Taking a Pulse of the Community: Assessing Human Services within Stamford
STAMFORDPLUS.COM -- Jul 25 2008 -- United Way of Western Connecticut wants to know what services Stamford residents need to live well and what might already be working for them in the community. In partnership with the Human Services Planning Council of Stamford, United Way is conducting a Needs Assessment for Stamford and every resident’s opinion is needed.
An online survey will be available beginning the week of July 14th in English and Spanish on the United Way of Western CT website, www.uwwesternct.org. Just click on the survey button and complete. The survey will be available until August 8th. Your opinion is important to us so please help us out.
The needs assessment, which began in March, is expected to yield results that will allow United Way and other Stamford leaders and service providers to get a current read on the community’s perception of needs and begin a dialogue to take action and address issues uncovered during the study.
“In addition to understanding the community’s perception of current needs, we hope to also identify trends that may impact demand for services in the future.” said Michelle H. James, President of United Way Western Connecticut’s Stamford office.
Other information that the assessment may provide include specifics such as where problems might be occurring within the community and what segments of the population are being affected..
The project, some of which has already been completed, will take a multi-pronged approach to:
• Analyze United Way’s 2-1-1 call and administrative data for Stamford and its bordering Connecticut towns of New Canaan, Darien and Greenwich.
• Conduct individual interviews to learn about Stamford's assets, challenges, current projects, and initiatives.
• Conduct focus groups with community members and stakeholders.
• Make available an online perception survey to community stakeholders.
(available the week of July 14th through August 8th at www.uwwesternct.org)
United Way of Western Connecticut will prepare a report to the community in October. The results of the assessment will be used to begin a community dialogue and develop a plan for providers and other partners to work together and address needs uncovered in the study.
About The United Way of Western Connecticut
The United Way of Western Connecticut was formed in 2007 with the merger of United Way of Stamford, United Way of Housatonic/Shepaug, and United Way of Northern Fairfield County. The towns covered within these regions are Bethel, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Danbury, Kent, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Redding, Ridgefield, Roxbury, Sherman, Stamford, Warren and Washington.
The United Way of Western Connecticut is a leader in mobilizing resources to improve lives and our communities. They bring together community leaders, nonprofit organizations, volunteers and businesses to focus on the most pressing needs in our community and provides the resources – human, technical and financial – to get to the heart of problems. For more information, visit www.uwwesternct.org.
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