POW Number: 5.G
July 1, 2002

POW Title: Community Capacity Building and Decisionmaking

Situation Statement:

Community and public policy decision making in Pennsylvania is characterized by a mosaic of decentralized jurisdictions, authorities, and interests. While local governments play an increasingly important role in this decision making, there are also a wide array of changes and constituencies that shape the environment and outcome of these decisions. Federal and state government priorities, regulations and programs; continued local, global and national economic pressures; the changing relationship between local, state, and federal government(s), changing service and social demands; enhanced technology; evolving environmental, agricultural and land use challenges; and shifting demographics are just a few of the more salient issues that influence the complexity of effective community decision making.

Within this framework, citizens, civic organizations, and local governments in small and rural communities face ever greater challenges in effectively controlling and managing the myriad issues that face their communities. With few exceptions, this changing environment has also become more complex and frequently controversial - requiring an unparalleled breadth of decision making responsibilities, information, and skills. All these shifts are placing ever greater pressure on local citizens and decision makers to have a working knowledge of (and often expertise in) literally hundreds of areas important to the life of the communities in which they serve and live.

As such, an informed citizenry, effective leadership, and viable local institutions are essential if small and rural communities are to develop the capacity to control their future. A healthy environment, a dynamic economy, and the well being of all our communities are directly linked. Cooperative Extension is well positioned to provide both the content and process related educational programs and information required to equip our communities with the tools they need to thoughtfully analyze and respond to these challenges and opportunities.

Not including school districts (501), special authorities (2,692) and county governments (67), Pennsylvania is served by 2,571 separate units of municipal government. Of these, the vast majority are either townships (1,550) who have no professional staff, or boroughs (966), only the largest of which are run by professional managers.

 

SUB POW: 5.G.1. Understanding Community Change

Objective: 5.G.1.1. Participants will increase their understanding of the trends and forces affecting their community and of the long-range implications of those trends, and increase their skills and abilities to help their community respond appropriately.

Output/Outcome Indicators (These indicators will be captured in the database for FY2003):

    1. Number of participants.
    2. Number of participants who were able to use 3 resources to determine economic and demographic trends in their community.

Special Indicators (suggested by the POW team):

  1. Number of participants who were able to identify and describe at least two major trends affecting their community, and analyze the implications of those trends for the future.
  2. Number of participants who were able to identify and describe two of their community's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

 

SUB POW: 5.G.2. Public Policy and Citizenship

Objective: 5.G.2.1 Participants will learn to analyze and understand the content and implications of current or developing local or state-wide public policy in order to increase their ability to effectively and thoughtfully assess, respond to, and become involved in the development, formulation, and/or implementation of these initiatives.

Output/Outcome Indicators (These indicators will be captured in the database for FY2003):
    1. Number of participants.
    2. Number of participants who were able to identify the major relevant jurisdictions and authorities that affect legislation and regulations applicable to local, county, state, and/or national government(s) and issues.

Special Indicators (suggested by the POW team):

  1. Number of participants who were able to identify the primary methods of working productively with the major jurisdictions and authorities within their community.
  2. Number of participants who increased their knowledge and understanding of the opportunities for participation in government decision making.
  3. Number of participants who intend to increase their participation in, and involvement with, the public and non-profit sectors within their community for the purposes of addressing issues of community or personal interest.

 

SUB POW: 5.G.3. Communications

Objective: 5.G.3.1. Participants will increase their understanding of the rationale for, and the methods of effective interpersonal and public communications. Areas of consideration include active listening, public speaking, and communicating effectively with local and state government officials and the media.

Output/Outcome Indicators (These indicators will be captured in the database for FY2003):
    1. Number of participants.
    2. Number of participants who were able to identify the primary skills and techniques for active listening and public speaking.

Special Indicators (suggested by the POW team):

  1. Number of participants who were able to identify the primary methods of communicating effectively with local and state government officials.
  2. Number of participants who were able to identify three techniques, methods, and opportunities for communicating effectively with the media.

 

SUB POW: 5.G.4. Community Collaborations

Objective: 5.G.4.1. Participants will understand the value of community collaborations and coalitions for addressing community concerns, develop collaborations focused on a public issue in their own community, and use the collaboration to help resolve that issue.

Output/Outcome Indicators (These indicators will be captured in the database for FY2003):
    1. Number of participants.
    2. Number of participants who were able to name three benefits and costs of collaborative problem solving approaches, and were able to identify at least one community issue for which collaboration could be useful.

Special Indicators (suggested by the POW team):

  1. Number of participants who indicated they will build a coalition/collaboration of diverse individuals and groups in their own community, focused on taking action on a community issue.
  2. Number of participants who indicated they will improve their collaborative and group process skills, including conflict resolution techniques, active listening, stakeholder identification, and how to focus on interests (not positions).
  3. Number of participants who recognized the value of intra- and inter-community collaboration, and be able to identify at least two methods of bringing disparate groups together within their community.

