The Dynamics of Change in Asset-Building Communities: Case Studies
Funder: Lutheran Brotherhood, now Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, McKnight Foundation, and Kansas Health Foundation
Purpose: This project is a series of case studies designed to examine community initiatives promoting healthy development for children and youth. Data are being collected via meetings with community initiative staff, focus groups with initiative stakeholders, and an illustrative event, which is seen as symbolically representing the community effort. Data are analyzed using NVivo software for qualitative analysis. The intent is to build an understanding of why initiatives are created, what action they are taking, how the change process plays out over time, and what successes and challenges initiatives experience as they promote asset building.
Status: Site visits and data collection for the first wave of case studies (conducted in Portland, Oregon; Orlando, Florida; Traverse City, Michigan; and Moorhead, Minnesota) have been completed. A second wave of case studies is currently underway in Lawton, Oklahoma; Dayton, Nevada; St. Louis Park, Minnesota; and McPherson, Kansas.
Duration: 2000–2002
Findings: A report detailing the findings from the first four case study sites is available for download (PDF): Report text: pages 1–8 and 20–154; Color illustrations: pages 9–19 (these may take a moment to download).
