Community Outreach and Development Projects
Regional development often requires some form of community outreach and development. Maximum success in regional planning is often facilitated by public participatory approaches. SSSRC currently assists with these:
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Northlake Homeless Coalition and Northlake HMIS Data Project
The Northlake Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) Data Project assists a network local non-profit organizations and governmental agencies with recording and reporting on the characteristics and service needs of homeless persons within the parishes of Livingston, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington. The project, with a revolving grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, guides the collection and maintenance of an array of data on homelessness, including unduplicated counts and use of services. Data gathered through this ongoing effort is utilized by the Northlake Homeless Coalition to assess the effectiveness of the local housing assistance system and inform decisions about reducing homelessness in Louisiana’s Northshore region.
Recent Reports on Homelessness:
Highlights of 2009 Homeless Census RegIX
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Hammond Weed and Seed Program
Weed and Seed is a nationwide initiative started in 1991 by the United States Department of Justice to improve the quality of life in high crime areas. It seeks to "weed" out violent crime, drug trafficking, prositution, and drug use in targeted high crime areas. It also "seeds" the area by restoring these neighborhoods through social and economic revitalization. This is the model that the City of Hammond adopted for enhancing neighborhoods. Since Weed and Seed's initiation in Hammond in 2001, SSSRC has assisted it through surveying and student learning projects.
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Land Trust for Southeast Louisiana
Through its role in local and regional enhancement efforts, SSSRC has assisted in the formation and development of the Land Trust for Southeast Louisiana (LTSL) since 2001. Being a locally based organization, LTSL definitely has a niche to fill. The larger, nationally based organizations can not always capitalize on smaller land preservation opportunities. And because of its grassroots origins, LTSL is able to conduct outreach and education so that the community can become aware of the opportunities for land preservation.
In an attempt to assess the cares, concerns, and worldviews of Southeastern students, the SSSRC is conducting the Student Voices Study (SVS), which is headed by Daniel Orser, B.S.--a master's student of the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice. The SVS is an experimental study in that it not only utilizes a non-traditional sociological method of video interviewing, but it also combines this novel modality with that of the Internet by using the services provided by Youtube and Facebook.
Survey Research Education and Training
SSSRC provides survey research education and training to Southeastern students and to the public to improve understanding and use of social science research. Communities are provided with regional, statewide, and local research analysis and reporting services, using the current technology and faculty services. Methods used include face-to-face, mailed, and telephone surveys, evaluations, needs assessments, and mapping.
Lab Use for Informal and Formal Instruction for Students and Faculty
For classes of up to twenty-five students, SSSRC allows students to be exposed to various software and research tools. Use of the internet for research and Blackboard for instruction has increased in recent semesters, and once the students have received introductory lessons, they can often work independently. Graduate and Undergraduate Research Assistants provide support to students. Funds generated from the student technology fee ensure that most standard software is available. In addition, SPSS and mapping software is available on all lab computers. Instructors with other specialized software needs for student use can at times be accommodated. A multimedia station is available and can be configured for use in the Center. The Lab is open 8-4:30 Monday through Thursday when school is in session.
Student Research Opportunities
Research Assistants and Faculty are available for assisting students with a wide variety of research activities: data computerization, Internet research, qualitative data coding, telephone interviewing and production (e.g., producing transparencies, power point presentations, and posters).
Computer Assisted Telephone Survey Services
SSSRC is equipped with Sawtooth CI3/CATI software and a 20-station phone bank to conduct telephone surveys. This software management system generates SPSS and other typical forms of data for further analysis. Sawtooth Technologies, Inc. provides full technical support. SSSRC, depending upon the needs of the client, either hires and trains students or uses the telephone surveying as an opportunity for service-learning experiences, giving students opportunities to apply what they learn in the classroom to community service. FPSSRC graduate and undergraduate research assistants provide staffing support.
