Turning the Tide on Poverty Survey Questionnaire

1

Thank you for taking part in the Turning the Tide on Poverty program in your community. We would like to ask you to share your thoughts about the initiative.

Did you complete the questionnaire that study circle 1. participants were asked to complete at the very beginning of the Turning the Tide on Poverty project? Please check your response.___ Yes ___ No

Which of the following Turning the Tide on Poverty 2. sessions were you able to attend? Please place a checkmark by each session you took part in.

Volunteer Facilitator Training___ Community Kick Off Event___ Session 1___ Session 2___ Session 3___ Session 4___ Session 5___ Action Forum___

Are you aware of some of the activities that local resi-3. dents selected as a result of the Action Forum? ___ Yes ___ No ___ Not Sure

IF YES, did you volunteer to help out with any of these activities?

Yes (which projects/activities)?___ _________________________________

No___

IF YES, is this your first time to volunteer to help with a community activity?___ Yes ___ No

As a result of participating in the Turning the Tide on 4. Poverty initiative:

Has your view of your community changed? a. ___ Yes ___ No (continue to b)

IF YES, in what way(s) did it change?

Do you feel more confident to address issues in b. your community?___ Yes ___ No

Please indicate why you responded “yes” or “no”:

Have your views about the role of Cooperative c. Extension Service in your community changed?___ Yes ___ No

Please tell us why you responded in this way.

Would you recommend that other communities go d. through a similar Study Circles process? ___ Yes ___ No

Please explain:

Now, PLEASE turn to the next page so that you can complete the remainder of the survey.

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We want to thank you for being an important part of the Turning the Tide on Poverty initiative in your I. community. We are interested in learning more about the current and past involvement of our participants in local community activities. Please share your thoughts on the following:

In general, how would you describe your level of involvement in community activities? Please circle the number on the a. scale below that best matches your level of involvement.

Not Active Somewhat Active Very Active

1 2 3 4 5

How many local groups or organizations have you been a member of over the past three years?b. _____ Number of local groups (if none, please write “0”).

In how many of these groups/organizations have you played a leadership role in at any time over the past three years c. (for example, president/chair, vice-president/vice-chair, secretary, treasurer, program coordinator, etc.)? _____ Number of groups playing leadership roles (If none, please write “0”)

On average, how many hours a month do you spend in organized activities with other members of your community? d. _____ Average Hours Per Month (If none, please write “0”)

On average over the past 12 months have you participated in the following types of organizations or inter-II. acted with these groups in your community?

Type of Community Activities(Please circle the number that best matches your answer. )

NeverFew

Times A Year

Once A Month

A Few Times A Month

At Least Once A Week

Community Civic & Service Organizationsa. (such as Kiwanis, Lions, United Way, American Red Cross, etc.)

1 2 3 4 5

Faith-Based Organizationsb. (such as Church, synagogue, other organizations)

1 2 3 4 5

Social or Recreational Organizationsc. (such as hobby clubs, athletic boosters, recreational clubs, sports leagues, etc.)

1 2 3 4 5

Educational & Youth Organizationsd. (such as school parent/teacher association, 4H Club, Boys & Girls Club, Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts)

1 2 3 4 5

Patriotic & Fraternal Organizationse. (such as American Legion, Elks, Masons, Veterans Association, Shriners, Daughters of Ameri-can Revolution, etc.)

1 2 3 4 5

Other f. ____________________________ 1 2 3 4 5

How often do you interact with the following.III.

Family membersa. (immediate and extended) 1 2 3 4 5

Friendsb. 1 2 3 4 5

Co-workers outside of the workplacec. 1 2 3 4 5

Neighborsd. 1 2 3 4 5

Question: One

2 32

How important is it for you to stay on top of public affairs such as community news, events, activities, and I. plans going on in this community? Circle the number below that best represents your answer.

Not Important Somewhat Important Very Important

1 2 3 4 5

How often do you use the following sources to get information on important issues or activities in your II. community? Please circle the number below that best represents your answer.

