Transcript Using Information for Community Action Kathryn Pettit, The Urban Institute National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership.

Using Information for
Community Action
Kathryn Pettit, The Urban Institute
National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership
What’s Happening Nationally?
• Great progress on Open Data
– Lots of energy from the private and the public sector
• Federal place-based work surviving budget pressures
– Promise and Choice Neighborhoods Initiatives
– Sustainable Communities Initiatives
• More critical than ever to target neighborhood efforts
– Stagnating economy increasing the need for public programs
– But local, state, and federal funding is being cut back
What Needs to Be Done Locally?
• Identifying the right data to answer questions
• Transforming raw data into information
• Communicating findings and insights
• Advocating for effective & informed policies
• Implementing the right programs to help
residents and neighborhoods
National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership
• Collaborative effort since 1995
• Urban Institute and local partners in 35 cities
• Success required three innovations
1. Data and technology
2. Institutions
3. Using information for change
Data and Technology
Linking people information with place information
REGION
CITY
NEIGHBORHOOD
PARCEL
TRACTS
Types of Data
Property sales, prices
Foreclosures
Births, deaths
Crime
Education
TANF, Food Stamps
Health
Child care
New Types of Institutions
• All but one outside of government
– Nonprofits, university centers, alliances, funders
• But partner with resident groups, nonprofits,
government, and other stakeholders
• Long-term and multifaceted interests
• Positioned to maintain trust of data providers
and users
Shared Mission: Information for Change
• Democratizing Information
– Facilitate the direct use of data by stakeholders
• Data serves many varied audiences and purposes
• But a central focus on strengthening and empowering
low-income neighborhoods
• Information promotes collaboration
– Acts as a bridge among public agencies, nonprofits,
businesses
Shared Mission: Types of Applications
• Using indicators in local change initiatives
– Citywide analysis to change laws and policies
– Geographic targeting of resources for programs and
investments
– Support individual neighborhood improvement initiatives
– Support program and policy evaluation
• Comprehensive community indicator initiatives
– Review of indicators across topics to collectively track
community quality of life
Joint Work Program of the NNIP Partnership
•
Advance the state of practice
1. Informing local policy initiatives (cross-site projects)
2. Developing tools and guides
•
Build/strengthen local capacity
3. Developing capacity in new communities
4. Services to an expanding network
•
Influence national context/partnering
5. Leadership in building the field
INDICATORS IN ACTION:
Using Property-Level Data
to Expand Services for Low-Income Elderly
in Pittsburgh
Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh
60% of the homes in Pittsburgh
were built before 1940
Operation Urgent Care provides free repair
services to qualifying homeowners in Allegheny
County through the contracted and licensed
professionals.
Community Block Build Model
• Strategy to target specific neighborhoods and partner
with local community groups
• Challenges
1. Identifying and selecting low-income neighborhoods
2. Finding seniors in the target area
Early Results
• Identified 10 Census Blocks With High
Concentrations of Seniors.
• Located 575 Potential Clients in West
Pittsburgh.
• Received 10 new applications in West
Pittsburgh.
• Completed 2 Block Builds in 2010 in The
Hilltop and West Pittsburgh.
INDICATORS IN ACTION:
Bridging Education And Housing Policy
Through Student Data in Washington, D.C.
Highlight Effects of
Foreclosure on Children
Forced mobility can put kids
behind socially and
academically
Foreclosure prevention
counselors should connect
families to student services
Schools need to understand
the patterns and trends of
students affected by
foreclosure to design
appropriate responses.
Share of Renter Students in
Foreclosure Households Is Increasing
60
Share of all foreclosed
students who rent
Need to provide outreach and
counseling for renters (most
assistance programs focused
on helping homeowners.)
50
Baltimore
DC
40
30
20
10
0
2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09
Kenilworth: DC Promise
Neighborhood Initiative
Earlier investment now
paying off in planning
and fundraising.
Five Promises of
1. Caring adults;
2. Physical and emotional
safety wherever they are;
3. A healthy start
4. An effective education;
5. Opportunities to help
others
INDICATORS IN ACTION:
Using Neighborhood Indicators to Identify
Need for Youth Services in Indianapolis
Marion County Commission on Youth
EIP Goal:
Reduce the number of children entering
the county’s child welfare and juvenile
justice systems by improving the
coordination of youth services in Marion
County.
Co-location of Services:
Organizations serving youth and families
in Marion County will partner with
community organizations, such as
neighborhood centers, schools and
churches, to offer various supportive
services at common access points.
Vulnerability Index: Needs Indicators
 Single Parent Families
 Economy - Unemployment
 Economy - Poverty
 Education – Less than HS Diploma
 Education – Attendance
 Health - Teen Births
 Health - Births with no Prenatal Care
 Health - Low Weight Births
 Housing – Subsidized Housing
 Public Assistance – Food Stamps
 Public Safety – Adult Crimes
 Public Safety – Juvenile Charges
Include
Weight
1
3
1
2
0
3
1
2
1
3
0
2
0
2
1
3
0
1
0
1
1
2
1
2
Index
Value
Vulnerability Index
Least Vulnerable
(Lowest Need
Areas)
Most Vulnerable
(Greatest Need)
38th Street
www.savi.org
www.savi.org
Suggestions for NHSDC Members
• Think about how information might start new
conversations and break down silos in your city.
– New audiences for your data
– External data that would help your work
• Transform your program data into indicators for
neighborhoods and cities to inform others’ work.
• Connect with your NNIP partner (if you live in an
NNIP city) or other local research groups.
And visit our new website for ideas!
For more information
Kathy Pettit
NNIP/The Urban Institute
[email protected]
http://www.neighborhoodindicators.org