UC Extension Community Needs Assessment

The City of San Francisco and AF Evans are currently working on a contract for San Francisco State University to conduct a Community Needs Assessment for the proposed 55 Laguna development on the site of the former UC Extension. Dr. Erik Rosegard and Dr. Asuncion Suren have been working on the methodology and have developed a draft questionnaire, questions, and a script for the focus groups and community meetings.

Dr.’s Erik Rosegard and Asuncion Suren are professors in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at San Francisco State University. They have over 20 years of experience with assessing, planning, implementing, leading, and evaluating recreation programs and leisure services. Their interest areas and teaching assignments include assessment and evaluation, nonprofit recreation, leisure education, and the social psychology of leisure.

We have invited the professors to make a presentation at our July meeting. According to the professors, the purpose of their presence at any organized community meeting will be limited to introductions, encouraging everyone to attend one of their planned community forums, and to provide a brief overview of the needs inventory process.

The focus groups will consist of three constituents (administrators/facility directors, face-to-face program leaders, and seniors). Individuals representing each group will be selected based on established criteria (e.g., 3-5 years experience, knowledgeable of neighborhood programs/services, located approximately within ½ mile of 55 Laguna Street, etc.). Administrators/Facility directors will include individuals that are responsible for the administration of services, programs, facilities, etc. (e.g., Open House, DCYF, John Muir School, Churches, Recreation and Park Dept.); Program Leaders will include individuals working directly with populations in neighborhood (staff from YMCA, New Leaf); and seniors.

In addition to the above three focus groups, two community forums/meetings will be held to gather information regarding general community perceptions, needs, and barriers. Note that an additional community meeting may be set to address certain populations not represented at the primary community meetings.

Focus Group & Community Meetings Schedule

Meetings are tentatively scheduled and all locations to be advised:

Focus Group 1 (seniors): Wednesday, August 1 from 9-11 am

Focus Group 2 (administrators/facility directors): Tues., August 7, 6-8 pm

Focus Group 3 (program leaders): Wednesday, August 8, 6-8 pm

Community Meeting 1: Tuesday, August 21, 6-8 pm

Community Meeting 2: Saturday, August 25, 10-12 noon

In responding to offers to assist with the process of informing people in the area surrounding the UC Extension site, Dr Rosegard stated, “We look forward to collaborating with you in identifying needed public benefits for your community and how best to provide those identified programs and services.”

Please come to the July meeting for more information on this process. It is important that everyone be fully informed and involved in the process, regardless of point of view.