 

SUB POW: 5.G.5. Strategic Planning and Visioning

Objective: 5.G.5.1. Participants will increase their understanding of the tools and rationale for effective community strategic planning. Particular focus will be placed on methods of accessing public opinion, scanning the horizon, enhancing public input, developing and implementing an effective action plan, and identifying and involving critical stakeholders.

Output/Outcome Indicators (These indicators will be captured in the database for FY2003):
    1. Number of participants.
    2. Number of participants who were able to identify the major components of an effective community, group, or organizational strategic plan.

Special Indicators (suggested by the POW team):

  1. Number of participants who were able to identify the major social, political, societal, economic, and/or environmental trends, stakeholders, and issues that affect mission and vision.
  2. Number of participants who said they intend to develop a mission and vision statement for their group or organization.
  3. Number of participants who said they intend to develop an action plan to effectively address their major goals and objectives.

 

SUB POW: 5.G.6. Community Needs Assessment

Objective: 5.G.6.1. Participants will increase their understanding of the role of, and methods for conducting effective community needs assessment. Particular focus will be placed on methods of community surveys, survey design, construction and analysis, accessing relevant secondary data, and other techniques for gathering public input and developing an effective assessment that reflects the priorities of all relevant stakeholders.

Output/Outcome Indicators (These indicators will be captured in the database for FY2003):

  1. Number of participants.
  2. Number of participants who were able to identify and choose the major tools for gathering public input that are best suited to their needs and limitations.

Special Indicators (suggested by the POW team):

  1. Number of participants who were able to identify the critical aspects of effectively conducting and analyzing community surveys and other public input techniques.
  2. Number of participants who were able to identify the most effective methods and sources for gathering secondary data applicable to needs and limitations.
  3. Number of participants who were able to identify the stakeholders most appropriate to the issues and/or topics they are addressing.

 

SUB POW: 5.G.7. Conflict Management

Objective: 5.G.7.1. Participants will increase their analytical skills and understanding of the methods for resolving conflict as they relate to a wide range of community issues. Particular focus will be given to increasing participants understanding of the evolution of issues, identifying the underlying facts, myths and values of community issues, identifying key stakeholders, methods for identifying areas of common ground, the role of group dynamics, and tools for building consensus.

Output/Outcome Indicators (These indicators will be captured in the database for FY2003):

  1. Number of participants.
  2. Number of participants who were able to identify the myths, facts, and values related to controversial issues within their communities.

Special Indicators (suggested by the POW team):

  1. Number of participants who were able to identify the key components of the evolution of issues, where their community currently is within this evolution, and the opportunities available to them for successful resolution and consensus building.
  2. Number of participants who can identify two interests which other stakeholder groups have in regard to the same controversy.
  3. Number of participants who were able to identify three skills that can be used to resolve community disputes.

     

SUB POW: 5.G.8. Land Use Policy

Objective: 5.G.8.1. Participants will increase their understanding of local land use policy in their community, the variety of local land use choices provided by the Commonwealth, and the potential impact on their community and local taxpayers if their use of local land is changed. They will use this greater understanding to make informed land use policy decisions for their community.

Output/Outcome Indicators (These indicators will be captured in the database for FY2003):
    1. Number of participants.
    2. Number of participants who were able to identify the role, opportunities, and potential of ASAs, the Right to Farm Act, the Clean and Green Program (Act 319), and the Conservation Easement Program in protecting farming resources and operations (i.e., participants will increase their understanding of the jurisdictional authorities, regulatory requirements, current status, costs, and implications of at least one of these identified programs).

Special Indicators (suggested by the POW team):

  1. Number of participants who were able to identify the role, opportunities, and potential for effectively addressing land use change in their communities within the context of the Municipalities Planning Code and other relevant authorities and regulations.
  2. Number of participants who were able to describe three or more of the components of the Municipalities Planning Code (i.e., jurisdictional authorities, regulatory requirements, current status, costs).
  3. Number of participants who were able to identify the varied fiscal, environmental, regulatory, and societal impacts of community growth, and the tools available to them for effectively managing that growth.

 

SUB POW: 5.G.9. Economic Development Policy

Objective: 5.G.9.1. Participants will develop strategies to enhance community capacity by identifying factors that can be strengthened such as community health, workforce education & training, social services, retail development, tourism development, industrial development, agricultural business development, recreation development, infrastructure development, etc.

Output/Outcome Indicators (These indicators will be captured in the database for FY2003):

  1. Number of participants.
  2. Number of participants who could describe three characteristics of community capacity.

Special Indicators (suggested by the POW team):

  1. Number of participants and communities who conducted an analysis of the key factors in their own community that would enhance community capacity.
  2. Number of participants, communities, or organizations that developed strategies to improve the community, based in part on this identification process.

 

SUB POW: 5.G.10. Environmental/Natural Resources Policy

Objective: 5.G.10.1. Participants will increase their understanding and appreciation of their communities’ environmental and natural assets and how local, state, and federal policy choices about these resources impact community well-being. This understanding and appreciation will allow more informed decisions.

