The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #44609

George David Weiner, PhD, Joseph Ahern, Gretchen Holsinger Kunkel, MBA, MHA, and Terry Lenahan, MBA. Federation for Community Planning, 1226 Huron Road, Cleveland, OH 44115, 216.781.2944, gweiner@fcp.org

Just like any business investment, the effective allocation of resources for the public good, whether by government, foundations, or philanthropy, requires an objective assessment of need, problem tractability, and evaluation of performance. Data and measurement provide the foundation supporting these objectives.

In 1998, United Way Services and the Federation for Community Planning began the Social Indicators Project, a multi-year effort to provide an accessible, understandable, easily updated source of information on health and social trends and conditions in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County, Ohio’s most populous county.

United Way Services and the Federation intend these reports to provide information for program planning and resource allocation, serve as the general reference on the status of neighborhoods and communities, and function as an educational tool to assist in advocacy efforts.

United Way Services has begun utilizing this information as the basis for developing new priorities and allocating resources that will measurably advance long-term solutions. The Federation makes this information available to agencies and organizations, community stakeholders, advocates, and policy-makers to promote and facilitate sound, data-based decisions. Together, the Federation and United Way Services collaborate on updating the social indicator reports so the community may count on having current information in the future.

This paper outlines the process used to develop the indicators, project organization, findings from the various studies, and efforts to disseminate and promote the use of the information.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to

• Understand the logic, organization, and findings from this community project.
• Identify implementation steps.
• Apply process in their communities.

Keywords: Indicators, Community Planning

Related Web page: www.fcp.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.