Juanita M. Firestone, Ph.D.
MRPI Faculty Associate

Issue

Children are an important resource for the future of our community. In order to insure healthy development of children, communities must address the need for helping families provide opportunities for intellectual, social, and moral growth. This process may necessitate evaluating the fit and deficiencies between needs and current programs. This brief provides an assessment of services desired by SanAntonio residents to address specific developmental needs of children.

Data and Methods

A probability survey of 1,223 San Antonio residents was conducted by Metropolitan Research and Policy Institute (MRPI) Faculty Associates (from UTSA) in cooperation with the San Antonio Department of Community Initiatives (DCI) during February and March of 1999. The sample size allowed for precise estimates of citywide public opinion (±3%).

Data from the survey are particularly valuable because they allow meaningful comparisons to be made across geographic quadrants, as well as a comparison of individuals residing in the inner city to those in the suburbs. Respondents were asked to supply demographic information, to report on their perceptions of about various unmet needs in the community, with a strong focus on family/childcare issues, and about different ways of meeting and funding those needs. A weight variable was created using 1990 U.S. Census data for each sex by race and ethnic category to insure appropriate demographic representation.

Discussion

  Figures 1 and 2 reflect respondents statements about desirability of services to help them meet the developmental needs of their children, and the percent of individuals reporting specific unmet needs. Responses depict a high level of desired services and unmet needs in the San Antonio community. Close to 50% of respondents indicated they would like to see more educational programs for children, and about 20% reported a need for more recreational training and for more religious/moral training. Fifteen percent of respondents expressed a desire for career counseling and about 14% indicated a need for more group-based experiences such as Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Over 10% requested more cultural arts training, over 5% desired personal counseling or vocational training.

With respect to unmet needs that would support the positive development of their children, over 8% of respondents reported their children had behavioral problems for which they currently received no help (see Figure 2). An additional 6% reported that their children needed after school programs, which were not provided, and over 5% reported children with learning disabilities for which they were not receiving help. Just fewer than 5% reported that needed recreational activities were unavailable for their children, or that their children had health care needs for which they were unable to obtain services. Slightly over 1% of respondents reported their children experienced either mental health needs or needs created by physical disabilities that were unmet by current service provisions. This profile is similar for individuals whether they lived inside or outside Loop 410.

Members of the San Antonio community express high levels of interest in a variety of programs designed to positively influence the development of children. Additionally a smaller but significant percent of respondents reported various needs currently experienced by their children, which they are unable to meet by accessing current levels of available services.

Information from ten focus groups of delegate agency groups, client groups, neighborhood groups, a Chamber of Commerce groups and a City employees groups extend these survey findings. Most participants, including clients, had no broad-based understanding of the varieties of services provided by the Department of Community Initiatives. Focus group participants suggested that the immense scope of services provided by DCI created two related problems in meeting community needs. One problem mentioned was the high likelihood of duplication of services. Such duplication is not cost efficient and dilutes funds, which could be redirected to meet client needs. In addition, most participants indicated that the wide range of services provided meant that DCI is forced to be reactive rather than proactive in attempting to matching services to community needs. Once programs are in place it becomes difficult to dismantle them thus contributing to program redundancy and inflexibility.

Recommendations

  Survey findings suggest the need for increased support and program realignments Department of Community Initiatives, as well as in other agencies providing services for children. In addition, focus group comments suggest a need to evaluate the effectiveness of current programs and insuring that duplication of services is not diluting the amount of funds available to serve client needs. A consolidation of efforts rather than an expanding of the number of services may provide the best means of meeting community needs. Contracting with public or private service agencies may be one way of creating institutional cooperation and changes in funding based on community needs. In addition to identifying gaps in services and allocating funds, DCI should also monitor service providers to assure timely and cost effective help is given those in need.

Understanding various unmet needs and consolidating services will contribute to optimal levels of healthy development for the children of San Antonio.