Situation Analysis

Determining Critical Issues for

Virginia Cooperative Extension

VCE Programming Process

Why do Situation Analysis?

Situation Analysis…Why do it??

It’s takes a lot of time, it takes time away

from my job, It is hard work!

Has to involve too many people!

We are professionals, we know what we are doing!

Once I get the curriculum, I got it from here!!

Just tell me what to do!!!

Why Do Situation Analysis?

Extension programs should address needs Discovers where needs exist & with whom A means of involving the community in their

own change. Teaches problem solving to our communities Provides public accountability for VCE Situations change

Why Do Situation Analysis?

Situation analysis helps:– Produce change– Create alliances/collaboratives/partnerships– Discovers community resources & barriers– Identifies potential audiences– Determines gaps, current knowledge, skills, practices…which

leads to How existing programs can be applied What new Extension programs/resources are needed How Extension resources can be engaged Determines which resources at VT and VSU are needed

– Determine VCE Program Direction

VCE Situation Analysis:A 4 Step Process

Step 1: Organize for Action

Step 2: Develop a Unit Profile

Step 3: Assess Needs from a Community and Resident Perspective

Step 4: Interpret Data and Decide on Program Direction

Extension Agents Need to:

– Understand the Process– Train ELC on the Process– Serve as a Convener and a Facilitator – Provide Collaborative Leadership– Cultivate Involvement/Ownership– Arrange for/Data Review/Collection– Engage ELC/Community in Decision

Making/Discovery Process– Leads the Development of SA Action Plan– Remains an Educator

Step 1: Organize for Action

Key players: ELC and Extension Staff

Everyone needs to understand the situation analysis process (Training/orientation of players: I meeting)

Develop Situation Analysis Plan: another meeting

Situation Analysis Plan….. what, when, how, who…another meeting

What is the area of analysis: county? city? program?

Reflects decisions, tasks, assignment of responsibilities, & time

Assignment Tasks – ELC vs. Program Committee – ELC – overall unit profile– Program Committee – dig deeper in program

area(s)

Reflects methods used to examine the situation (added as the plan unfolds)

Step 2: Develop a Unit Profile

Data profile that characterizes the unit

Starting point – population/housing, education, health and welfare, and economy data

Based on quantitative data gathered from a variety of existing sources

Provides a snapshot for program planners and unit residents

Provides unit baseline data to gauge program effectiveness

Step 3: Assess Needs from a Community/Resident Perspective

Compliments unit profile by helping to understand challenges, opportunities, needs from a community & resident perspective

Allows you to move beyond the numbers---dig deeper to understand greater

Focuses on what issues and problems people perceive as important

Place for ELC to lead, team, connect etc

Step 3: Assess Needs from a Community/Resident Perspective

Where change really begins

Relevance is established

Partnerships are begun

Resources are identified

The place for VCE is discovered

Methods

Issues Forums Focus Groups Key Informant Interviews Community Survey

Key Questions: Focus, Sharpen Understanding

For what purpose is this information being collected?---back to the unit profile

How will the information be used to benefit residents in the unit? What attitudes, knowledge, skills, practices, current services

Issues Forums

Public meetings where people express their opinions and perspectives

Facilitated by a moderator

Follow an agenda

Last 2-4 hours

Issues Forums - Advantages

Citizen participation

Communication between program providers and clientele

Easy and inexpensive

Flexible

Issues Forums - Disadvantages

Requires good facilitation

Input is limited to those who attend

May generate more questions than answers

Unrealistic expectations

Focus Groups

A focused discussion among 6-8 people

Facilitated by a moderator

Last 1-2 hours

Need to conduct 4-5 for situation analysis

Not intended to reach consensus

Focus Groups - Advantages

Great in generating ideas

Stimulates thinking and dialogue

Findings are easily understood

Fast and relatively inexpensive

Focus Groups - Disadvantages

Can be easily misused

Requires a skilled moderator

Analysis is time consuming

Difficult to generalize findings

Key Informant Interviews

Information gathered from people who hold key roles

Elected officials, community leaders, agency administrators/staff, community professionals

Usually done using personal interviews

Key Informant Interviews - Advantages

Opportunity to collect data from people with different perspectives on issues and problems

Helps identify opportunities for partnerships

Can be implemented by volunteers

Easy and inexpensive

Key Informant Interviews - Disadvantages

Information can be biased

Relationship between interviewer and interviewee can influence data

Can alienate people not involved Interviewer must be trained

Community Survey

An instrument administered to community residents to obtain their perspectives on issues and problems

Typically administered to a sample of residents

Most comprehensive method

Community Survey - Advantages

Can collect a lot of information

Moderate to low cost

Information is relatively unbiased

Can generalize information to the community

Community Survey - Disadvantages

Time consuming from start to finish

Low response rates

No control for a bad instrument

Step 4: Interpret Data and Decide on Program Direction

What are the issues identified?

What is Extension presently doing?

What issues are priority?

What renewed direction should Extension programs take?

Making Priority Decisions for Determining Program Direction

What are others doing? What is the VCE niche? How is VCE currently addressing the issue? What are our present programs telling us? Can more impacts be sought? Does the issue warrant new programming? How does the issue compare to our interests,

expertise, and experience – ELC, agents, volunteers? How does the issue fit with our VT and VSU

resources?

Situation Analysis Process

Available on the VCE Internet– Program Support

VCE Programming Process

VCE Programming Process

Panel Discussion

Situation AnalysisLessons Learned