FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bobbi Thomas-Bailey, Executive Director
(304) 252-6396
Raleigh County Community Action Association
Releases 2013 Community Needs Assessment
Beckley, WV–Raleigh County Community Action Association (RCCAA) conducted a community needs assessment in order to determine causes of poverty in Raleigh County and mobilize resources in a plan to meet community needs. The results of the community needs assessment are now being released.
In May 2013, RCCAAenlisted the assistance of Kingery and Company, LLC, to conduct a county wide needs assessment. The project included surveying residents, interviewing community stakeholders, conducting secondary data research, facilitating an analysis retreat to prioritize the issues, and providing a summary report with key findings and recommendations.
RCCAA engaged members of the community in the needs assessment process. This took place in the formation of a Needs Assessment Steering Committee comprised of internalRCCAA staff and external community stakeholders. External stakeholders included representatives from:City of Beckley, United Way, FMRS, DHHR, The Dream Center, Salvation Army, Beckley-Raleigh County Health Department, United Bank, Access Health, Commission on Aging, YMCA, Memorial Baptist Church, and Birth to Three. The Steering Committee served to set direction, assist with the collection of primary data, monitor progress, and analyze results.
"It was important that we involved a diverse group of community representatives to participate in the community needs assessment process.RCCAA is proud to lead the way in identifying needs and taking action to make life better for the individuals and families in Raleigh County." stated RCCAA Executive Director, Bobbi Thomas-Bailey.
Since RCCAA is an anti-poverty organization, it was important to use community action poverty indicators as the foundation on which to build the needs assessment. With guidance from the WV Community Action Partnership, the statewide association representing 16 community action agencies, and the Office of Economic Opportunity, the following poverty indicators served as the primary and secondary data collection issue areas: Employment, Education, Housing, Health, Nutrition, Use of Income, Transportation and Emergency Situations. The supplement indicator that was also used was Children’s Needs.
As part of a one-day debriefing retreat with the Needs Assessment Steering Committee, a paired comparison technique was used to analyze the survey results and secondary research to prioritize the issues that are most needed in Raleigh County. Below are the results of the retreat, which includes the top issues identified and a list of action plans that will be used to help meet the needs of those in the community.
RALEIGH COUNTY ACTION PLAN
Issue #1: HEALTH
Action Plan:
- RCCAA has applied for a grant to hire four individual personal assistants to enroll eligible individuals into Medicaid and private market place under the Affordable Care Act. Also applied to be Community Assisters to enroll eligible people to Medicaid.
- Provide educational opportunities to promote awareness of the options currently available and becoming available in the near future.
- Increase the number of FQHC’s offering dental services in the area and educate/encourage private dentists to accept Medicaid/CHIPS, and educate clients about the importance of keeping appointments so they are not released by doctors/dentists.
Issue #2: TRANSPORTATION
Action Plan:
- Increase awareness about RCCAA public transportation by sharing success stories and testimonials from current clients that use the transportation.
- Provide education seminars to the public on money management issues including credit repair, budgeting and wants vs. needs.
Issue #3: EMPLOYMENT
Action Plan:
- Initiate training for basic employment skills and educate individuals on the locations for GED training.
- Research and possibly create a “Junior Achievement Program”.
- Promote information about available jobs and resources to current RCCAA clients.
Issue #4: CHILDREN’S NEEDS
Action Plan:
- Develop a fee for service program to offer family development services (case management) to members of the county to assist them in developing realistic goals and a detailed plan to achieve those goals.
- Provide regular seminars, to the public, on topics that affect families with children such as budgeting, meal planning, resources available in the community, etc.
- Use previously established partnerships with agencies such as WorkForce WV and the Academy of Careers and Technology to connect community members to job training. In addition, create new partnerships with other agencies offering job skills training.
The final report was shared with the Needs Assessment Steering Committee in advance of the public release. Steering Committee members were asked to share the report with their own organizations and other groups in an effort to mobilize community resources to address needs beyond that of RCCAA. For a copy of the full Community Needs Assessment report please visit
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Raleigh County Community Action Association is a private, non-profit organization that empowers individuals and families to reach their highest levels of social and economic self-sufficiency, while identifying and eliminating the causes of poverty. RCCAA is part of the Community Action Partnership which is an alliance of nonprofit private and public organizations established under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 to fight America's War on Poverty. Community Action Agencies help people to help themselves in achieving economic security.