A Vermont project, the Environmental Programs/Partnerships in Communities (EPIC) project provides a transferable model for rural development. The program is sensitive to people and environmental needs, and emphasizes long-term functioning of the entire community system, not just specific outcomes. EPIC has supported leadership training, local…

Part of the Striving for Excellence program of the Utah State Library requires participating public libraries to conduct community needs assessments. This is a way for library directors and trustees to find out if the mission they have chosen and the policies they have written are still appropriate as they identify the strengths and weaknesses of…

This report describes a preliminary methodology by which distressed communities may be identified using school districts as the basic unit for the presentation of data. Distress consists of a concentration of the following types of need: (1) economic; (2) social; and (3) educational. Distress was measured by an index that determined a district's…

This report, which reflects the contribution of over 250 Latino leaders in the Northeast, has the following purposes: (1) to call attention to the critical needs of Hispanic American communities in the region; (2) to assist the public and private sectors and community organizations in identifying and solving problems faced by Latinos; and (3) to…

This manual is designed mainly to assist persons or groups interested in starting or expanding school age child care programs (SACCP). The seven sections explore (1) survey findings on the status of school age child care in Minnesota; (2) types of SACCPs in the state; (3) the need for school age child care in Minnesota; (4) public policy issues…

A needs assessment survey of the community surrounding the Open Access Satellite Education Services Center was conducted by South Oklahoma City Junior College in March 1978 to determine levels of interest in educational activities. Of a sample of 288 people, whose names were taken from the local telephone directory, 52% refused to answer any…

The success of any high school depends largely upon the planning of its building. The wise planning of a high-school building requires familiarity with school needs and processes, knowledge of the best approved methods of safety, lighting, sanitation, and ventilation, and ability to solve the educational, structural, and architectural problems…

The goal of the federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers program is to provide academic enrichment opportunities and youth development activities for children attending low-performing schools. A look at several rural and urban programs in Oregon and Washington reveals that successful programs mesh with the school culture and partner with…

An intergovernmental council on sustainable development in the Arctic discussed fisheries, wildlife, forestry, mining, oil and gas, tourism, finance and marketing, communication and education, and youth initiatives. Emerging themes included community involvement in decision making, acknowledging indigenous peoples' rights and knowledge,…

When a fire breaks out in the twin cities of Lewiston and Auburn, Maine, the firefighter response time is just a bit quicker these days, thanks to student research at Bates College. When the alarm sounds, firefighters click on a computer map that tells them the size of the burning structure, the quickest route to the fire, the closest hydrant and…

As part of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools self-study process for reaffirmation of accreditation, Gainesville College (GC) conducted its second decennial needs assessment survey in fall 1990 to obtain data to assist in college planning and program improvement. Separate survey instruments were developed to gather data from…

Community-based prevention-oriented approaches that provide basic supports to families are needed to address rising rates of violence, child abuse, and other socially disruptive behavior. Weak families, weak neighborhoods, and weak economies are mutually reinforcing and lead to negative behaviors by youth and others. In proposing a community…

In 1990, a needs assessment survey was conducted of residents of San Luis Obispo County to gather information regarding community members' experiences with Cuesta College (CC), opinions about what CC should be doing, assessment of how good a job the college is doing, and obstacles preventing people from attending CC. Study findings, based on…

THIS REPORT DESCRIBES A PROJECT WHICH IDENTIFIED COMMUNITY PROBLEMS IN TENNESSEE BY GEOGRAPHIC AREA. ACTION RESEARCH WAS DIRECTED TOWARD (1) THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIALS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY STAFF MEMBERS, (2) THE IDENTIFICATION OF OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES CAPABLE OF…

Summarized are the proceedings of the fifteenth Lake Okoboji Educational Media Leadership Conference. The first section of the report presents a transcript of the keynote address, which was concerned with the inadequacy of many educational programs in meeting community needs. Brief reviews of the general sessions and reports of group discussions…