Key
assessment #1: Community Assessment Paper: Engage and Assess Students will
identify a geographic community with an identifiable social challenge (gun
violence, environmental concern, lack of access to health or mental health
care, affordable housing, 12 Grand Challenges of Social Work) and conduct a
study of this community. In the process of identifying the assets and needs of
the community, you will make recommendations for community development and
developing a community organizing strategy to address a particular problem. The
paper should be formatted according to APA requirements and 6-8 pages in
length. Sources must be cited for each discussion area. Specific topics to be
covered in the written community assignment: Title page (running head is
not required, but other APA Manual, 7th ed details needed Introduction
paragraph about the project (thesis statement about community need) Description
of the community’s geography. Where is it? What does it look like when you visit
the community? You may use your PhotoVoice assignment as the foundation of this
discussion. Discuss the population of the community, including demographic
breakdown. Use of public records is expected (census, crime rate, socioeconomic
information, etc). Interview at least one stakeholder in the community (someone
who works actively in the community- mayor, board member, social worker, police
officer, school principal, etc) and inquire about strengths
and unmet needs in the community. Write a description of the community’s
strengths (list and describe a minimum of 3 strength areas, citing sources
which provide evidence of these strengths) and its unmet needs (list and
describe a minimum of 3 unmet needs in the community, citing sources which
provide evidence of these unmet needs). As you identify areas of need for the
community based on Question 3, describe an unmet need for the community that
will be the focus of your project. Address specifically the following points:
Where does the information about the unmet need come from? What sort of needs
assessment strategy did you use? What types of information would you have liked
to have that you were not able to obtain? What might you do differently, if you
were to continue to assess the needs of this community in the future?. How does
your understanding of theories of human behavior in the social environment
inform your thinking about how to assess the needs of this community? Identify,
define, and apply a theory to this project.. Whom might you consult, if
given the opportunity, from other professions to learn more about the needs of
this community? Construct and include a table or one-page community resource
guide for the community to highlight organizations or groups working to meet
needs in the community. Brief conclusion (1 paragraph)Reference page to include
all sources cited. Reference page to include all sources cited.
Affordable
housing, as in many countries, has been a challenge in achieving the goal of
building cheaper housing for their citizens. It is a critical social challenge
that affects communities in the United States, including Chicago, Illinois. Most
people still struggle to find suitable housing options that meet their needs
and those within their financial capabilities despite basic human rights, safe
and affordable housing. In Chicago, Illinois, inadequate affordable housing
poses a significant challenge, thus leading to homelessness, housing
instability, and aggravated socioeconomic disparities. Therefore, by having a
comprehensive understanding of the strengths and the unmet needs, individuals
can implement strategies that target community development, hence creating more
sustainable solutions to enhance access to safe and affordable housing for all
the citizens of Chicago.