Asset Mapping: Locating the Gifts in Your Community

Holly DeBlois

Nicole LaPointe

Empowering Communities Through Access to Information and Training

Module #4

September 2003

Overview

Definition Importance “How to” Littleton case study Sources and resources

Definition

Asset Mapping

The process of cataloging

the resources of a community.

Asset Mapping Pioneers:

John Kretzmann and John McKnight

(Asset-Based Community Development Institute)

Individual Resources

Every single individual Individual skills

– Computer, child care, painting, home repair

Community skills– Scout troop, church supper, political campaign

Enterprising skills and interests– Teaching, sales and marketing

Association Resources

Formal or informal group of community members working together– Church Women’s or Men’s Club– PTA– SCORE (Senior Core of Retired Executives)

Assets– Activities/services/funding provided to comm.– Communication channel– Future opportunities

Institutional Resources

Formal, structured organization that typically does not rely on volunteers– School– Hospital

Assets– Employees (pd time to do community svc.)– Facilities/services (space, copying)– Volunteer/learning opportunities (school to work

program)

Economic Resources

Dollars generated by local and regional activity– # and/or % employees hired locally– % and/or $ of supplies & service bought locally

How These Assets Fit Together

Businesses Schools

Civil Events

Parks Youth Artists Libraries

Seniors Elders

Community Volunteers

Charitable Groups

Hospitals

Source: Vitializing Communities Facilitator Guide , 1999. J. Allen, S. Cordes, and J. Hart, p. 23

Community College

Citizens Associations

Gifts of Individuals

Local Treasure Chest of Talents

Churches

Local Institutions

Cultural Groups

Youth Clubs

Importance of Asset Mapping Form

Problem Identificationand Prioritization Cycle

Health Health Issue Health Issue Issue

Analysis andImplementation

Cycle

Form Community HealthCoalition

Prepare and AnalyzeCommunity Health Profiles

IdentifyCritical Health

Issues

Analyze Health Issue

Monitor Processand Outcomes

InventoryResources

ImplementStrategy Develop Health

Improvement Strategy

Develop IndicatorSet

IdentifyAccountability

“TheCommunityHealthImprovementProcess”.ImprovingHealth in theCommunity.IOM. Pg.31.Figure 1-1.

Asset

Mapping

Importance of Asset Mapping (cont) Create awareness of local resources Use resources in health improvement

activities Recognize and value the gifts within a

community

How to Map Community Assets

Step 1: Define your community

– Specific population: elderly, disabled, youth– Geographic boundary– Faith, ethnic, racial community

How to Map Community Assets (cont) Step 2: Define what you want to do with the

information collected.

Examples:– Create community resource guide– Create a searchable database of community

resources to tap for a health initiative– Link individuals with paid/volunteer

opportunities

How to Map Community Assets (cont) Step 3: Select what assets you want to

identify. What skills do you need to identify?

– Start with pre-existing asset inventory tool– Add and delete skills – Keep focused on what you will do with this

information.

How to Map Community Assets (cont) Step 4: Identify if an asset mapping activity

has been done previously in your community (ex. United Way Assessment).– How recent is it?– Will it provide the information you are looking

for?– What did or did not work well?

Community_________________ Date______________________ Page ____ of ____

Previous Efforts/Activity Resulting Information/Action Who Was Invited & When

Examples: community planning, commuity economic development, program and service development, community visioning, and other community development/involvement activities…

Source: Vitaling Communities, Community Guide , 1999. J. Allen, S. Cordes, and J. Hart, p. 36

Previous Efforts Assets InventoryInventory Tool 5

Asset Mapping: Previous Efforts

Individual Asset Inventory Tool

Name_________________________ Phone________________________ Date__________________________

Health Construction & Repair FoodCaring for the Elderly Painting CateringCaring for the Mentally Ill Plumbing Preparing for Many PeopleCaring for the Sick Electrical Serving to Many PeopleCaring for Disabled People Carpentry Operating Commercial EquipmentEMT or Emergency First Aid Brick and Masonry BakingNursing Experience Wall Papering Meat Cutting and PreparationNutrition Furniture Repairs BartendingExercise Locksmith or Lock Repairs

Building Garages TransportationOffice Dry-wall and Taping Driving a CarTyping (WPM______) Cabinetmaking Driving a VanTaking Phone Messages Welding and Soddering Driving a BusWriting Business Letters Concrete Work Driving a Tractor-TrailerReceiving Phone Orders Heating and Cooling Systems Driving a Commercial TruckOperation Switchboard Flooring and Carpeting Operating Farm EquipmentBookkeeping Roofing Driving Emergency VehiclesComputer Information Entry Other_________________________Computer Word Processing SupervisionOther_______________________ Maintenance Writing Reports

Floor Cleaning/Refinishing Filling Out FormsChild Care Carpet Cleaning Working with a BudgetInfant Care (0-1 yr) Household Cleaning Recording of ActivitiesChild Care (1-6 yrs) Lawn Mowing and Yard Work Writing Proposals or GrantsAdolescent Care (7-13) Gardening Planning ProjectsTaking Kids on Field Trips Tree and Shrubbery Care Supervising ProjectsPre-school Care Other_________________________

Source: Vitalizing Communities, Community Guide , 1999, J. Allen, S. Cordes, and J. Hart, p. 28

