COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT

Community Assessment Strategies



Community Assessment Strategies

Introduction

Assessing the strengths and those that should improve in a given community is an important first step planning a service project effectively. By devoting time to in-formed on the problems of the community, the club may des- cover new opportunities for service initiatives undertaken and avoid unnecessary issues to be addressed. Assessing the community is a very important and valuable strategy that one can use to get a clear and transparent picture of one's community. This thing will assist a person in categorizing the problems of the community and highlight them in a proper way. This thing will also function as the initial point for the development of communal vision and strategies that can help in encouraging change in a community. The tool of community assessment helps a person to collect information from a number of different souls and groups within the community; i.e. different types of information will depend on the focus of partnership's and resources that a person can use to collect information.

Community

In this report, I will discuss my findings in the process of community assessment of Norfolk County. Norfolk County is located in the state of Massachusetts. The total area of Norfolk County is 400 square miles; whereas, water covering area is 44.4 square miles. The per capita income of the Norfolk county resident is $41,837 according to census statistics of 2009 (City Data Centre, 2010). 11,188. US census bureau statistics 2009 shows that the total population of Norfolk County is 666,303 (USCB, 2010). Major cities of Norfolk County include Brookline, Braintree, Agawam, Beverly, Attleboro, Boston, and Bridgewater.

Demographic and Epidemiological data

U.S. Census Bureau 2009 statistics shows that the total population of Norfolk County is 666,303. 97% people are living in urban areas; whereas, only 3% population resides in the rural areas of Norfolk county. Norfolk County has a high density of population which makes up 1667 people per square mile. Statistics show that cost of living index (CLI) in Norfolk County is 120.7, which is significantly higher the U.S. average of 100 CLI.  

Demographic data shows that majority of people living in Norfolk County are salaried or employed on daily wages. Categorization of types of workers for Norfolk County is presented below.

Private wage or salary: 81%

Government: 12%

Self-employed, not incorporated: 6-7

Unpaid family work: Less than 1% (USCB, 2010)

Majority of people living in Norfolk County belong to White Non-Hispanic race.

Proportion of demographics according to race of people living in the county is as follows.

White Non-Hispanic Alone (83.4%)

Asian alone (7.7%)

Black Non-Hispanic Alone (4.7%)

Hispanic or Latino (2.7%)

Two or more races (1.1%) (USCB, 2010)

Major industries that are providing employment to the residents of Norfolk County are listed below along with its contribution share in the overall employment.

Educational, social, and health services (23.5%)

Management, scientific, Professional, and administrative services (13.6%)

Insurance, Finance, real estate, rental and leasing (12.1%)

Retail trade (10.9%) (City Data Centre, 2010)

Gender and Age Distribution

According to population survey statistics 5.6% people of Norfolk County are under 5 years age, 22.7% constitute persons under 18 years of age. People over 65 years of age make a share of ...