Sources of Information Never SeldomSome-times

Often Always

Local television stations (regional or state based station)a. 1 2 3 4 5

Newspaper or magazinesb. 1 2 3 4 5

Radioc. 1 2 3 4 5

Internet or World Wide Web sitesd. 1 2 3 4 5

Social Networking Web sites (Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc.)e. 1 2 3 4 5

Newsletters from local organizationsf. 1 2 3 4 5

From a friend or through word of mouthg. 1 2 3 4 5

Presentations or lectures by expertsh. 1 2 3 4 5

Brochure, flyers, or fact sheetsi. 1 2 3 4 5

Cooperative Extension agentsj. 1 2 3 4 5

Local Government Officialsk. 1 2 3 4 5

Other (please list):1 __________________________________________________l.

2 __________________________________________________m.

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

5

5

Can you connect to the Internet or World Wide Web? Please check all that apply.III.

Yes, Broadband/High-Speed Yes, Dial up No, cannot connect here

Home ___ ___ ___

Work ___ ___ ___

School ___ ___ ___

Other (please list)1 _____________________________

2 _____________________________

___

___

___

___

___

___

Question: Two

2 3

Please indicate the number of times you have been involved in the following activities in your commu-I. nity over the past 12 months. Please circle the number that best represents your answer.

Number of times in the past twelve months you have None Once TwiceThree Times

Four Times

Five or More Times

Attended a political meeting or rally. a. 0 1 2 3 4 5

Attended any public meeting in which there was discussion of b. community or school affairs.

0 1 2 3 4 5

Spoken out in a public meeting on a community or neighborhood c. issue of concern to you.

0 1 2 3 4 5

Served on some type of a local council or board. d. 0 1 2 3 4 5

Taken part in letter writing to local or state officials.e. 0 1 2 3 4 5

Contacted a government official about a local issue.f. 0 1 2 3 4 5

Voted in a local election.g. 0 1 2 3 4 5

Worked on a community or neighborhood project.h. 0 1 2 3 4 5

Worked actively for the election of a political candidate.i. 0 1 2 3 4 5

Volunteered in your community (any unpaid work you’ve done to j. help people besides your family, friends or co-workers).

0 1 2 3 4 5

Been elected or appointed to a local government position or k. committee.

0 1 2 3 4 5

Tried to get your local government to pay attention to something l. that concerned you.

0 1 2 3 4 5

Joined together with others in your community to address an m. issue.

0 1 2 3 4 5

Helped bring an issue or project to the attention of your commu-n. nity, neighborhood, or local government.

0 1 2 3 4 5

Helped investigate a community issue or project (for example, o. gathered facts about the issue; tried to find out what people felt about the issue/project; asked other people to help work on the issue or project).

0 1 2 3 4 5

Helped decide what to do about a community issue or project.p. 0 1 2 3 4 5

Worked on putting a plan of action together to address a com-q. munity issue.

0 1 2 3 4 5

Helped carry out activities to get a community project off the r. ground and completed, or to get a local issue settled.

0 1 2 3 4 5

Question: Three

4 5

Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statements about your commu-I. nity (that is, the town or city that you now live in).

Opinions about YOUR Community Strongly Disagree

DisagreeNot Sure

AgreeStrongly

Agree

I can trust local government to do what is right.a. 1 2 3 4 5

People running my community really care what happens to me.b. 1 2 3 4 5

My community is a good place to live.c. 1 2 3 4 5

There are people in this community that I can ask for help when d. I need it.

1 2 3 4 5

Local residents are very open to having people from different e. races and cultures living in our community.

1 2 3 4 5

Many local residents are trying to make this a good place to live.f. 1 2 3 4 5

People like me have little impact on important community deci-g. sions.

1 2 3 4 5

People pretty much trust one another in my community.h. 1 2 3 4 5

If someone moves here, they’re treated like an outsider.i. 1 2 3 4 5

A lot of people in this community only care about themselves.j. 1 2 3 4 5

People often work together to solve community problems.k. 1 2 3 4 5

Our community hosts annual events or celebrations that help l. bring local residents together.

1 2 3 4 5

Local organizations often work together on projects that benefit m. our community.

1 2 3 4 5

Our community is very open to diverse viewpoints at community n. forums and meetings.