Individual Skills/Assets InventoryInventory Tool 1A

Association Asset Inventory Tool

Community_________________Date______________________ Page ____ of ____

Name of Association Contact Person Phone Number Aim Program/Services Offered

Examples: Business Association: Chamber of Commerce, neighborhood business associations, trade groups,… Charitable Groups/Drives: Red Cross, Cancer Society, United Way, Diabetes Association,… Youth Groups: 4-H Clubs, Future Farmers, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, YMCA, YWCA,… Civic Events: art fair, health fair, 4th of July, town festival,…

Source: Adaptation of: Vitaling Communities, Community Guide, 1999. J. Allen, S. Cordes, and J. Hart, p.31

Associational Assets InventoryInventory Tool 2

Institutional Asset Inventory Tool

Community_________________ Page ____ of ____

Name of Institution

Contact Person

Phone Number

Aim / Interest

Program / Service

Resources (computer,

fax,

Examples: Health Care: hospitals, health clinic, dentists,…Educational: public schools, private schools,…Political: county government, state government, human service agencies,…Other: law enforcement, fire and rescue,… churches, temples, synagogues,…Source: Adaptation of: Vitaling Communities, Community Guide , 1999. J. Allen, S. Cordes, and J. Hart, p.32

Date______________________

Institutional Assets InventoryInventory Tool 3

Economic Asset Inventory Tool

Community_________________Date______________________ Page ____ of ____

Name of BusinessProportion of Workers Hired Locally

Proportion of Non-Labor Supplies and Input Purchased Locally

Source: Vitaling Communities, Community Guide , 1999. J. Allen, S. Cordes, and J. Hart, p.34

Local Business Linkages InventoryInventory Tool 4B

How to Map Community Assets (cont) Step 5: Develop plan to collect the

information.– When do you need the data?– What methods will you use to collect the info?– What resources (people, copying, database

creation and entry, facilitators) do you need to collect the info?

– Who is going to do what and by when?

Sample Activity Tracker

Goal:Objective:

Task Who Resources Deadline Comments

Activity Tracker

Existing Information Resources in Your Community

• Chamber of Commerce

• Phone Book

• The Internet

• Local Newspaper

• Previous Inventories (ex. United Way)

Information Collection Tips

Ask advise of target population Think outside the box

– Web / Email Surveys– Newspaper inserts– PDA / Laptops– Church Supper

Think Ahead– If your goal is to build a data base, use a

method whereby information is entered and collected simultaneously. Ex: access data base

How to Map Community Assets (cont) Step 6: Map the assets of your community

– Use town map & color-coded push pins– Use GIS Mapping software to create a map

Example: mapping recreational assets– Get community map and use push pins or color-

code available recreation facilities, such as: play grounds, parks, ice rink, skate board parks, etc.

– Create a booklet of community recreational facilities.

How to Map Community Assets (cont) Step 7: Evaluate your process and results Process: what worked well and what did not

– How many completed?– Did you reach your target population?

Outcome:– Able to create final product?– Benefits derived?

• Number of individuals mapped• Grant money received

Littleton Model Community Project

Nicole LaPointe, Project DirectorFunded Through UNH Institute on

Disability and the NH Department of Health and Human Services

Partners in Planning

Identified efforts that dovetail with LMCP interests

Identified associations for networking Found the ‘experts’ in the community

Project Goals

Improve access to town and public facilities Improve access to services and assistive

technology Increase Employment Opportunities Increase Leadership and Volunteer

Opportunities

Improving access

Identify town resources Inventory business that are accessible Work to create accessible public places Increase access to services and assistive

technology.

Increase Employment and Volunteerism Identify businesses that employ or would

like to employ older adults or people with disabilities

Identify organizations that rely on volunteers

Identify people who want to work, their skills, and interests

Sources and Resources Community tool box website

– http://ctb.lsi.ukans.edu/tools/EN/section_1043.htm, Chapter Three, Section 8

• assessing community needs and resources

Asset-Based Community Development Institute– Institute started by John Kretzmann and John

McKnight contains publications and workbooks about asset mapping and the larger concept of asset-based community development.

– http://www.northwestern.edu/ipr/abcd.html

Sources and Resources

Center for Applied Rural Innovation(University of Nebraska)

Vitalizing Community: Building on Assets and Mobilizing for Collective Action– Facilitation Guide

• Workbook presents step-by-step guide to preparing for and hosting an asset mapping effort.

• http://cari.unl.edu/facilitatorguide.pdf

– Community Guide• Workbook for community participants in an asset mapping

effort.• http://cari.unl.edu/communityguide.pdf

Summary

Communities have lots of assets to capitalize on– individual, associational, institutional,

economic

Asset Mapping is a helpful technique to identifying and USING a community’s existing resources to cause change.

Questions or Comments?

Holly DeBloisResearch Associate

NH Institute for Health Policy & Practice

103 Pettee HallUniversity of New Hampshire

Durham, NH 03820Ph: (603) 740-1946 Fax (603) 862-4457

Email: holly.deblois@unh.eduEmp. Comm. Website:

www.nhhealthpolicyinstitute.unh.edu/EPC.html

Nicole LaPointeProject Director

Littleton Model Communities Project

North Country Health Consortium646 Union St., Suite 400

Littleton, NH 03561Ph: (603) 444-3996 ext 27

Email: nlapointe@nchin.org