NORWICH – The Chenango County United Way has teamed up with a human services class at the Morrisville State College Norwich campus to evaluate and update its community needs assessment.
Morrisville Professor Fred Weaver’s human services class has undertaken the task of surveying county residents to gain a better understanding of community needs and what local services they deem essential. The survey requests input and ideas for important societal issues including health, education and income and it’s a chance for community members make known the things that are most important to them, said United Way Director Elizabeth Monaco.
“When we’re done, the survey will be a good tool for non-profit agencies because they can refer to it for updated data,” Monaco explained, “and we’re excited about working with Morrisville because it gives (the survey) more credibility.”
Students in Weaver’s class have conducted focus groups throughout the area while also offering their help in organizing research, but a great deal of the initiative has been spearheaded by Morrisville student Amber Wright, who has been filling an internship at the Chenango County United Way for several months. The project has been an eye-opener in some aspects, said Wright, but the amount of work put into completing the survey has left her with a sense of unmatched pride in the community, she added.
“It’s been really challenging to say the least, but it’s been a really good opportunity,” said Wright, sharing that the survey has allowed herself and the United Way to examine community issues that are sometimes overlooked. “They’re really important issues in the community. This project is a great way of getting opinions out there and it helps greatly.”
Wright also expressed her desire to use the survey to focus on the needs of people instead of organizations, saying that she feels it’s “more important to meet the needs of the residents more than the needs of agencies.”
“I have found and met a lot of interesting people and found that I really like the area,” said Wright. “There are really caring people in the community that want to help.”
The last time the needs assessment was updated was 2009. With more up-to-date information at hand, the Chenango United Way will have a better understanding of what organizations and services are presently most valuable to the community, according to Monaco. Moreover, she said updated information makes the process of applying for state and federal funding more manageable among non-profit agencies in the county.
The United Way encourages county residents to take the survey before April 20. It can be found online at www.surveymonkey.com/s/unitedwaychenango. The SUNY Morrisville human services class and the Chenango United Way plan to have the final assessment completed before June 30.
For more information, contact Monaco at 334-8815.