Output/Outcome Indicators (These indicators will be captured in the database for FY2003):
    1. Number of participants.
    2. Number of participants who were able to identify three important environmental and/or natural resource assets and increase their understanding of how these assets currently contribute to their community's well being.

Special Indicators (suggested by the POW team):

  1. Number of participants who were able to name at least two indicators of environmental/natural resource quality as they relate to their community, how these indicators are changing over time and what are the primary causes of these changes.
  2. Number of participants who were able to name at least one specific element of environmental/natural resources policy and the interconnections between environmental, economic and social conditions for this policy area.
  3. Number of participants who were able to name one local tool (natural resource assessments, conservation zoning, greenways, well-head protection, riparian buffers, and tree planting, maintenance and preservation) that has potential for moving environmental indicators in positive directions and the implications of utilizing that tool for their community's well-being.

 

SUB POW: 5.G.11: Local Tax Policy

Objective: 5.G.11.1. Participants will increase their understanding of local tax policy in their community, the variety of local tax choices provided by the Commonwealth, and the potential impact on their community and local taxpayers if their use of local taxes is changed. They will use this greater understanding to make informed decisions for their community.

Output/Outcome Indicators (These indicators will be captured in the database for FY2003):
    1. Number of participants.
    2. Number of participants who were able to describe the tax changes permitted under local tax reform, and how local tax reform can be implemented in their own community.

Special Indicators (suggested by the POW team):

  1. Number of participants who were able to identify their community's two largest public expenditures.
  2. Number of participants who were able to identify the major sources of non-tax revenues in their local government or school district budget.
  3. Number of participants who were able to describe a variety of local taxes available in Pennsylvania which taxpayer groups are most affected by.

 

SUB POW: 5.G.12. Economic and Fiscal Impacts of Change

Objective: 5.G.12.1. Participants will increase their understanding of economic and fiscal change in their community, improve their analytical abilities to examine the potential impact of change in their own community, and use that greater understanding to make informed decisions.

Output/Outcome Indicators (These indicators will be captured in the database for FY2003):
    1. Number of participants.
    2. Number of participants who indicate they will conduct a study of the potential impact of a specific residential development in their own community, and use this information to make public policy decisions relating to the development.

Special Indicators (suggested by the POW team):

  1. Number of participants who were able to describe a variety of key factors affecting the impact of land use change in their own community, such as surplus capacity, and type, location, and timing of change.
  2. Number of participants who were able to describe how land use changes can affect public service provision and local tax and non-tax revenues, and the different factors that influence these impacts.
  3. Number of participants who were able to describe how change affects the local economy and local government, and how this information is used to make policy decisions.

 

SUB POW: 5.G.13. Grant Writing

Objective: 5.G.13.1 Participants will increase their understanding of the major characteristics of the private philanthropic and corporate giving community, the major resources involved in acquiring financial resources from both public and private sources, the major components of the grant writing process, and the major characteristics and techniques for writing good proposals.

Output/Outcome Indicators (These indicators will be captured in the database for FY2003):
    1. Number of participants.
    2. Number of participants who were able to identify the key components of the private philanthropic community including funding priorities, basic structure, and methods of operation.

Special Indicators (suggested by the POW team):

  1. Number of participants who were able to identify the major search methods for determining which funding sources are most likely to form partnerships, and the rules for making successful communications with these sources.
  2. Number of participants who were able to identify the search methods, priorities, and successful methods of identifying and effectively responding to requests for proposals established by public sector entities.
  3. Number of participants who were able to identify the key components of effective grant proposal writing.

SUB POW: 5.G.14. Community and Economic Development through Community Information Networks

Objective: 5.G.14.1. Participants will increase their knowledge of how information technologies will impact their lives and communities, learn skills needed to develop community information networks that are sustainable and enhance quality of life. Participants will develop information networks that provide all community residents with public access to Internet at community facilities where they can learn to use digital technologies as tools to obtain information and support lifelong learning.

Output/Outcome Indicators (These indicators will be captured in the database for FY2003):
    1. Number of participants.
    2. Number of participants who were able to identify the impacts of digital technologies on all segments of society.

Special Indicators (suggested by the POW team):

  1. Number of participants who realize that education, local government, libraries, media, business and not-for-profit sectors have to collaborate to attain resources necessary to develop and sustain community information networks.
  2. Number of participants who indicate they intend to help create community information task forces within their communities to develop and implement strategies to create sustainable community information networks.
  3. Number of individuals completing the E-business program.
  4. Number of business owners indicating the E-business program increased their knowledge of how they can use information technology and how the internet applies to their business.
  5. Number of business owners that incorporated E-business applications in their business plans.
  6. Number of local governments participating in the eGovernment program.
  7. Number of local officials indicating the eGovernment program increased their knowledge on how they can use technology to deliver government services and information.

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