by holding some social gatherings that include talking about parents' desire for children to be educated.  If enough (and you will have to decide how many is enough) have that desire, hold follow-up meetings so everyone can partticipate in deciding how to proceed.  The larger the group, the greater likelihood of success, but make a plan containing a clear series of action steps and a clear statement of what your group ultimately hopes to accomplish.

The logical next step is to talk with education authorities within your community or region.  Ask them to meet with your group and help explain what resources might be available to encourage school attendance.  Ask them to continue meeting, so real collabration can occur. as you proceed.

I don't know the education system in Ghana, but I assume that there may be need for school uniforms, textbooks, or whatever.  Those costs can be barriers to attendance; but, again, have your group brainstorm ways to raise the funds needed for those costs.  

Also, I realize that I do not know whether your community actually has a school facility.  If not, it may be necessary to engage the entire community in planning and either building or remodeling a building that can become a school.

In short, you are taking on a big and important task!  Several chapters within this database may be helpful; and feel free to adapt them to Ghanaian culture.  Please click on our Learn a Skill graphic and then on Table of Contents.  Look through chapters 3. 4. 5 and 7 (plus Toolkit 8).  As your effort develops, other chapters may become relevant; but these focus upon early organizing processes.

Good afternoon, Abigail.  Thanks for contacting CTB.

We don't have specific examples within the CTB database.   We suggest you explore "Database of Best Practices" under our "Help Taking Action" graphic.  That may give you some leads that you can follow up by contracting the relevant organizations directly for further information

Good afternoon, Shelvy and thanks for contacting CTB.

Click on our "Learn a Skill" graphic and tthen on "Table of Contents."  Take a look at chapters 42 through 45 for information about generating, managing and sustaining financial resources.  I make this suggestion assuming that the program for which you seek grants is thoroughly planned out already.  If not, look throuigh the Table of Contents again and review relevant chapters on program planning.

Hi Terrie.  Thanks for contacting CTB.
Unfortunately, I do not fully understand what you are asking, so I cannot respond helpfully.  Please consider clarifying your question, particularly the last two sentences, and resubmitting it.
To address part of your question, Please click on our Learn a Skill graphic, and then on Table of Contents.  Chapters 3 through 5 and Chapter 8 may be of some assistance as you are  trying to decide how to proceed.

Hi Annie, and thanks for contacting CTB.

As I understand your project, you are developing objective voter education information for elders who may have vision challenges, so they can be knowledgeabble voters - a very nice project!

I looked online at Amazon, and magnifying sheets aren't very expensive (Disclaimer: I own no Amazon stock; and I am sure there are other sources of magnifying sheets; but I hadn't known how much of an expense woiuld be involvled. in buying 108 sheets.)  Therefore you are looking for a small grant.  I suggest that you write up a one-page description of what you need the money for, and why.  A very simple mission statement might be something like:  It is very important that elders be able to see the information clearly before making decisions about voting.  Simple is better.  Include a budget.  If a funding source needs more information, they will tell you what they need.

I suggest that you contact leaders of your local library system, the local League of Women Voters, and any community foundation in your area.  Take time to get acquainted.  Tell them what you seek and why. Be straightforward and confident - you have a good idea.  Ask them if they can provide the needed funds, or if they will connect you with civic-minded organizations, individuals, or companies that might donate.  Don't overlook the opportunity to go back to your own contacts in the area's assisted living and skilled nursing facilities and ask them to purchase the needed magnifiers.

Be aware that you may need to connect with an organization that has an IRS 501(c)(3) determination, so donors can take a tax deduction if they choose.  The League is one such organization, and a community foundation may choose to just purchase the magnifiers themselves and give them to you.

Please do take a look at the CTB information on grant writing.  Click on our Learn a Skill graphic at the top of the page, and then on Table of Contents.  Chapter 42 has useful information if you need to write a more complicated application for funds.

I wish you success and hope this advice is helpful.

Hi Kami.  Thanks for contacting CTB,
First, you probably need to do some needs-resources assessment and planning, while locating others who are interested in starting a youth project.  I would suggest you start "small" by organizing some activities with local youth  while building interest in a larger effort.  Be sure and talk to some of the youth to find out what activities they really want and are willing to help with; so they share in those small successes.  Small successes build confidence and also attract others to the effort.  If there are other formal youth organizations in your area, let them know what you are interested in doing and ask them to help.
Please click on our Learn a Skill graphic at the top of our page, and then on Table of Contents.  Chapters 3 through 5 and Chapter 7 may be helpful in getting started.  As interest and participation build, later chapters will become relevant.
I wish you success and hope this information helps.

