Community Assesment

Our overarching goal is to develop a system of shared information in which there is a balance between qualitative and quantitative data, along with subjective and objective observations, that will enable organizations in Dutchess County to better address the needs of your community. The database/website is accessible to all people and organizations around the community that may find this information relevant to their work. The website will be updated on an on-going basis to assure accurate data.

What is a Community Assessment?  Community assessment is a process of gathering, analyzing and reporting information about the needs of your community and the capacities or strengths that are also currently available in your community to meet those needs. Community Assessments can provide data for decision making, promote awareness and action, as well as satisfy organization plans.

Within this webpage, and its links, you will find community assessments from CCEDC and various organizations covering numerous topics. For general information on Community assessments please click here http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/CRD334.pdf, Iowa State University Extension, 2001, Preparing for a Collaborative Community Assessment.

Disclaimer: “The information shared is presented as it was collected by the respective agencies, and permission has been received to post/link to these assessments.
Please note that information provided thru these assessments is not research or research-based.
Data collected is done so at the discretion of the organization preparing the document.
For more information on a particular assessment please contact the agency who completed the original assessment directly.”

Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County Round Table Discussions:
Representatives of relevant and pro-active agencies participated in 3 Round Table work sessions to develop the strategic plan and roll-out process for conducting a community assessment. With over 100 factors influencing childhood obesity, the term “relative to childhood obesity” opens the invitation to any and all that conduct assessments relative to parental, social, environmental, economical and educational factors/influences in Dutchess County.  See below for more information

Physical Activity Discussions:  Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County and the New York State Department of Health Eat Well Play Hard Program facilitated a discussion on March 30, 2010 at the Farm and Home Center in Millbrook among leaders in the fields of exercise, physical activity and youth programming to devise a plan and gather some important information.  In order to do this we need assistance, passion and knowledge. Currently in Dutchess County there are limited sources of information related to what young people do to stay active and where they do it.

Through this process we developed a plan to conduct a collaborative assessment relative to physical activity in communities of Dutchess County that may benefit you and your organization. Information was gathered, gaps in behaviors, services, activities, etc are identified and plans are developed to diminish the identified issue. In summary here is what happened:

1. Pulled together strong leaders in the field to discuss development of information gathering tools and a timeline for development, collection and review.
2. Requested support from organizations, fitness facilities, schools, non-profits and others to request clientele/students/community to provide feedback.
3. Developed different tools to be distributed at locations throughout the county
4. Compile information and identify gaps
5. Share with all those who assisted and post summary on website for future references.

Click here to veiw Community Assessments from around Dutchess County. 

Click on the link below to download a PDF of the Community Assesments Round Table Meeting Minutes:

Round Table Meeting Minutes