Planting Churches among the City's Poor - Volume 1

414 • P LANTING C HURCHES AMONG THE C ITY ’ S P OOR : V OLUME 1

Xl. How Does the Community Address Its Residents with Special Needs? 1. What are the most vulnerable populations in the community right now? 2. What level of awareness exists regarding these populations among its residents, its leaders, its care providers, etc.? 3. What are the key bureaus, councils, and agencies in the community set up to deal with people in crisis (whether financial, legal, medical, etc.)? 4. What kind of problems or needs cause the greatest amount of difficulty and concern for the residents within the community? 5. What community-based organizations exist that target the special needs of some particular population group struggling with some particular problem or issue (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous, volunteer groups, D.A.R.E., etc.)? 6. What kinds of networks exist that enable or help the community and its people helping agencies coordinate its helping activities? 7. What are the ten most used public agencies dealing with residents with special needs and problems? What is the phone number and addresses of these agencies, and who among them are in charge? 8. What role have the churches taken in dealing with some of the pressing concerns of the community or its parishes? What churches or church leaders have special programs designed to meet the needs of those who are most vulnerable in the community? 9. What kinds of money, scholarships, grants, fellowships, endowments, or allocations are available locally, statewide, or nationally to remedy some of the community’s problems? 10. Who is in charge of administering or allocating these resources and funds? Xll.What Is the Status of Minority Groups within the Community? 1. What racial, ethnic, national, and cultural groups or families are represented in the community? 2. What section(s) of the community do these groups currently reside? 3. What has been the past legacy or relationship that the

community has had with minority groups in the past? What is the history of the community in regard to its care for minority groups?