Executive Summary. Tri-County Needs Assessment Heart of Florida United Way

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1 Finding Jobs Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abuse Education Crime Child care Hunger Poverty Youth Violence Elder care Affordable housing Finding Jobs Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abuse Education Crime Child care Hunger Poverty Youth Substance Abuse Education Finding Jobs Domestic Violence care Affordable housing Finding Jobs Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abuse Education Finding Jobs Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abuse Education Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abuse Education Finding Jobs Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abuse Education Finding Jobs Domestic Violence care Affordable housing Finding Jobs Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abuse Education Finding Jobs Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abuse Education Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abuse Education Finding Jobs Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abuse Education Finding Jobs Domestic Violence care Affordable housing Finding Jobs Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abuse Education Finding Jobs Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abuse Education Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Education Crime Child care HunA Study Abuse of Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties ger Poverty Youth Violence Elder care Affordable housing Finding Jobs Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abuse Education Finding Jobs Domestic Violence care Affordable housing Finding Jobs Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abuse Education Finding Jobs Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abuse Education Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abuse Education Crime Child care Hunger Poverty Youth Substance Abuse Education Crime Child care Hunger Executive Summary 2008 Heart of Florida United Way Tri-County Needs Assessment CI Report Executive Summary.indd 1 7/25/2008 4:19:48 PM

2 Acknowledgements Heart of Florida United Way thanks the following individuals who have shown their commitment to the Central Florida community by contributing countless hours, expertise and resources to the development of the 2008 Heart of Florida United Way Tri-County Needs Assessment: Heart of Florida United Way Community Impact Steering Committee Mark Brewer President/CEO, Community Foundation of Central Florida Robert H. (Bob) Brown President/CEO, Heart of Florida United Way A. Stoddard Crane Vice President of Corporate Growth and Acquisitions, Darden Restaurants (Retired) Stephanie Howell Client Development and Marketing, Baker and Hostetler, LLP Margaret S. Linnane Executive Director, Rollins College, Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership Center Jacob Stuart President, Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce and President/CEO, Central Florida Partnership Donna Templin Manager, Basics: Cast Services Support, Walt Disney Company (Retired) Ed Timberlake, Chair of Steering Committee Chairman, Central Florida Board, Seaside National Bank & Trust Heart of Florida United Way Community Impact Research Committee Mark Brewer President/CEO, Community Foundation of Central Florida Robert H. (Bob) Brown President/CEO, Heart of Florida United Way Karen van Caulil, Ph.D. Executive Director, Health Council of East Central Florida, Inc. Joan Nelson Community Impact Vice President, Heart of Florida United Way Donna Sines Executive Director, Osceola Community Vision Sara Sullivan Evaluation Consultant University of Central Florida Institute for Social and Behavioral Sciences Amy Donley, Ph.D. Project Manager, Institute for Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of Central Florida Jana L. Jasinski, Ph.D. Graduate Director, Department of Sociology, University of Central Florida James D. Wright, Ph.D. Director, Institute for Social and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Sociology, University of Central Florida 1 The collection of the secondary data for this project was funded in part by the Heart of Florida United Way Community Impact Performance Measurement Framework grant from the Winter Park Community Foundation funds of the Community Foundation of Central Florida, Inc. CI Report Executive Summary.indd 2 7/25/2008 4:19:49 PM

