Evaluating the National Outcomes: Community--Policy Development; Introduction

Resource development involves making resources available and usable. It includes two primary issues that are both essential for a community to benefit from resources:

1) Community Resource Expansion: Acquiring the resources that are needed
2) Community Resource Integration: Insuring that resources are accessible, integrated, and used effectively

Both of these aspects of Resource Development will be discussed in this section. Community Resource Integration is also accessible under Process Development as a process level variable.

Community Resource Expansion involves acquiring the resources that a community needs for community programs to function effectively. A community's resources can take on many forms:

Evaluating community resource expansion efforts often involves documenting the before and after resource level and then linking any change to programming efforts.

Community Resource Integration involves insuring that the community's resources are attainable, integrated, and used effectively by the community. For example, a community might have ample financial capital, but if it is not accessible to the groups who need it to develop community programs, it will do little to benefit the community. Likewise, even if the financial resources are accessible to community groups, if these groups do not know how to use them effectively, the resources will do little to benefit the community. Evaluating Community Resource Integration often involves determining whether or not resources are attainable to those who need them and whether they are being used effectively.

	They can be social, such has when people with training or education in a particular area useful to the community have reciprocal relationships within that community
	They can be financial, such as when a community gets a grant to enhance after-school child care options
	They can be environmental, such as when a well functioning climate for collaboration exists within the network of government and non-government organizations
	They can be non-financial, such as when a business donates a building in which community members can hold meetings and plan activities.

Resources in Collaborative Efforts

In the context of communities pursuing the development of community linkages to address issues and problems facing children, youth, and families at risk (CYFAR), resource development refers to the assets that influence the effectiveness of work in a collaborative group. Much of the work associated with collaborative efforts occurs through organized community organizations and agencies. To maximize their potential, these organizations and agencies need to increase the extent to which they develop and utilize their resources/assets in collaborative ways to address CYFAR issues and problems. Because collaboration involves bringing separate organizations into a new structure with full commitment to a common vision, the success of the effort is dependent on the extent to which each partner contributes to the collaborative effort through donating or securing resources. In fact, Kaye and Wolff (1997: 26) state: "How a coalition [a collaborative group] uses its resources is an excellent indication of its commitment to empowerment [collaboration]." As such, resources can be seen as necessary conditions that when sufficiently in place, allow collaborative groups to grow and flourish.

Indicator Areas

The indicator areas for resource development are listed below with examples of both resource expansion and integration under each:

1. Increases in environmental capital: social and organizational context in which the community group exists and functions (Mattessich & Monsey, 1992)
Example of expansion of environmental capital: improving public commitment to achieve the community group's goals (Mattessich & Monsey, 1992)
Example of integration of environmental capital: increased public commitment is used to increase donations of time and money to the group's efforts
For more information: ttp://ag.arizona.edu/sfcs/cyfernet/nowg/rd_litrev.html

1. Increases in financial capital: monetary resources that each organization in the community group contributes to the group's effort (Bergstrom et al., 1995)
Example of expansion of financial capital: fundraisers increase monetary contributions to the community group
Example of integration of financial capital: financial resources are used train and educate group members so they will be more capable of addressing and improving community problems
For more information: ttp://ag.arizona.edu/sfcs/cyfernet/nowg/rd_litrev.html

1. Increases in non-financial capital: in kind resources that each partner in the community group contributes; can also be resources secured from other sources to keep the group effort going (Bergstrom et al., 1995)
Example of expansion of non-financial capital: community group members donate computer equipment to the group
Example of integration of non-financial capital: the computer equipment is used to gain access to community development resources
For more information: ttp://ag.arizona.edu/sfcs/cyfernet/nowg/rd_litrev.html

1. Increases in human capital: investment of people's time, expertise, and energy into the community group's effort.
Example of expansion of human capital: group members participate in training programs
Example of integration of human capital: group members' increased knowledge is used to educate other community members about community problems and possible solutions
For more information: ttp://ag.arizona.edu/sfcs/cyfernet/nowg/rd_litrev.html

1. Increases in social capital: elements of social organization including networks, norms, and social trust that promote coordination and cooperation for the benefit of all (Putman, 1995)
Example of expansion of social capital: a community group increases mutual trust in group members by giving the group members the opportunity to get to know each other
Example of integration of social capital: increased trust is used to encourage participation in the group's efforts
For more information: ttp://ag.arizona.edu/sfcs/cyfernet/nowg/rd_litrev.html