Researcher needed for Social Capital Study in Schools by Dec. 30th

[Discussion list for COMM-ORG]

From:     Cheryl Honey, FSN <wecare at familynetwork.org>

We are seeking a researcher immediately to help with study of prevention 
model that increases social capital through family and community 
engagement program called Community Weaving.
 
I've attached the CW Study Proposal and the Service to Science RFP for 
you to pass along [ed:  please contact Cheryl for the RFP]. The 
researcher selected will be compensated for services under the grant 
only after commencement of project in March. All pre-planning will need 
to be donated.
 
Someone familiar with community-based prevention logic models to measure 
impact of CW on 6th & 7th graders to increase social capital.
 
I'm working feverishly to get two/three schools to participate in the CW 
Study which will involve a pre-post survey of youth and parents. 
Researcher doesn't have to live in Seattle area. Must have credentials 
to demonstrate competency to analyze data and write the report. A 
backtround in prevention is ideal.
 
Objective of study is to qualify Community Weaving as "model or 
promising program" on the National Registry of Evaluated Prevention 
Programs (NREPP) list. Federal prevention dollars can only be spend on 
programs from this list. So it is important that CW qualifies for NREPP 
list.  
 
Need someone no later than Friday, December 30th that I can work 
with to detail the specifics of the study that I will describe in the 
application over the weekend.
 
Below is the CW Evaluation design drafted by Jack Pollard, who was 
assigned to work with us through the Service to Science Academy at CASAT 
(Center for Applied Substance Abuse Technologies). Jack provided some 
articles that underpin the logic model. He is not able to continue 
working on this project. I still need help with crafting this logic 
model. Maybe we can work on this over the phone.
 

 

*Community Weaving Evaluation Design:*

 

This evaluation is proposed as a conventional quasi-experimental 
design.  /CW/ will be implemented at the /CW/ school, while measured 
participant outcomes will be collected at both the /CW/ School and the 
Control School. 

 

The essence of this evaluation design issue is to create a comparison 
between /CW/ and a comparison group of individuals who do not have the 
opportunity to participate in /CW/.  The individuals in the comparison 
group should be as equivalent as possible to the /CW/ participant group 
on a number of variables.  These variables include, at a minimum: age, 
gender, ethnicity, family makeup, length of time living in the 
community, family income, and service needs.

 

The evaluation data should be collected over a minimum of six months.  
Increases in social capital, as predicted by /CW/, will not arise over a 
limited time period such as a few days.  The expected increases in 
community involvement and volunteer participation will take time to 
develop.  The six-month timeframe should be considered a minimum for the 
evaluation; a longer time frame of about a year would be desirable.

 

Budget will pay for conducting the study and data analysis, however, 
pre-planning (appx 6 hour)  will need to be donated.
 
Feel free to pass this along to those you know might be interested. I 
can use all the help I can get right now. This study will lead to many 
other studies of the dynamics of Community Weaving. 
 
Cheryl Honey, C.P.P.
Family Support Network, Int'l
206.240.2241
www.familynetwork.org <http://www.familynetwork.org>
www.communityweaving.org <http://www.communityweaving.org>