3 Introduction For nearly 70 years, Heart of Florida United Way (HFUW) has supported health and human service programs that have helped millions of Central Floridians lead healthier, more productive lives. Despite the remarkable work of United Way and its agency partners and the generosity of our community problems in Central Florida have continued to grow and compound. This has led United Way to introduce Community Impact, a strategic model that focuses on identifying root causes and creating lasting solutions to some of our region s most critical problems. In 2006, the HFUW Board of Directors approved the move to Community Impact and formed a steering committee to study the issues and guide the implementation process. Comprised of some of the region s most visionary leaders and chaired by Ed Timberlake, Chairman of the Central Florida Board for Seaside National Bank & Trust, the committee has carefully examined research from our own region and studied best practices from other cities where Community Impact has been successfully implemented. From the outset, the top priorities were to make the process transparent and gather feedback from as many citizens as possible. To help determine what priority issues HFUW and its partners will address, United Way contracted with the University of Central Florida (UCF) Institute for Social and Behavioral Sciences to conduct a community needs assessment. Addressing complex community problems calls for new strategies that get to the root causes... The study the most comprehensive research United Way has undertaken in a decade surveyed more than 3,000 tri-county residents who shared their viewpoints regarding the region s most pressing problems. During the nine-month assessment, researchers gathered data from every diverse segment of our community via focus groups, public forums, community events, and Internet and random telephone surveys. This report, which sheds fresh light on Central Floridians top community concerns, is the culmination of that research. Research Highlights Several consistent themes emerged across all survey methodologies: Central Floridians are concerned about financial issues, particularly as they relate to employment, financial stability, affordable health care and affordable housing Tri-County Needs Assessment 1997 Tri-County Needs Assessment 1. Crime and Unsafe Neighborhoods 1. Substance Abuse 2. Affordable Health Care 2. Crime 3. Youth Violence 3. Abuse and Neglect 4. Drug and Alcohol Abuse 4. Family Stress 5. Jobs that Pay a Living Wage 5. Physical Health 6. Affordable Housing 6. Education 7. High School Dropout Rates 7. Transportation 8. Family and Domestic Violence 8. Employment 9. Hunger and Homelessness 9. Mental Health 10. Affordable Child Care 10. Care for Older Adults Findings of the 2008 Tri-County Needs Assessment indicate that the community s top concerns have changed little over the past decade. The 2008 rankings are based on results of a random telephone survey, which is a statistically accurate representation of residents in the tri-county area. They are also concerned about public safety, namely crime particularly youth crime and unsafe neighborhoods. Education issues, such as high-school graduation rates and preparing children for school ranked as a primary concern, as did providing adequate and accessible care for our most vulnerable populations, including senior citizens, the hungry and the homeless. It is worth noting that these concerns were generally consistent with findings of a similar HFUW study, which was conducted in 1997 to identify strengths and needs in the human services sector. At that time, substance abuse, crime, education, abuse and neglect, family stress, physical health and transportation ranked as Central Floridians top concerns. With many, if not all, of these concerns still top of mind today, questions arise as to why so little has changed in 10 years. In fact, despite years of hard work, fundraising and solid programs, many problems have continued to grow. Questions arise as to why so little has changed in 10 years. Despite years of hard work, fundraising and solid programs, many problems have continued to grow. 2 CI Report Executive Summary.indd 3 7/25/2008 4:19:49 PM

4 2008 Needs Assessment Process These areas were used in all of the major collection methods that follow: Telephone Survey A random telephone survey of 679 households in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties was conducted in fall 2007 by the UCF Survey Research Lab. The survey was directed by Dr. James D. Wright, Dr. Jana L. Jasinski and Dr. Amy Donley, all with the UCF Institute of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Respondents were asked to rank each of the 26 issues from not serious (one) to very serious (four). Average scores for the 26 problem areas or needs ranged from 3.68 to 2.85, with virtually everything on the list considered very to somewhat serious by citizens of the region. The top 10 concerns identified by the telephone respondents: Crime and Unsafe Neighborhoods Affordable Health Care Youth Violence Drug and Alcohol Abuse Jobs that Pay a Living Wage Affordable Housing High School Dropout Rates Family and Domestic Violence Hunger and Homelessness Affordable Child Care The goal of the 2008 Tri-County Needs Assessment was to engage all sectors of the community to identify the region s most pressing problems. In turn, this information would be used to help HFUW focus resources to address root causes of problems in order to implement strategic long-term solutions. The University of Central Florida s Institute for Social and Behavioral Sciences and a Research Committee comprised of local community research experts determined the assessment plan and tools. During the nine-month field period, data was collected from more than 