**SESSION: Community Assessments & Rural Resource Teams**

(TX Rural Partners, WY Rural Development Council, WA Rural Development
Council, NV Rural Development Council)

-   *Rural resource teams:* Partnerships of trained volunteers that work
    together to help rural communities identify resources and strategies
    for locally-executed community development.

    -   Potential team members are from:

        -   Economic development organizations

        -   Health organizations

        -   Federal government

        -   State government

        -   Educational institutions

        -   Private sector

        -   Non-profit organizations

        -   Rural development organizations

    -   Past team members have been very positive about the experience!

-   *Resource team community assessment:* "A community-based planning &
    assessment process consisting of interviewing a large number of
    people in the community, recording their suggestions and having a
    team of specialists write up implementation plans for community
    use." --as defined by TX Rural Partners, Inc.

-   Someone [in the community]{.underline} must serve as the
    [catalyst]{.underline} to set the process in motion.

    -   To requests a resource team:

        -   In Wyoming for example, the Wyoming Rural Development
            Council requires a letter signed by the community leader
            (Mayor, Executive, other) which serves as a contract with
            the Council. The letter must include the name & contact
            information for the community contact, and state that the
            community:

            -   Understands it must provide meals and lodging,

            -   Understands it must do all publicity for Listening
                Sessions, Town Meeting, etc.,

            -   Understands it must develop agenda with help of Team
                Leader,

            -   Will plan tour for the team members, and

            -   Will provide all arrangements for Listening Sessions

-   Benefits of a resource team assessment to community:

    -   Affordable assessment process (usually costs \~\$1,500 per
        community; would cost \$50K -- \$75K if contracted to other
        professional companies)

    -   Provides a "mirror look" at a community

    -   Beginning steps to strategic planning

    -   In-kind contribution can be used as a match for grant
        applications

    -   Report contains a wealth of resources and opportunities for a
        community

-   Resource team planning for a community assessment takes 2 -- 3
    months.

-   The assessment team process:

    -   Team of 5-7 resource specialists,

    -   Spend 1.5 days in a community,

    -   Listening to the community members & asking the 3 questions,

    -   (About 20% of the community usually participates in listening
        sessions and/or interviews)

    -   Recording community answers, and

    -   Developing major themes.

    -   On the last day, the team hosts a town meeting, and

    -   Facilitates priority-setting session.

    -   The 3 Questions (for all interviews):

1.  What are the major problems and challenges in your community?

2.  What are the major strengths and assets of your community?

3.  What projects would you like to see implemented in your community in
    the next 2, 5, 10, or 20 years?

-   Everyone is asked these questions. And because some people are not
    comfortable with responding immediately or orally, *people may also
    submit written questions and comments*.

    -   Example Agenda:

> First Day
>
> 10am -- 12pm Team orientation
>
> 12pm -- 1pm Lunch with community team
>
> 1pm -- 3pm Community tour
>
> 4pm -- 5pm Topic 1 Listening Session
>
> 5pm -- 6pm Topic 2 Listening Session
>
> 6pm -- 7:30pm Dinner
>
> 8pm -- 9pm Topic 3 Listening Session
>
> Second Day
>
> 6:30 -- 7:30am Breakfast
>
> 8am -- 9am Topic 4 Listening Session
>
> Etc...

-   Community determines sectors/ issues for Listening Sessions

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-   Recommended sectors/ issues

    i.  Youth

    ii. Seniors

-   Other common sectors/ issues

    i.  Agriculture

    ii. Churches

    iii. Retail

    iv. Banking

    v.  Civic Groups

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-   After all Listening Sessions are complete, the resource team
    develops the major themes (economic development, housing,
    aesthetics, youth concerns, zoning, etc.)

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-   Host Town Meeting

    -   Held the last evening of the visit

    -   Everyone is invited back

    -   Opportunity to thank community

    -   Team presents "What was said"

    -   Team presents major themes -- "What was heard"

    -   Discuss "next steps" and stress importance of priority setting
        meeting

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-   Final Report

    -   Must be original document!

    -   Presented to the community 4 -- 6 weeks after the visit.

    -   Contains Executive Summary, Agenda, Team Members, "What was
        said", "What was heard", and team member reports

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-   Next Step: Priority Setting

    -   After community has had time to read report (approximately 1
        month), Team Leader will contact Community Leader to set date
        for follow-up meeting.

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-   Some Facts from SRDCs

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-   Texas Rural Partners:

    -   57 community assessments completed since 1993 (49 completed
        since 1997).

    -   Assessments work for large range of community sizes. So far
        community populations have ranged from 595 to 28,562.

-   Wyoming Rural Development Council:

    -   Assessments began in 2000.

    -   53 community assessments completed with a goal of 60 in 5 years.

    -   285 volunteers have been trained in Wyoming for resource teams.

    -   Completed training for 150 volunteers in Montana.

    -   Completed training for 120 volunteers in Washington State.

-   Washington State Rural Development Council:

    -   Assessments began in 2002.

    -   Completed 4 team trainings and have scheduled 5^th^ for December
        2003 (120 volunteers).

    -   Populations range from 4,000 -- 12,000.

    -   Completed 3 assessments, 4^th^ in Fall 2003, 5^th^ has been
        requested.

    -   Signs of success from 1^st^ community.

-   Nevada Rural Development Council:

    -   Council formed within last one year.

    -   Board planned 19 Listening Sessions for assessment across rural
        Nevada, and identified site coordinators in each community.

    -   Community assessment team traveled over 2500 miles total to 19
        communities (3 trips) in 7 days.

    -   424 people attended the meetings (averaging 22 per meeting)