1999 – 2000 Comprehensive Community Assessment
Thursday, October 14, 1999
Issue to be studied: “Improving the quality of family life”
Definition of terms: “Family” is defined as adults and children whom are financially, emotionally and legally dependent on each other. The focus of this definition is on the relationship between children and their primary care giver (parents, guardians, etc.)
Contributing Causes:
Ø Lack of family activities
Ø Weak family relationships
Ø Parents working evening shifts
Ø Stresses due to two-earner families and/or economic hardships
Ø Lifestyle conflicts interfering with family functioning
Ø Lack of time to spend with children
Ø Longer work weeks
Ø Lack of communication skills among parents
Ø Poor parenting models
Ø Poor self-esteem of parents
Ø Inappropriate attitudes regarding parenting
Community/People
Outcomes:
Ø Reduce the number of latchkey children
Ø Change attitudes regarding parental responsibility
Ø Various children outcomes (school success, less youth crime, etc.)
Ø Increase the quality and quantity of child-parent interactions
Focus Groups:
Target Population: Parents
Ø Traditional Parents (two-parent households) – Low Income (2 groups)
Ø Traditional Parents (two-parent households) – Non-low-income (2 groups)
Ø Non-Traditional Parents (single parent, non-parent custodian households) – Low Income (2 groups)
Ø Non-Traditional Parents (single parent, non-parent custodian households) – Non-low-income (2 groups)
Information to be
solicited from participants:
Ø What do they need to improve the quality of their family life
Ø Description of their families
Ø Their definition of family
Ø What is the source of family stress
Ø Attitudes about being a parent and their relationship with their children
Ø What type of support could the community provide them
Participant Selection
Method:
Ø Work with private and public agencies to identify non-traditional and low-income parents and invite their participation
Ø Work with local research firm to randomly select traditional and non-low-income parents for their participation
Committee Participants:
Brent Wilson (United Way)
Dan Hayden (United Way)
Rick Castle (Permanent Federal Bank)
Tony Kirkland (CAPE)
Thelma Pollard (Head Start)
Bonita Stewart (RESPECT)
Nelson Bailes (Regional Airport)
Marion Meier (IVY Tech)
Kathy Patton (Blind Assoc)
Harriett Kimmel (Central Labor Council)
Mickie Landers (Career Choices)
Dixie Turpin (Career Choices)
Sally Ragsdale (Tri State Medical Mgmt)
Kevin Gibson (Legal Aid)
Pam Majors (Mulberry Ctr)
Veronica Ries (Outreach Ministries)
Candiu Perry (Albion Fellows)
Lisa Nord (Catholic Charities)
Deborah Horn (American Red Cross)
Lori Bryant (Head Start)
Crescent Effinger (Harwood Middle School)
Doug Killian (American Heart Assoc)
Bob Hopper (Boy Scouts)
Focus Group Target Demographics
|
Improving the Quality of Family Life |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1-2)
Traditional Parents (2 parents) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Low-Income) |
Pop.
Est. %[1] |
Target |
|
|
|
|
White |
86.0% |
12 |
|
|
|
|
Black |
14.0% |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3-4) Traditional
Parents (2 parents) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Non-Low-Income) |
Pop.
Est. %1 |
Target |
|
|
|
|
White |
95.0% |
12 |
|
|
|
|
Black |
5.0% |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5-6)
Non-Traditional Parents (1 parent, etc.) |
|
Men
Est. |
Women |
Men |
Women |
|
(Low-Income) |
Pop.
Est. %1 |
%1 |
Est.
% |
Target |
Target |
|
White |
86.0% |
5.0% |
95.0% |
1 |
11 |
|
Black |
14.0% |
8.0% |
92.0% |
- |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7-8) Non-Traditional
Parents (1 parent, etc.) |
|
Men
Est. |
Women |
Men |
Women |
|
(Non-Low-Income) |
Pop.
Est. %1 |
%1 |
Est.
% |
Target |
Target |
|
White |
78.0% |
17.0% |
95.0% |
2 |
10 |
|
Black |
22.0% |
12.0% |
92.0% |
- |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|