Introduction to Community Asset Mapping 26 August 2009

Introduction to Community Asset Mapping 26 August 2009 Mary E. Homan, MA Missouri Institute of Mental Health University of Missouri School of Medicine

Differences between needs-based assessment approach & asset-based assessment approach Needs-based assessment Asset-based assessment Based on a community need, a particular deficiency or problem that concerns the community Based on community assets that can be mobilized for community improvement Looks at what is wrong with the community and how to fix it Focuses on positive aspects of community; every community member can potentially be a community asset Examines needs, what is/what should be gaps, deficits and needed improvements Leads community to look within for solutions and resources to solve problems Leads community to seek outside assistance rather than in-house skills & change agents Fosters a sense of independence, pride & possibilities Discourages community members Community discovers & appreciates own resources Focuses on communities weakness and inabilities, perceiving that only outsiders can fix them Empowers residents to realize and use their abilities to build/transform community & self reliance

What is a community asset? Individual Assets Organizational Assets Skills, talents, and experience of residents Citizens organizations, e. g. service clubs, fraternal organizations, athletic clubs Individual businesses Business associations Home-based enterprises Financial institutions Personal income Cultural organizations Gifts of labeled people (mentally ill, Communications organizations elderly, disabled) Religious organizations

Why should community assets be identified? External resources are not available Identifying and mobilizing community assets enables community residents to gain control over their lives. Improvement efforts are more effective, and longer-lasting, when community members dedicate their time and talents to changes they desire. Provides necessary information allowing people to become producers rather than problems.

When should community assets be identified? When you don't know what those assets are When talent is underutilized When you are unable to provide traditional services When you want to encourage pride among residents When you want to strengthen or build relationships

Questions to think about when identifying assets What is the size of our community? Who is available to do the work? How much time is there for the task? How much money is at our disposal? What do we want to accomplish? Who is this most going to help? What are we going to do with the results?

How do we identify community assets? Asset-Based Inventories ◦ Individual Capacity Inventory ◦ Community Capacity Inventory

Individual Capacity Inventory A simple survey designed to identify the multitude of abilities within each individual ◦ skills and abilities you’ve learned through experience in the home or with the family, ◦ skills you’ve learned at church or elsewhere, ◦ any skills you’ve learned on the job.

Community Capacity Inventory Asks “Who has a stake in our community? ” Thoroughly documents existing assets & resources Uses results to plan programs Connects skilled community members and organizations with people and organizations in need of those skills

Two major stakeholder categories 1. Assets and capacities located inside the neighborhood, largely under neighborhood control (primary) 2. Assets located within the community but largely controlled by outsiders (secondary)

Primary Stakeholder Categories Individual Capacities Associational & Organizational Capacities Skills, talents, and experience of residents Citizens organizations, e. g. service clubs, fraternal organizations, athletic clubs Individual businesses Business associations Home-based enterprises Financial institutions Personal income Cultural organizations Gifts of labeled people (mentally ill, Communications organizations elderly, disabled) Religious organizations

Secondary Stakeholder Categories Private & Nonprofit Organizations Public Institutions & Services Physical Resources Institutions of higher education Public schools Vacant land Hospitals (Tremendous reserve of resources and assets to support initiatives in community enterprise) Police & fire departments Vacant commercial & industrial structures Social Service Agencies Libraries Vacant housing Parks

Potential Resources originating outside the neighborhood, controlled by outsiders (potential resources) Investment developments Welfare expenditures Public capital improvement expenditures Public information

What do asset maps look like?

Source: University Outreach and Extension at University of Missouri System and Lincoln University http: //extension. missouri. edu/about/fy 00 -03/assetmapping. htm

How does GIS help with asset mapping? But first, what is GIS?

GIS explained GIS (Geographic Information Systems) is a tool that allows for the analysis of spatially based information GIS uses a method of digital mapping that links data to their physical location ◦ This can show you where particular people, events, things, or conditions are, and give you other information about them as well

Basic needs of GIS systems Hardware with enough power to run the GIS software with the capabilities you need. Accurate data, in a form that can be fed into the software program. People trained to use the GIS system

Two kinds of data are needed The desired physical and political features of the map you want. The location information about the other features you’re interested in.

Why use GIS in asset mapping? GIS can help you determine the how seriously an issue affects an area or the community as a whole Using a GIS application is the quickest and most efficient method of creating maps and similar graphics that provide a picture of not only the geographic, but of the social, demographic, environmental, political, and other aspects of an area

Source: Colorado Campus Compact http: //academic. regis. edu/ccc/ACCESS%20 CO/Denver. Arvada. Asset. Maps. htm

Mason, Michael, Cheung, Ivan, & Walker, Leslie. (2009). “Creating a Geospatial Database of Risks and Resources to Explore Urban Adolescent Substance Use. ” Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community. 37(1): 2134.

Townley, Greg, Kloos, Bret & Wright, Patricia A. (2009). “Understanding the experience of place: Expanding methods to conceptualize and measure community integration of persons with serious mental illness. ” Health & Place. 15(2009): 520 -531.

References KU Work Group for Community Health and Development. (2007). Chapter 3, Section 8: Identifying Community Assets and Resources. Lawrence, KS: University of Kansas. Retrieved 6 August 2009 from the World Wide Web: http: //ctb. ku. edu/en/tablecontents/section_1043. htm. KU Work Group for Community Health and Development. (2007). Chapter 3, Section 16: Geographic Information Systems: Tools for Community Mapping. Lawrence, KS: University of Kansas. Retrieved 6 August 2009 from the World Wide Web: http: //ctb. ku. edu/en/tablecontents/Tableof. Contents 3. 16. htm. Mc. Knight, John & Kretzmann, John. (1996). Mapping Community Capacity. Evanston, IL: Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University. Retrieved 6 August 2009 from World Wide Web: http: //www. northwestern. edu/ipr/publications/papers/mcc. pdf Goldman, Karen Denard & Schmalz, Kathleen Jahn. (2005). “ ‘Accentuate the Positive!’ Using an Asset. Mapping Tool as Part of a Community-Health Needs Assessment. ” Health Promotion Practice 6(2): 125128. Colorado Campus Campact. (2006). Denver & Arvada Asset Maps. Denver, CO: Regis University. Retrieved 21 August 2009 from the World Wide Web: http: //academic. regis. edu/ccc/ACCESS%20 CO/Denver. Arvada. Asset. Maps. htm. Townley, Greg, Kloos, Bret & Wright, Patricia A. (2009). “Understanding the experience of place: Expanding methods to conceptualize and measure community integration of persons with serious mental illness. ” Health & Place. 15(2009): 520 -531. Mason, Michael, Cheung, Ivan, & Walker, Leslie. (2009). “Creating a Geospatial Database of Risks and Resources to Explore Urban Adolescent Substance Use. ” Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community. 37(1): 21 -34. Lohmann, Andrew & Schoelkopf, Laurie E. (2009). “GIS: A Useful Tool for Community Assessment. ” Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community. 37(1): 1 -4. Quon Huber, Melissa S. et al. (2009). “GIS Applications for Community-Based Research and Action: Mapping Change in a Community-Building Initiative. ” Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community. 37(1): 5 -20.