Abstract
A Spatial Analysis of Faith-Based Volunteerism and Neighborhood Need Track: Health and Human Services Author(s): Jim McDonell, Jill McLeigh, Erica Mabry Recent social policy shifts have advanced human service delivery by faith institutions, many of whom rely on volunteers to aid community residents. Yet, there is little research examining the extent to which services delivered by faith institutions conform to community needs. This presentation examines faith-based volunteer activities to support families in light of indicators of neighborhood need. Drawing on data from a large-scale community intervention to improve child safety and family well-being, the characteristics of volunteers (e.g., gender, age, sector of employment) and volunteer activities (e.g., length and type of activity, duration of volunteer involvement) will be examined against family distress and child safety indicated through survey and observed neighborhood physical and social characteristics, macro-level indices of level and type of neighborhood distress, and indications of child safety and well-being drawn from administrative data. Implications for developing and sustaining faith-based volunteer human service programs will be discussed. Jim McDonell Clemson University Institute on Family and Neighborhood Life 158 Poole Clemson , SC 29634 US Phone: 864-656-6746 Fax: 864-656-6281 E-mail: jmcdnll@clemson.edu Jill McLeigh Clemson University Institute on Family and Neighborhood Life 158 Poole Clemson , SC 29634 US Phone: 864-688-2239 Fax: 864-656-6281 E-mail: mcleigh@clemson.edu Erica Mabry Clemson University Institute on Family and Neighborhood Life 158 Poole Clemson , SC 29634 US Phone: 864-656-6743 Fax: 864-656-6281 E-mail: emabry@clemson.edu |
|||||
