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d. Orange County Community Assessment <br />The Board considered a request for funding in the amount of $10,000.00 from the Triangle <br />United Way for an Orange County community assessment. <br />John Link summarized this item. Triangle United Way is the primary sponsor of three <br />separate community assessments for Durham, Wake and Orange Counties. The community assessment for <br />Orange County will consist of a general population survey of 600 citizens and 12 focus groups of <br />professionals and consumers to determine the needs and possible service gaps of children, families and <br />individuals in the human services system. The assessment will assist the United Way, Partnership for <br />Young Children-Smart Start and Orange County in developing priorities for human services funding, <br />evaluating programs to determine if they are effective in changing behaviors, reducing waiting lists, and <br />improving the overall functioning capacities of families. NC State Center for Urban Affairs will conduct the <br />assessment. <br />The total cost of the project for Orange County will be $76,121.00. The Triangle United Way <br />will contribute $25,000.00; Smart Start $10,000.00; Orange County Government has been requested to <br />contribute $ 10,000.00; and the balance of $3 I, 12 1.00 will be requested from other organizations in the <br />County. <br />Manager Link referenced the questions he raised in his recommendation and read them from <br />the agenda abstract: <br />1. Page one of the enclosed Project Abstract indicates that the project outcome will <br />determine "needs" as well as "strengths, weaknesses and gaps" in the County's Human Services System. <br />John Link questioned what this project will reveal that is not already known or in the process of being <br />confirmed. Also, how would this project relate to the efforts of the Partnership for Young Children's excellent <br />effort at determining outcomes of programs that the Partnership funds; or to the effort by the Healthy <br />Carolinians' Task Force in determining appropriate health outcomes for our citizens? <br />2. When the project is completed, who will be asked to fund the "needs" or "gaps"? <br />County government provides the majority of local funding for human services. Would the County therefore <br />be asked to provide the majority of new funds that may be necessary? <br />3. Assuming that the community assessment project reveals deficiencies in certain <br />present services, which of the funders will cut the budgets of these services? <br />Manager Link commented that If the Board finds the responses to these questions <br />acceptable, the Board may decide to provide funding from the Board of Orange County Commissioners' <br />Contingency account. The unobligated balance in the Commissioners' contingency account is $156,000.00. <br />Anita Daniels and Michele Rivest were also available to answer questions. Anita Daniels <br />pointed out that Orange County provides more funds for nonprofits than most other counties. This <br />assessment would give us an opportunity as a community to solve some of the problems that have been <br />identified. It is hoped the data will give the necessary information to target the Board's activities to ensure <br />needs are met. <br />Michele Rivest said that an assessment would give them a base for shared planning and <br />decision making. The United Way relies on committees to provide them information to guide them in their <br />activities. Even so, they do not get enough consumer input, and this assessment would be consumer- <br />based, not agency-based. <br />Chair Gordon made reference to the questions in the agenda and asked that they be <br />answered. Anita Daniels believes what they will learn about the community that they are not already <br />informed about will give them an opportunity to hear from the people who are served by the different <br />agencies. Also, they hope to gain knowledge about all the resources that are available. All the information <br />they have is what the agencies tell them. They want to know what citizens need assistance and what type <br />of needs they have. Also, this will aid them in determining how family resource centers can sponsor those <br />who live in that community. This will aid in planning, reaching a consensus, and researching collective and <br />collaborative strategies. <br />Michele Rivest stated that this funding would help them set priorities by finding out the <br />comprehensive needs for their community. The funding will also be a collective decision. With good need <br />assessment data, they believe a better job can be done.