Community and Environment Assessment (EcoScan): Gathering Structural Data
Use this guide to gather the data and information about your client's community necessary to develop a three dimensional lens or "triangle" for understanding your client.
Gather data about the community using websites along with various informants in the agency or neighborhood. You can use government census data, national data for particular populations, and local/community websites around specific areas of interest.
What is the ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic make up of the community and the agency in which you are placed?
What is the fiscal budget for public education in this area? How does it compare to budgets of other areas?
What are the concerns, if any, relative to environmental justice for this community?
If a client has a medical need, where is the closest health center/hospital? Is this health center/hospital accessible? Does it offer culturally and linguistically appropriate services?
If a client has a housing and/or food related need, what services are available and accessible? How far would a client need to travel to access fresh food?
If a client needs to access childcare and/or elder care services, what is available and accessible?
Resources for Government Data & Statistics
Sage DataThis link opens in a new windowA vast collection of statistical data covering U.S. and international topics across multiple disciplines.
Sage Data provides access to billions of datasets from public, private, and nongovernmental sources. Content covers business, economics, sociology, politics, and more. Users can create customized views and visualizations of data. This resource supports quantitative research and data-driven analysis across fields.
Rich Blocks, Poor BlocksRich Blocks Poor Blocks maps income levels and other data for each U.S. county, zip code, and Census tract, which is roughly the size of a neighborhood in most cities. Data comes mainly from the U.S. Census and the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act.
Mapping the 2010 U.S. CensusA New York Times project that allows users to browse population growth and decline, changes in racial and ethnic concentrations and patterns of housing development.
Measure of America (online)Similar to the reference book of the same title, this interactive resource lets you compare the Human Development Index in different parts of the United States.
Explore Census DataFormerly the American FactFinder, data.census.gov is the new platform to access data and digital content from the U.S. Census Bureau
Bureau of Justice StatisticsFind statistics on corrections, courts, victims, types of crime, law enforcement and more. Also includes information on human trafficking.
Bureau of Labor StatisticsThe Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor is the principal Federal agency responsible for measuring labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes in the economy.
Statistical Abstract of the United StatesAvailable through 2011, both in print and online. After 2011 the Abstract will no longer be published, although the data will still be available through the Census and other government organizations
UNESCO Institute for StatisticsGlobal and internationally comparable statistics on education, literacy, science & technology, culture and communication.
STATS: We Check Out the Numbers Behind the NewsThe non-profit, non-partisan Statistical Assessment Service - STATS - works to correct scientific misinformation in the media and in public policy resulting from bad science, politics, or a simple lack of information or knowledge; and to act as a resource for journalists and policy makers on major scientific issues and controversies.
This resource is so useful, you may find yourself reading more and more just for fun! Start with Community Snapshots and then explore the tools, data and other resources.
Find HRSA-supported Health Centers in your community using this tool through the US Dept. of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration.
The MBTA shares real-time vehicle tracking data with developers, so there are many app options for trip planning and bus/train tracking. These may help you get a feel for neighborhood transportation challenges.
SimplyAnalytics has all the data you need to answer key research questions and understand the socio-demographic and economic conditions of Boston and any geographic area in the United States.