3,000 tri-county residents. The following methodologies were employed: Review of existing Central Florida studies conducted from 2003 through 2006 Random telephone survey of the tri-county area Internet survey Focus groups Community event and Community Leader Forum surveys Compilation of secondary indicator data A Review of Existing Research Since a significant body of recent local research already existed, 15 community assessments released between 2003 and 2006 were reviewed. With the guidance and support from the Research Committee, 26 areas of concern were identified. Given the recent spike in crime rates and the ensuing publicity, it is not surprising that crime and unsafe neighborhoods tops the list, with youth violence ranked third, drug and alcohol abuse fourth, and family and domestic violence ranked eighth. Close behind are financial issues: affordable health care (second), finding jobs that pay a living wage (fifth), affordable housing (sixth) and affordable child care (10th). In the same category of concern we would also include hunger and homelessness (ninth), having sufficient services for the homeless (11th), and poverty (13th). Open-ended questions show largely the same pattern, namely that crime, violence and public safety were the top concerns of Central Floridians when the phone survey was conducted. Internet Survey This assessment, adapted from questions contained in the telephone survey and implemented through Zoomerang, an online tool, was completed by 1,434 people during fall 2007 through spring The pattern of the Internet research results is entirely consistent with those of the telephone survey and thus provides further evidence that wages, crime, affordable 3 CI Report Executive Summary.indd 4 7/25/2008 4:19:52 PM

5 health care, affordable housing and education are among Central Florida residents most important issues: Internet respondents identified the following as the most important problems facing them and their families: 1. Jobs that Pay a Living Wage 2. Crime and Unsafe Neighborhoods 3. Affordable Health Care 4. Affordable Housing 5. Quality Education 6. Poor Public Transportation 7. Finding Social Services Families Need 8. Finding Affordable Child Care 9. Hunger/Food researchers attending the Blue Print Job Fair, held in central Orange County s Parramore neighborhood. More than 300 participants completed surveys at the events. Participants were asked to rank a list of eight issues all Central Florida communities face. The top two most important issues were employment and crime, followed by health care and economic development virtually the same concerns voiced by other residents. Community Leader Forums HFUW conducted four Community Leader Forums throughout Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties, which were attended by nearly 400 civic leaders, business representatives, government officials, agency professionals and other stakeholders. When Internet respondents were asked, Thinking not just about you and your family but about the Central Florida region as a whole, what would you say is the single biggest problem we face in this region?, the most-often cited issues were crime, poverty, the economy and affordable housing. The forums presented preliminary findings from the needs assessment study. Attendees were also asked to complete a one-page survey and rank the seriousness of the top 12 issues, as had been identified in the telephone survey. The top four issues identified by forum participants included: Focus Groups Seminole County Forum May 29, 2008 Jobs that pay a living wage Crime and unsafe neighborhoods Affordable housing Affordable health care Thirty-three focus groups were conducted throughout the tri-county region. The 265 participants, ranging in age from 19 to 90, included local citizens, nonprofit agency staff, agency clients, business leaders and members of local civic organizations. They were asked, among other things, to identify the most pressing community needs. By completion of the 12th focus session, clear patterns were evident. The most frequent responses included: affordable housing; access to health care; crime specifically youth crime; issues related to children and youth; issues related to seniors; and hunger and homelessness. Nearly every group voiced concerns about the area s economy. Wages relative to the cost of living is clearly a major concern. Community Events To ensure balanced survey participation across all diverse population segments, researchers gathered opinions at several community events. A brief, one-page survey was distributed in English and Spanish at the Festival de la Familia in Osceola County and the Hispanic Women s Health Summit in east Orange County. Data from urban residents was collected by East Orange County Forum May 31, 2008 Jobs that pay a living wage Affordable health care Affordable housing Poverty Central Orange County Forum June 5, 2008 Jobs that pay a living wage Crime and unsafe neighborhoods Affordable housing Affordable health care Osceola County Forum June 12, 2008 Jobs that pay a living wage Affordable health care Affordable housing Hunger and homelessness 4 CI Report Executive Summary.indd 5 7/25/2008 4:20:01 PM

