A community needs assessment is an important tool that assists the organizations working in any given setting to identify the major problems and develop priorities. In any given community, various problems need to be solved. However, the scarcity of resources and the inability of people to make a paradigm shift from their problems necessitate a needs assessment to facilitate a sustainable process of transformation (Thomas et al., 2017). For the transformation process to be efficient, organizations have to target key individuals in the community who not only act as entry points but also reduce possible resistance by the people. They also form part of the core that helps to identify the pressing issues and the most effective way to address them.
This assignment focuses on the Blackwater Town community. The community dates back to 1887 as a trading point, and its population grew gradually (McGreal, 2015). Data from the Census Bureau indicates that the community has a population of 162 persons. The population is distributed in 45 families in 64 households. More than 95% of the population is native Whites with the rest of the population being African-Americans, Hispanics, and Latinos. A major problem that mauls the community is drug abuse (McGreal, 2015). This has been triggered by poverty, gambling, and weak administrative structures.
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Key Informants in Blackwater Town
Various key persons in the community would act as imperative entry points in the case of a needs assessment. First, the Governor of Cooper County will be a crucial key person in the community since the town falls within his area of jurisdiction. The town administrator and the sheriff's office are also key persons whose input cannot be overlooked. Finally, there are various religious institutions in the city including Church of Christ, Peninsula Church, Saints Peter, and Paul Catholic Church.
Why the Key Informants have been selected
The Office of the Governor would be crucial in providing the relevant information regarding the size of the community and the permitting any activity being carried out. The rationale for this is that the county offices have updated information by being in liaison with the federal agencies such as the Census Bureau. The town administrator is in touch with the people, and his office is aware of the major problems that the people face. Also, the administrator is acquainted with community groupings, and he would be crucial in introducing other parties to the people. The church leaders can help in mobilizing the people towards a given objective (Thomas et al., 2017). By having earned the confidence of the followers, they are in a position to influence people positively and contribute immensely towards a given program.
Skills Needed to Contact the Key Informants
The Governor needs to be convinced of the importance of any program being implemented in the town. Therefore, I will need to be clear on facts that are backed by statistics (Thomas et al., 2017). Also, the expected outcomes of the needs assessment and any consequent program should be clear and centered on the community's benefits. When approaching the town administrator, I will need to be open to suggestions and new ideas. The rationale for this is that there are he is in close contact with the people and any proposal he makes regarding accessing the people and responding to their needs have to be taken into consideration. Finally, the religious leaders are concerned with behavior change and spiritual transformation. Therefore, any program that supports their efforts is likely to be welcomed. Therefore, I will have to tailor the information, mostly by outlining the benefits of entering into the community and the general welfare of the people.
References
McGreal, C. (2015). A reservation town fighting alcoholism, obesity, and ghosts from the past. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/nov/22/blackwater-arizona-native-americans-us-poorest-towns-
Thomas, P., McDonald, I., & Jackson, B. (2017). Community needs assessment study.
