Essay
Give an assessment of the existing resources and the gaps that exist to addressing the problem for the population in the local community. Conclude with a discussion of the general changes you need to be made so that the population can meet their needs based on the literature, the existing resources, and strengths of the local community. In Part 3 you are examining current community resources that exist to improve the problem as well as evident gaps in services and resources. You will need to do a comprehensive search of resources that currently address this need directly or indirectly. Example men and homelessness, you will list any temporary housing, low-income housing options, food banks, clothes closets, emergency cash assistance programs as well as prevention programs like budgeting and job search programs. United Ways 211 is a local directory of human services. This is an excellent starting point for your research. http://www.nc211.org/You will also need to use your literature review to find what programs, resources and/or services have been found to be effective to prevent and respond to your social problem. Stakeholder interviews can also give you information about this. Questions to Consider When Assessing
Resources and Gaps: Are there mutual support groups, self-help groups, and voluntary associations in the community (e.g., churches, tenants’ groups, and neighborhood watch)? What do they do, who do they serve, and do they interface with formal human service organizations? What key human service organizations are in the community, especially targeting services to your study population? What services are offered? Besides government agencies, be sure to cover informal resources that offer important social support to the community (e.g., churches, schools, cultural associations, union locals, social clubs)? How do they interact with the residents? Which of these groups and organizations might offer resources for a community practitioner working in this community and with your target population? How? What local community programs exist that directly address the problem AND population? What local community programs exist that do not directly address the problem but could support the population or support a new intervention? Based on the literature and the local input you have gathered, what is your hypothesis about at least one cause of the problem for your population? Did interviewees have ideas about the cause? Did the journal articles or websites you reviewed have ideas about a cause? What do you and your interviewees think would help that does not currently exist in the community (gaps)? What does the research say would help? Did you find any evidence-based or research-supported interventions for the problem AND population in your lit review?
Conclusion Conclude your report with an evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of your communitys capacity to address your community/social problem. Are there sufficient resources to address the need? If not, what and who could create positive change in respect to your community problem?