6 Summary R esearch highlighted in the 2008 Tri-County Needs Assessment represents public opinion, which prompts the question: Does the community s perception of problems match reality? Research strongly suggests it does. For every major concern identified by respondents, secondary data from other studies and sources validates that the problems are real and in many cases growing. Crime Rates Rise For example, crime, youth violence and substance abuse are among survey respondents top concerns. In fact, serious crime did rise in Central Florida between 2002 and 2006, according to Florida Department of Law Enforcement data. Arrests for robbery, drugs and narcotics offenses, and weapons violations rose in all three counties. In Orange County, murder rose by 68 percent; in Osceola County, aggravated assault increased by 19 percent; and in Seminole County, motor vehicle theft spiked 63 percent. Total juvenile arrests rose by 20 percent during the same time period. [1] Uninsured Forgo Medical Care Affordable health care also consistently appeared as a top concern. Another 2008 report, Poverty in Central Florida: Work, Wages and Well-being Among the Region s Low and Moderate Income Families found that many Central Floridians, particularly low-income individuals, lack health insurance or have delayed medical care due to costs. [2] The study found that 32 percent of low income families, 10 percent of middle income families and less than 4 percent of upper income families have no health insurance coverage. As a consequence, 28 percent of low income families, and even 12 percent of middle income families and 2 percent of upper income families, indicated they needed health care during the past year, but they delayed treatment or did not receive it because they could not afford it. [3] Housing Expense a Bigger Burden Similarly, the 2008 Tri-County Needs Assessment revealed that affordable housing, hunger and homelessness are also major concerns among local residents. The Poverty in Central Florida report shows that the cost of housing is, in fact, burdensome for many in our area. More than half of lowincome households are paying more than 50 percent of their monthly income on housing costs. [4] Additionally, a 2008 report on homelessness revealed there are almost 8,500 homeless people in Central Florida, and children make up 24 percent of those served by the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. Furthermore, calls to the United Way & Elder Helpline showed a double-digit increase in the first six months of 2008, compared to the same period in In April 2008, calls peaked at 60.3 percent higher than April [5] Conclusion While perceptions reflected in the 2008 needs assessment are based on personal opinion, well-documented secondary data included at the end of this report underscores the validity of respondents primary concerns. Outward signs of our community s progress and success are plainly evident in many high-profile projects such as the Burnham Institute for Medical Research and the UCF College of Medicine, which will help diversify our economy and have a positive impact on our region for years to come. Unfortunately, not all Central Floridians are sharing in this prosperity. We know that despite the tremendous work of our United Way partner agencies, strong leadership within the nonprofit sector and the generosity of thousands of donors, the social challenges facing our community continue to grow. The issues identified by this study are strikingly similar to those identified by area residents a decade ago. New solutions are clearly needed. 5 CI Report Executive Summary.indd 6 7/25/2008 4:20:05 PM

7 Next Steps Realizing that current systems and programs for addressing complex social issues are not enough, HFUW is introducing Community Impact, which provides a new framework for community solutions. This shift to Community Impact does not suggest HFUW and local nonprofit agencies have not been providing critical and effective services. We have. It s simply not enough. New strategies and long-term solutions are needed. As Central Florida s population continues to grow, it s more important than ever to focus limited resources in the most effective, strategic manner to create the greatest impact and lasting change. HFUW and its partners are about to undertake some of the most important work ever in addressing the region s most critical social challenges. Following that, volunteer cabinets comprised of issue experts, community leaders and others will undertake the critical work of choosing strategies and best practices that can have the greatest impact on selected issues. The cabinets will also design metrics for measuring our success. HFUW will regularly measure results and report our progress back to the community. We believe United Way and its partners are about to undertake some of the most important work ever in addressing the region s most critical social challenges. As the latest community needs research shows, new strategies, collaborations and solutions are needed now more than ever. Community Impact is a call to