This Community Needs assessment was done in September of 2011.This community assessment test was conducted by The LGBT Community Fund Steering Committee in Chicago. The main purpose of this study was to gather data relating to the assets, challenges and needs of LGBT Community in the Chicago area. This assessment was also meant to provide information concerning the steering community. This Assessment was involved data collection for a period of 11 weeks ranging from October to December of 2011.This data collection entailed the use of online surveys, focus groups, community suggestion boxes with collection cards and individual interviews. This also entailed both the quantitative and qualitative means of data collection.
In the context of demographic highlights, the collection of data was done from a diverse pool of 2000 group of Chicagoans which represented a wide variety of gender identities, races, gender, sexual orientations, residential areas as well as socioeconomic backgrounds. This assessment also entailed the different aspects concerning the data collected from the diverse population. This report helped in identification of the affordability of healthcare service, employment levels, and accessibility to government benefits, rights and services, community safety and discrimination.
The community assessment also entailed the identification of many needs which includes family needs, senior needs, youth needs, diversity within the community and the relationship of both the senior and youth needs in the community. The issues relating to impact of the recession on the community were also given much emphasis in this community assessment. This assessment was also conducted due to the need to focus on the financial resources. This was therefore meant to facilitate the good relationship and interaction among the people living in this community. This assessment aimed at educating the community concerning the educational programs and campaigns relating to this fund and ways to improve the standards of living in Chicago. The accessibility of government services and benefits to the community members was thoroughly surveyed in this assessment.
The strengths of this community assessment project includes the diversity of the population assessed. This diversity enabled wider a scope to collect crucial information useful in understanding economic, social and cultural aspects off this community. The aspects relating to racial and occupational skills have also been given emphasis by this assessment. The assessment have also given attention to issues relating to equality and fairness among the people living in this community. The other strength relating to this project is the aspects relating to employment thereby enabling easier analysis of the effects of recession on the people in Chicago as well as the general impact on the economy. This assessment have therefore helped in assessing many important aspect relating to this community. The assessment have also given attention to the aspects relating to gender equality as well as racial discrimination in this community.
In the context of weaknesses of this community assessment project, the information collected from the respondents could not represent the time aspect since the assessment only entailed collection of information within 11 weeks. The information relating to the community in the past was not fully accessible therefore the assessment never recognized the aspect of time in relation to the economic forces affecting the community.
This assessment have into consideration the outline of assessment in relation to aspects of data collection and analysis of such data in order to facilitate decision making. In my opinion, the community assessment project have deviated in issues relating to presentation of data and the scope of coverage in assessment. The main messages outlined in this community assessment project relates to issues on economic affairs, gender and racial equality. The interaction between members of the community have been given much emphasis in this Community Assessment.
Works Cited
Andries, Daniel, Alexandra Silets, and Jane Lynch. Out & Proud in Chicago. Chicago, Ill N.p., n.d. Print.
Baim, Tracy, and John D'Emilio. Gay Press, Gay Power: The Growth of Lgbt Community Newspapers in America. N.p., 2012. Print.
De, La C. S. S. Chicago Whispers: A History of Lgbt Chicago Before Stonewall. Madison: The University of Wisconsin Press, 2012. Print.
