Where We’ve Been
Over the past few years there has been growing awareness of the need to integrate community indicators and performance measurement efforts at the community level to better assess the position and progress of our community’s well-being and to better engage citizens and other key stakeholders in the development and use of community indicators and performance measures by governmental and non-profit organizations.
Community-level indicators are measures that refer to population groups rather than individuals; they indicate – i.e., demonstrate – what’s happening at the community level, rather than at the individual level. Indicators can range from very specific and focused to more subtle and indirect data sets. All community-level indicators have some things in common across all sponsor/partner organizations. Such indicators can be useful in community assessments for different purposes. An assessment to identify community issues and problems, for instance, might rely on indicators such as the incidence of a specific disease or medical condition, either in the community at large, or in a particular social, ethnic, or geographic group.
In 2008, Chatham County, the City of Savannah, and United Way of the Coastal Empire entered into an agreement with Armstrong Atlantic State University, Research Center to define local indicators of interest, conduct a feasibility study to locate specific data, and to develop an annual Savannah-Chatham Community Indicators report, inclusive of local surveying. These efforts were untaken to identify significant issues of importance to community stakeholders, monitor the current state of progress on priority areas of public policy. In 2012 the group expanded group to more than 15 sponsors and partners representing government, non-profit, public education, post-secondary education, hospitals and other
collaborative groups.
Thanks to support from Healthcare Georgia Foundation in 2013, the coalition contracted with Healthy Communities Institute (HCI) which provides access to a web-based, customizable information system to conduct community needs assessment and improve community health. This system includes county and selected sub-county level data as compared to state and national data that range from infant death rate to access for healthy foods. The site also provides access to best practice, evidence-based models along with funding resources. With more than 120 community level indicators, the group decided to host neighborhood forums in late 2013 to gather feedback and reaction from residents to the data; affirm or
deny the issues of concern.
The Coalition hosted sixteen (16) neighborhood forums between September and October of 2013 through local trained-volunteers called Community Facilitators. Meanwhile the group learned of a previously developed reports: “Blueprint for Action…Savannah-Chatham Vision 20/20”. This report outlined concerns of the community and called upon the community leaders to action in January 1992. Upon further review, we learned that the outline provided qualitative data regarding community needs and gaps but was missing quantitative data. Much of Blueprint for Action…Vision 20/20 information was
incorporated and used during the neighborhood forums for comparison purposes along with data
collected by HCI and available through the website.
A Community Summit was held in March 2014 where the Coalition presented pertinent data gathered during recent neighborhood forums, discussed concerns shared by local citizens, and engaged individuals in developing a shared agenda to improve community well-being. Coalition members were excited for the opportunity to compare statistics to personal stories and gather feedback from the community in an effort to provide a foundation for a better future for all citizens of Chatham County. As a result of the Summit, the Coalition was invited to submit proposal to Chatham County Board of Commissioners for the purpose of creating a community-wide, long-range strategic plan using data and community input. In
fall of 2014, Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition became incorporated as a stand-alone non-profit entity.
Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition, Inc. (CGIC) is a group of community members and advocates working together for comprehensive, coordinated approach for planning and accountability. The goal CGIC is to improve community well-being by engaging and leading the community to work collectively in its development of strategic priorities that guide policy, programs and resource allocation. CGIC was awarded the contract with Chatham County to develop a community-wide plan known as: Chatham Community Blueprint. One major intent of the Blueprint was to incorporate other planning processes
and documents begin managed and developed by various partner organization but more importantly should provide residents with an opportunity to be engaged and have a voice for the future of their community.
Neighborhood forums, community conservations, focus group meetings and a public opinion survey were completed in 2015. Despite the intense efforts of CGIC, the group ran into a very common planning problem in 2013 – lack of public participation. In order to increase visibility and broaden community engagement the CGIC Outreach, Marketing committee worked with local public relations firm to establish on-going community and creation of the CGIC logo for recognition. During this same timeframe, CGIC implemented a monthly electronic newsletter. An array of community participation opportunities were provided to include: eight (8) neighborhood forums that aligned with Chatham County commission districts, seven (7) different focus group conversations, four (4) conversation with specific populations, and three community-wide forums. There were more than 400 Chatham County residents along with individuals representative of the metropolitan service area (MSA) to include Bryan and Effingham counties, were engaged in the dialog and more than 1900 surveys were completed.
CGIC contracted with Jacksonville Community Council, Inc. (JCCI) to compile data, citizen input and create vision statements and goals for each of the four priority areas: Economy, Education, Health and Quality of Life. In addition, specific community level indicators were selected to serve as key measurements of community success for improved well-being. For each area, the committees identified strategies, refined activities and made recommendations for the Chatham County Commission and other planning board to consider. The Chatham Community Blueprint – historical information, results of the meetings and survey along with recommendations- was presented to the Board of Commissioners in December 2015.
Learn more about Where We Are and Where We're Going.