Good evening Fatuyi, and thanks for contacting CTB.
Our site provides two sources that may be of assistance to you.  
First, click on our Learn a Skill graphic, and then on Table of Contents.  Chapter 3 on Assessing Community Needs and resources may be helpful.  Chapter 4 on Getting Issues on the Public Agenda also may be helpful.
Second, click on our Help Taking Action graphic and then on Databases of Best Practices.  Then enter "Health questionnaires" into the search box at upper right.  That will generate a number of articles and examples that may assist you in your questionnaire development.
Best wishes for success in your effort to promote healthcare and policy.
09/22/2014 One more resource within CTB: Click on the Help Taking Action graphic, and then Online Courses.  You will find a module there on conducting community health assessments.
 

Hi Diane,  Thanks for contacting CTB.

We have no way of knowing whether other job seeker support group facilitators have used our site, so we can't answer that part of your question.  We believe the most relevant section of CTB's information is found in Chapter 21, Section 2.  That focuses upon creating and maintaining support groups.  Please click on our Learn a Skill graphic and then on Table of Contents.  Go to chapter 21.  Chapter 23 also may be relevant for some support group participants.

Your work is important, and we wish you success.

Good afternoon, Shelley, and thanks for contacting CTB.

While we do not have a research document that specifically addresses your issue, we do have information about advocacy and political process that may help you build a constituency in support of your goal.

Please click on our Learn a Skill graphic at the top of our home page, and then on Table of contents.  Take a look at chapters 30, 33, and 24; plus related Toolkit 10.These will give you information about the process of advocacy, the importance of building a supportive constituency, and of developing a relationship with political leaders.  All of that involves a process that can take time and can be very frustrating.  Build a relationship with several political leaders and explain to all why you see value in the website and how it can help build citizen participation in community affairs..

One thing that is not clear to me is whether the one political leader to whom you refer has any real authority over your neighbor's website.  Clearly she/he can raise objections, but can it be shut down because of objections?  Part of that depends upon the courage of you and your neighbor in keeping the website going despite political objections, and part of it depends upon how many citizens try out the website and continue to return to it.  That leads me to suggest you also take a look at chapter 34: Media Advocacy, for guidance about how you might frame your case to the public, and invite citizens to participate with you in making it even better and more relevant to your community.

Issues such as this can be big challenges in small towns (AND in large cities), but well worth the effort.  Courage!

Good morning, and thanks for contacting CTB.

I want to refer you to Chapter 5: Choosing Strategies to Promote Community Health and Development.  Please click on our Learn a Skill graphic near the top of the page, and then on Table of Contents.  Chapter 5 presents an overview of community organization and advocacy.  Also, please look over the list of other chapters and pick those that are most relevant to your effort.

You are up against powerful incentives to develop retail facilities, and it will be important that as many neighbors as possible speak up for either: (1) preservation of the existing park or at least its key facilities, or (2) Mitigation of the park's loss by having the developer create a replacement park nearby.  All of that is a negotiation process, so it will be important to talk to local government, planning/zoning authorities, and the developer.  I don't know in which nation you live.  In the USA, developers have responsibilities to mitigate adverse environmental and social impacts.  If that is also true in you nation, you have some leverage to bring to negotiation.

I hope thhis is helpful, and wish you and your neighbors success in this effort.

Good morning LouAnn, and thanks for contacting CTB.

The first place to start is by contacting youth-serving and recreation organizations in your area to find out: (1) What activities are already available, and (2) What additional activities need to be developed.  As you look at the latter question, it will be very important to survey neighborhood teens and find out what activities they really want and will help with.  Depending on where you live, the local United Way may be able to help locate activities.  Many United Way organizations maintain "211" telephone and websites that list youth-serving and recreational resources.

Within CTB, please click on our Learn a Skill graphic near the top of the page and then on Table of Contents.  Chapters 3, 4, and 5 will be relevant.  Chapter 22 on Youth Mentoring also may be relevant.  Please look over the entire Table of Contents to determine whether other chapters may be relevant.

Thanks for asking, and best wishes.

Hi Jocelyn.  Thanks for contacting CTB.

Unfortunately, CTB offers online resources only, so I can't call you.  It sounds like you are off to a good start in terms of building a case and process one step at a time.  I will check off some sections below that might be of assistance.  Your description of your community suggests that you might start talking to other neighbors soon, to locate some allies willing to join in your effort.  When you develop a written preliminary plan/strategy, be sure to label it "Draft," because other allies will have ideas and suggest changes that will strengthen both the plan and their willingness to be involved as they are heard and incorporated in the ultimate strategy.  You will need involved allies.

I hope this is helpful and best wishes for success in your initiative.