The Dynamics of Change in Asset-Building Communities: Case Studies
Funder: Lutheran Brotherhood, now Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, McKnight Foundation, and Kansas Health Foundation
Purpose: This project involved a series of case studies designed to examine community initiatives promoting healthy development for children and youth. Data were collected via meetings with community initiative staff, focus groups with initiative stakeholders, and an illustrative event, which was seen as symbolically representing the community effort. Data were analyzed using NVivo software for qualitative analysis. The intent was to build an understanding of why initiatives are created, what action they are taking, how the change process plays out over time, and what successes and challenges initiatives experience as they promote asset building.
Status: This project is complete.
Duration: 2000–2002
Findings: A report detailing the findings from the first four case study sites is available for download (PDF): Report text: pages 1–8 and 20–154; Color illustrations: pages 9–19 (these may take a moment to download).
- A book on the project is in press as part of the Search Institute Series on Developmentally Attentive Community and Society. It will be published in 2010 by Springer.