collective, focused action that holds tremendous potential for improving lives throughout Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties for generations to come. Research shows it s much more cost effective and clearly more humane to address the root causes of complex community problems rather than deal with consequences after they occur. Keeping someone from losing their apartment in the first place is much more effective than providing services after they become homeless. It s smart economically and is the right thing to do for people. Community Impact calls for HFUW to continue partnering with local agencies, but also to begin collaborating more extensively with other groups and non-traditional stakeholders in the tri-county area. We will continue raising and distributing funds but will also act as convener, collaborator, partner and, when necessary, leader. By focusing on select issues, we will also be able to seek targeted grants and leverage other local, state and national resources. In the near term, the Community Impact Steering Committee will present its recommendations to the HFUW Board of Directors, which will vote to select three to five priority issues that will shape Community Impact s focus for the next five to 10 years. 1 Arrest Totals and Index Arrests by County 2002 and 2006, Florida Department of Law Enforcement. 2 Low, middle and high income categories take household size into account. For a four-person household, the low income category is less than $30,000 per year, the middle income is between $30,000 - $70,000, and high income is $70,000 and above. 3 James D. Wright, Ph.D. and Jana L. Jasinski, Ph.D., Poverty in Central Florida: Work, Wages and Well-being Among the Region s Low and Moderate Income Families, Institute for Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of Central Florida Department of Sociology, Spring Wright and Jasinski, Poverty in Central Florida. 5 Homeless Services Network of Central Florida (HSN) 2008 Point-in-Time Count Study, Report to the Regional Commission on Homelessness. United Way & Elder Helpline call center data. 6 CI Report Executive Summary.indd 7 7/25/2008 4:20:05 PM

8 Finding Jobs Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abuse Education Crime Child care Hunger Poverty Youth Violence Elder care Affordable housing Finding Jobs Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abuse Education Crime Child care Hunger Poverty Youth Violence Elder care Affordable housing Finding Jobs Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abuse Education Crime Child care Hunger Pov erty Youth Violence Elder care Affordable housing Finding Jobs Domestic Violence care Affordable housing Finding Jobs Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abus Education Crime Child care Hunger Poverty Youth Violence Elder care Affordable housing Finding Jobs Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abuse Education Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abuse Education Crime Child care Hunger Poverty Youth Violence Elder care Affordable housing Finding Jobs Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abuse Education Crime Child care Hunger Poverty Youth Violence Elder care Affordable housing Finding Jobs Domestic Violence care Affordable housing Finding Jobs Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abus Education Crime Child care Hunger Poverty Youth Violence Elder care Affordable housing Finding Jobs Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abuse Education Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abuse Education Crime Child care Hunger Poverty Youth Violence Elder care Affordable housing Finding Jobs Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abuse Education Crime Child care Hunger Poverty Youth Violence Elder care Affordable housing Finding Jobs Domestic Violence care Affordable housing Finding Jobs Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abus Education Crime Child care Hunger Poverty Youth Violence Elder care Affordable housing Finding Jobs Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abuse Education Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abuse Education Crime Child care Hunger Poverty Youth Violence Elder care Affordable housing Finding Jobs Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abuse Education Crime Child care Hunger Poverty Youth Violence Elder care Affordable housing Finding Jobs Domestic Violence care Affordable housing Finding Jobs Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abus Education Crime Child care Hunger Poverty Youth Violence Elder care Affordable housing Finding Jobs Domestic GIVE. ADVOCATE. Violence VOLUNTEER. Homelessness LIVE UNITED Substance Abuse Education 1940 Traylor Blvd. Orlando, FL Finding Jobs Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abuse Education Crime Child Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abuse Education Crime Child care Hunge Poverty Youth Violence Elder care Affordable housing Finding Jobs Domestic Violence Homelessness Substance Abuse Education Crime Child care Hunger CI Report Executive Summary.indd 8 7/25/2008 4:20:05 PM