1 2 3 4 5

Local officials actively seek input from a variety of community o. residents, groups, and businesses when it comes to important local issues and priorities.

1 2 3 4 5

Current leaders in our community encourage others here to p. become leaders.

1 2 3 4 5

The people running my community don’t welcome the views of q. people like me on important local issues

1 2 3 4 5

Our community cannot solve its own problems without help r. from outside the community.

1 2 3 4 5

Local residents want to take an active role in addressing impor-s. tant issues in their communities.

1 2 3 4 5

It is important to me to feel a part of my community.t. 1 2 3 4 5

This community can do something effective about its community u. problems.

1 2 3 4 5

Question: Four

4 5

We would like to ask for your opinions about the Cooperative Extension Service office in your county/I. parish.

Have you heard of the local Cooperative Extension Service?a. Yes___ No___ Not Sure___

How familiar are you with the programs and activities of local Cooperative Extension Service agents/educators?b. Very Familiar___ Somewhat Familiar___ Not at all familiar___

Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statements about Extension. II.

Choose your level of agreement with the following statements about Extension:

Strongly Disagree

DisagreeNot Sure

AgreeStrongly

Agree

County/Parish Extension agents/educators should provide high a. quality, unbiased information on tough community issues to lo-cal residents, leaders, and organizations.

1 2 3 4 5

County/Parish Extension agents/educators should work to im-b. prove the ability of local residents to discuss and take action on tough local issues.

1 2 3 4 5

County/Parish Extension agents/educators should remained c. focused on traditional Extension programs (such as agriculture, 4-H youth development, and families), and less on helping local residents tackle difficult community issues through study circles or other civic engagement activities.

1 2 3 4 5

County/Parish Extension agents/educators should take a leader-d. ship role in helping communities deal with difficult issues.

1 2 3 4 5

Which one of the following best represents the way important decisions are now made in your community I. (town or city) right now? Place an X by the statement below that best represents your answer.

Most decisions are made by a small handful of powerful people in the community ___ Decisions are pretty much left to local government officials to make___ People and groups do have influence, but only on very specific set issues that are directly impacting them (such as ___ decisions on land use, school financing issues, property taxes, etc.) A large number of local people and organizations are actively involved in deciding most of the important decisions ___ being made in the community

Question: Six

Question: Five

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We would like to ask you a few questions about yourself. These questions are intended to help us get a better understanding of the variety of people taking part in this survey.

How long have you been living in your community? a. _____YEARS

Do you live inside the city limits? b. ___ Yes ___ No

If NO, about how far do you live from the city limits? ____ MILES

What year were you born? 19____c.

Are you? d. ___ Male ___ Female

What is the highest level of education that you have e. completed?

Less than high school diploma/GED___ Completed high school/GED___ Some college or post high school training___ Completed an associates/2 year degree___ Completed a college/4 year degree___ Completed graduate or professional training ___ beyond a bachelor’s degree

What is your employment status?f. Employed full-time (35 hours a week or more)___ Employed part-time (less than 35 hours per ___ week)Unemployed___ Full-time homemaker___ Retired___ Student___

IF EMPLOYED, do you work in your community or county/parish?

YES, I live and work in the same community/___ county/parish NO, I work outside my county/parish of resi-___ dence

Do you own your own business? g. ___ Yes ___ No

What is your marital status?h. Single, never married___ Married___ Divorced or Separated___ Widowed___

How many people, counting yourself, live in your i. household? ______ People.

Do you own your home?j. ___ Yes ___ No

What is your racial/ ethnic background?k. African American___ White/Caucasian___ Native American___ Hispanic or Latino___ Asian___ Other (please list: ____________________)___

Are you of Hispanic/Latino background?l. ___ Yes ___ No

Does this community have any community leadership m. training programs?___ Yes ___ No

IF YES, please answer the following two questions:

Have you participated in any of these programs? ___ Yes ___ NoDo you see any effects of these programs in the com-munity? ___ Yes ___ No

Please indicate your total annual household income n. from all sources before taxes.

Under $25,000___ $25,000 - 49,999___ $50,000 - 74,999___ $75,000 - 99,999___ $100,000 or more___

Question: Seven

Thank you so much for your valuable assistance.