Comparative Statistics and Research

I.Discuss the following with the class:Identify three considerations that should be part of the use of comparative statistics and research when writing your needs statement. Provide feedback on your classmates’ posts. Did they discuss anything you had not thought about previously or raise any new, important issues?  (See Step 3 “Writing a Compelling Problem Statement“, page 2 and 3.

II.The text emphasizes the importance of using research and data to support your needs statement. Using the scenario you chose in Appendix A, what research and data did you find to support your stated need? What solutions or positive effects will your program have on this need?

Appendix A

Program Scenario One

Far West Elementary School

Organization Mission

As a team, parents and staff are dedicated to creating a caring, exciting environment that promotes responsibility, self-esteem, and academic achievement where differences are valued and learning is a lifelong goal. Our goal is to maintain a safe and caring public school for children, staff, and community by teaching skills that promote responsible, respectful behavior to ourselves and others.

Brief Community Description

The community of Far West is a suburb of New Hampshire, which is a large metropolitan area with 2 million residents. Far West has a population of 30,000. Far West Elementary School has a student population of 700, 30% of the student having relocated from Asian countries within the last 2 years. Many of these students’ families are moving into the community to take advantage of the low cost of housing and are comforted by the presence of similar cultures. Many of the new residents have limited English writing, reading, and speaking skills.

Funding Opportunity

This 2-year, $50,000-per-year funding opportunity provides professional development activities intended to improve instruction for students with limited English proficiency (LEP) and assists educational personnel working with these students to meet high professional standards. Projects should increase the pool of highly qualified teachers prepared to serve LEP students and increase the skills of teachers already serving them.

Authorized grant funded activities include the following:

• Upgrade qualifications and skills of personnel who are not certified or licensed.
• Develop program curricula.
• Support for tuition, fees, and books.

Areas of focus may include but are not limited to the following:

• Alternative certification programs.
• Career ladder programs for paraprofessionals
• Bilingual Education/ESL (BE/ESL) certification for regular classroom teachers
• Special support for new teachers
• Improving the skills of higher-education faculty
• Preparation of bilingual counselors, school psychologists, and other educational personnel

Program Scenario Two

Continental Senior Center

Organization Mission

Continental Senior Center, a City of Westminster agency, involves older adults in their community and in the senior center as leaders, teachers, and learners. It provides a balanced, diverse, and coordinated program and promotes the senior center as a model for the aging and aged. Continental Senior Center promotes successful aging. The organization’s tagline, “In the Heart of Things,” not only refers to its downtown location but also emphasizes that the senior center is actively involved in community activities, especially those geared toward seniors. It provides information and referral services for those seeking help with taxes, health, housing, and other concerns, as well as case management services 3 days per week and computerized information assistance to help seniors and their family members access available area services.

Brief Community Description

The community of Westminster is a historically rich community founded nearly 200 years ago. Approximately 60% of the population of Westminster is over the age of 60 and have lived in Westminster all their lives. Of these senior residents, approximately 50% have a poverty-level income. Within the past 5 years, the community of Westminster has begun to expand with the building of new homes attracting younger families, all following the technology firms that have recently located to the community.

Funding Opportunity

The Wesley Foundation, 1-year, $25,000 funding opportunity, supports multi-issue community organizing groups that work in low-income neighborhoods that are accountable to neighborhood residents and through which people are empowered to have a major voice in shaping decisions that affect their lives.

The foundation supports organizations that do the following:

• Organize by enlisting and nurturing participation of a large number of neighborhood residents, organizations, and institutions.
• Recruit and formally develop local leadership.
• Enable local citizens—including youth, families, and seniors—to develop an agenda, to devise strategies, and to carry out action effectively to address issues.
• Demonstrate innovative strategies or create new local institutions that strengthen local community capacity.
• Show evidence of significant local fundraising.

Program Scenario Three

PEACE Domestic Violence Agency

Organization Mission

PEACE’s mission is to reduce victim trauma, empower survivors, and promote recovery through direct services. PEACE is committed to reducing the incidence of sexual assault and domestic violence through education and strives to challenge societal norms and beliefs that condone and perpetuate violence in the community.

Brief Community Description

The City of Portland is similar to many other communities throughout the country. As a large metropolitan city, the region has experienced increasing reports of domestic and youth violence, spousal and child abuse, assault, and incidents of road rage over the last 5 years.

Funding Opportunity

The National Foundation’s funding program, Supporting Families, strives to fulfill the following objectives:

• Promote the well-being of young men, women, and children whose lives have been affected by domestic violence, as well as to reduce the prevalence of domestic violence through increased service provision, education, and awareness.
• Improve the quality of life of families with a member or members in prison through the provision of services responsive to their needs.
• Provide young people who are or have been involved with the criminal justice system with a rehabilitation programdesigned to obtain the skills, confidence, and personal support networks to enable them to lead fulfilled and successful lives.

The foundation has two grant programs under which it provides funding to nonprofits:

• The Small Grants Program offers one-time grants of up to $5,000. The Investor Program is an innovative funding program designed to support six organizations under each of the objectives of the Supporting Families program with up to $150,000 a year for up to 3 years.

Program Scenario Four

Santa Rosa Philharmonic Youth Symphony

Organization Mission

The Santa Rosa Philharmonic Youth Symphony’s mission is to educate and advance the skills of young musicians, enabling them to reach their highest potential. The repertoire is often difficult and always challenging, and the young musicians are selected by open auditions held in June of each year.

Values

• Transforming youth and building capable young citizens with a love of music
• Excellence in musicianship and scholarship through challenging and attractive musical opportunities
• Excellence in leadership training and skill development: professionalism, education, integrity, and preparation
• Music education
• Appreciation and mutual respect
• Financial soundness

The Santa Rosa Philharmonic Youth Symphony (SRPYS) strongly encourages its young musicians to participate in their school music programs. SRPYS schedules events to avoid conflicts with school activities and excuses absences resulting from a school music program. Additionally, SRPYS works with local and regional music and arts organizations in strategic efforts to emphasize the important role of music and arts in education and society at all levels of education and government.

Brief Community Description

The community of Santa Rosa loves its music; due to education funding cuts, however, music programs have been eliminated from the public elementary and middle school education programs. Parents and educators alike are concerned that, without this music experience, Santa Rosa youth will lose their appreciation, enjoyment, and participation in music programs within the near future as music education is now limited to the high school and college levels.

Funding Opportunity

This 1-year, $15,000 funding opportunity provides operating grants to large- and medium-sized performing arts organizations that present live performances, exhibitions, or screenings in the visual, performing, and literary arts. Grants are open to nonprofit performing arts programs that: engage at least three touring companies, artists, or exhibitions per year; pay a fee for these activities; and manage local presentations. Qualifying organizations must be 2 years or older and have at least one professional staff person.

Funding from the grant is for activities that align with one or more of the stated values.

Answer Preview

The need statement purpose is to present facts and evidence that details the needs for a given project and give the relevant information required for considerations of all the available alternatives. According to Dowdy, Wearden, and Chilko (2011), the factors to be considered when writing needs statement of use in comparative statistics and research are: how to manage…

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