Based upon a Community Needs Assessment, determine what gaps in service exist in your community. Please contact your instructor if you need assistance in identifying sources of a needs assessment or community plan that outlines such recent research. It is suggested to locate a United Way in your community to begin your research. If no local community needs assessment has been formally conducted, choose a service that you have good reason to believe is needed in your community. Once you have determined a gap in services for your project, you will spend the next 8 weeks developing a step by step approach to creating a new human services agency to serve this population.

In this first step, you will decide what type of agency and service you want to develop. Think about vulnerable populations that may be underserved such as aging adults, homeless mothers and their children, runaway youth, chronically unemployed and impoverished adults, drug and alcohol addicted teens, disabled children and adults, mentally ill people, and families who lack sufficient financial resources to meet their needs.

You may also find that supportive services such as community recreational programs, daycare centers in low income areas, neighborhood playgrounds, parent education resources, counseling, and job training are programs that will prevent residents from needing crisis intervention services in the future. These types of programs may also be considered. In this step, you will determine what type of new service you will develop.

Following APA formatting, complete a 2 page proposal (double space) describing the type of service you will develop, agency auspices, (private for-profit, nonprofit, social entrepreneurship) size of agency, location, ages served, and justification for the need based upon a community needs assessment or other information you have researched. Will you develop your agency yourself or partner with another individual or community agency? Will you need to submit your proposal to anyone in your community for approval?

APA referencing required (3 sources minimum). APA formatting is required. It is suggested to organize your content with the use of headings. Use of the Scott textbook with reference to concepts in Chapters 1-4, the Keohane textbook with reference to concepts in Chapters 1-4, and the Start Your Own Business textbook with reference to concepts in Chapters 1-3 is required. Address in your discussion –  How does your idea relate to the Saint Leo core Value of Excellence?