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• FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES -2- October 27, 2004 POLICY AGENDA Report from Neighborhood Commission, Jenna Washnieski Ms. Jenna Washnieski gave an oral review of a study she did earlier this year for the Falcon Heights Neighborhood Commission and for her master's thesis entitled "Evaluating Knowledge of Community Resources and Participation in Emergency Preparedness Programs: Needs Assessment for Falcon Heights, Minnesota". A summary of the study is outlined below. Back rg ound The needs assessment investigated the factors that lead to participation in emergency preparedness programs and the factors that influence perception of social connectivity. The study examined whether knowledge of the Neighborhood Liaison is related to higher perception of social connectivity. The study also aimed to discern whether high levels of social connectivity result in hearing about and participating in programs. Additionally, the study investigated whether social connectivity is mediated by socio-demographic variables. Finally, the assessment identified the utilization of information sources, as well as potency of associations between • social connectivity, knowledge of community resources, perception of threat and demographic variables. Methods Subjects were selected using a Fortran program to choose from Minnesota driver's license files with Falcon Heights zip codes, 55108 and 55113. The program then matched cases to a list of street names and house numbers that lie within the parameters of the city provided by Falcon Heights City Hall. After the files were matched to zip code and street name, the total selected sample was 10,048. Next, the program sorted and eliminated cases based on house numbers within the ranges of Falcon Heights. These cases were sorted by odd or even numbers as appropriate, and the program eliminated University of Minnesota student housing (1458 Cleveland Av), which reduced the total to 3184. Cases were then selected by age range. Dates of birth from 09/01/1927 through 08/31/1985 made the tota12780. To ensure a recent sample, the program retained only those who had applied for their driver's license in 2000 or later, which made the tota12278. From these 2278, 500 subjects were selected using a randomizing computer program. Survey Procedure Five hundred named residents of Falcon Heights, Minnesota were invited to complete a mailed survey regarding neighborhood cohesion, participation in emergency preparedness programming, • and perception of threat in Falcon Heights. The initial mailing contained a $1.00 incentive and a postage-paid return envelope. o~