The Steering Committee reviewed the findings of the Vanderburgh County Critical Issue Survey. The United Way had selected seven (7) categories of issues for further study. The other funding partners did not add any categories. A subcommittee of volunteers would be recruited to further study one or two issues identified through the survey process and assigned to the subcommittee.
Vanderburgh Subcommittees:
Table 1A lists each subcommittee and the Critical Issue Survey issues assigned to each.
Responsibility of Subcommittees:
Livable Neighborhoods:
The Livable Neighborhoods strategic planning process differed from the other Vanderburgh Committee areas in that it was geographically based rather than issue or needs based. The process asked neighbors and their neighborhood associations to describe their concepts or ideas about an idealized “livable neighborhood”, and develop plans or recommendations for reaching those ideals.
There were no special focus groups budgeted for Livable Neighborhoods -- the neighborhood residents were the primary information source.
All sixty (60) Evansville neighborhood associations were invited to attend a neighborhood meeting (either at regular meeting time or special meeting time) and discuss their ideas about a livable neighborhood. A study facilitator was provided to each group and the session(s) produced the following:
Ø A resident description of their neighborhood (as it exists)
Ø A resident description of their “ideal or livable neighborhood”
Ø A set of agreed-upon short-term goals to help them reach their ideals
Ø A related set of objectives for the neighborhood, the City, and others to reach the short-terms goals
Twenty-seven (27) neighborhood associations participated in the process and submitted neighborhood plans.
After the individual neighborhood plans were developed the participating neighborhoods were invited to attend a community-wide meeting to review all the plans and identify issues of common concern, and develop a set of recommendations for further action.
The results of the community-wide review and plan are included in the Livable Neighborhood section of this report.
1999
Comprehensive Community Assessment
Critical Issue Assignment & Committee Development
TABLE 1A
|
United Way Category |
Critical Issue Assignment(# ranking on critical issue survey) |
|
1.
Children |
#3: Child abuse and neglect #13: Community supports for troubled children/youth #17: Lack of affordable, quality child care #26: After-school and summer activities for children/youth #42: Efforts to ensure that all children are prepared to enter kindergarten #51: School showing parents how to help children with advanced homework |
|
2.
Elderly/Disabled |
#1: In home services for elderly who want to remain independent #6: Support for people caring for disabled in home #9: Support for caregivers and patients with long-term and terminal illness #12: Support for people with disabilities #14: Support for people with mental illness |
|
3.
Teens |
#2: Teenage sex, pregnancy and parenthood #11: Teenage violence |
|
4.
Family |
#7: Children needing parents to be more involved in their lives #15: Spouse abuse and safety of victims #21: Need to improve parenting and family skills #23: Families in need of supportive friends, relatives, groups, neighbors #33: Work place policies which support family needs #37: More affordable recreational activities for youth, young adults, families #45: Better preparation and support for marriage and marital relations #46: Inadequate welfare reform rules to protect needs of families and children |
|
5.
Health & Wellness |
#4: Drug and alcohol abuse #5: Lack of affordable health care/insurance #45: Greater emphasis on health prevention lifestyles and services #31: Increase the moral and religious life of the community |
|
6.
Self-Sufficiency |
#8: Jobs which pay a living wage #10: Teach life skills to meet needs of families and children #16: Affordable housing for low-income people #20: Financial security for families and their children #25: Affordable college education for all who want it #27: Legal protection and advocacy for children, low-income and elderly #28: Shelters and support programs for the homeless #29: Low-income people in need of dependable transportation #29: Lack of marketable job skills for unemployed and underemployed #32: Give recipients of service the ability to give back to community #43: Expand hours/routes for public transportation #48: Volunteer support for families leaving public assistance #49: Increase low-income home ownership |
|
7.
Livable Neighborhoods |
#19: Gang activity and crime #22: Absentee landlords not maintaining older neighborhoods #39: Litter, noise, substandard housing, sidewalk problems in older neighborhoods #41: Improve neighborhoods and strengthen neighborhood relationships #50: Small business and economic development in central city #54: Preserve historic buildings and homes |