MAKING CONNECTIONS CROSS-SITE SURVEY Wave 2: The Neighborhood Follow-up Survey

Two MC-SA Surveys Conducted by NORC in personal interviews in San Antonios West Side 690 phone interviews throughout Bexar County Purpose: to identify characteristics of West Side households and children relating to core result areas and compare them with the average resident in the county surveys are the first in a series of periodic surveys. Comparisons can also be made across sites in 10 cities as part of The AECF Making Connections initiative.

MC Cross-Site Survey Wave 2: Whats Same, Whats New Same: Focus on core results Same mix of cross-site and site-specific questions New: No county survey until wave 3 Neighborhood sample includes movers as well as current residents Mixed-method data collection (phone with in- person back-up)

MC-SA Survey: What we need to get done in 2005 Revise Questionnaire (with input on cross-site questions) Finalize site-specific questions and prepare for data collection in San Antonio

Revising the Survey Questionnaire: Basic Parameters We need to be able to compare baseline data to follow-up data We need to do the best job we can on collecting Cross-site Core Results data –Fix Problems –Fill Holes

QUESTIONNAIRE REVIEW PROCESS Feedback from users in Foundation units Feedback from users in the sites: 1.Cross-site consultation with local survey analysts: Jan Locally-Based Review Process: Feb. 28

Review by Local Analysts Based on LLP analytical experience Four guiding questions: –What worked –What didnt work –Whats worth fixing –Whats missing that is essential to tracking core results

Next Steps February 28: Feedback on cross-site questions from all ten sites Site specific questions from Denver, Des Moines, Indy, San Antonio Throughout March: Field testing of revised questionnaire Begin planning for implementation in Denver, Des Moines, Indy, San Antonio

Suggested Deletions Draw neighborhood boundaries (not feasible in phone interviews) 2.5, 2.6 – Best/worst thing about neighborhood 2.8 – People come to shop/do business 2.11 – More optimistic about neighborhood 4.3a to 4.7d – Use of supermarket, pharmacy, bank or credit union, ATM not in a bank 4.4e to 4.7f – Difficulty of check cashing facilities not in bank, money transfers not in bank

Suggested Deletions Religious preference Why not attend neighborhood get-together Eviction Move due to non-payment Telephone in home that works Use computer at other location Connect to Internet at other location Job considered perm or temp Chances for career advancement EITC, CCTC

Additions/Strengthening Household composition/relationships Economic resources Immigrant status School readiness Social networks

Household Composition and Relationships Relationship of focal child to each HH member. Relationship of each HH member to respondent. Focal children who reached 18: Ask… –Is [FC] still living with the household? –What is the [FC] doing?

Economic Resources Change income categories: Ranges of $5K up to $100K (instead of $30K). Amount of savings and debt: –How much do you currently owe on your home mortgage loan? –How much do you have in a savings account? –How much do you owe on your credit cards? –How much do you owe in medical debt? Who is the PRIMARY wage earner in the household?

Immigrant Status Birthplace and citizenship of the focus child: Is … a U.S. citizen? 1.Yes, native 2.Yes, foreign-born, naturalized citizen 3.No., foreign-born, not a naturalized citizen Legal status of adults (who are either naturalized citizens or noncitizens): When …moved to the US to live, what was …s immigration status? 1.Permanent resident (had a green card) 2.Refugee 3.other Has …s status been changed to permanent resident? (Has …received a Green Card?) 1.Yes 2.No

Language Ability Does this person speak a language other than English at home? 1.Yes; What is this language? (Write in.) 2.No How well does this person speak English? 1.Very well 2.Well 3.Not well 4.Not at all (Ask only if yes to language other than English AND does not speak English very well.): In the last 12 months did you take any English language classes?

School Readiness Where does your child spend most of his/her time when they are not with you (or other parent/caretaker) or not in school? Responses (for FC under 6): 1.In a Head Start or preschool program 2.In a child care center 3.In a child care home 4.Being cared for by another relative or friend who is paid 5.Being cared for by another relative or friend who is not paid. 6.Other

Preschool Age Children ONLY of respondents w/FC age 5 or under: Years/months of preschool Type of preschool Attendance at religious service with family? Child plays with other children his/her own age: how often? Child goes to library or other local cultural venue: how often?

Health Insurance Coverage Any time in past year FC was WITHOUT health insurance? Number of times a child has seen the same physician.

Custody, Kinship, Foster Care FC spent any time living away? R previously incarcerated, on parole, probation or other supervised release? Age of FC mother when he/she was born?

School Readiness Untreated Asthma problems? Untreated disability or developmental problem requiring special education? Sociability: Difficulty joining other children at play? Curiosity and eagerness to learn new things? Stay focused and productive in play/work?

Social Networks For HHs w/children (focal child section?): People in neighborhood sometimes helped by babysitting or watching your children? How often? Have you helped someone else? In an emergency, could you call on someone to care for your children? How would you go about getting information on child care?

Social Networks All respondents: Who would you ask for leads in finding a new job? (nobody, family, friends/ neighbors, co-workers, counselor) Who would you tell about a new opening at your work? (nobody, family members, neighbors/ friends)

Bridging Social Capital All respondents (scale of 1=very little to 5=very much): How much can you trust: –people in your clubs, organizations, groups? –business owners you buy things from or do business with? –social service providers? –local government? Respondents with children (scale of 1=SD to 5=SA) I can usually trust information I receive from the school to be complete and accurate. Administrators at this school are willing to listen. If there is a problem at school, I know whom to contact.