Survey gauges social needs around region

The Community Caring Council and Area Wide United Way are using a follow-up survey more broadly this year to find out whether any essential community needs are being missed by state and private agencies.

This survey, called COMPASS II, is being sent to businesses, parents and community leaders throughout Cape Girardeau County and in Scott City. It will be used to determine what people's perceptions of their community and its resources are.

Last spring, COMPASS I was distributed to businesses, service providers and labor unions in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City.

The survey was developed by the United Way of America.

After looking at the survey tool, the United Way determined that it fit the new mission of the Community Caring Council, said Nancy Jernigan, United Way's executive director.

The Community Caring Council was originally a state-funded initiative that worked to make the state's social services more accessible, particularly in the city's public schools. Now the council is expanding its focus to include the entire county and Scott City.

"This is the first step in community development," said Kay Azuma, community coordinator for the Community Caring Council. Azuma is overseeing the survey.

Once the surveys sent home to parents of public schoolchildren and key community leaders are returned, the results will be tabulated and then a report made to the Cape Area Community Assessment Partnership, a group that combines school, hospital, university and community leaders from Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City.

"What will come out is a clear indication of where the top issues are," Jernigan said. Once those top issues are identified, the partnership can either develop a plan to address those needs or let community agencies began to address them. The entire survey process will take a minimum of 18 months; developing a plan could take much longer, she said.

Past surveys conducted by the Area Wide United Way have found that key issues were transportation, affordable housing, substance abuse prevention and assistance for low-income families.

Some of the data collected in this survey could be used later by other agencies when seeking grant funding for programs to address some of these issues, Jernigan said.

The cost of both surveys is $400.

However, a total of $8,000 was raised by the United Way and community and business partners because the groups expected to have to hire a process manager or have some expenses related to tabulating the survey. Since Community Caring Council staff are doing the majority of the work, $7,600 was saved.

Plans for the extra money are still uncertain, Jernigan said. It's possible the money will be returned to donors, or it may be used to fund activities connected with the survey's results.

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126