WSA_Youth and Family Master Plan Phase I - September 2009

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II. Methodology As noted above, the assessment of community resources was multi-faceted. The research design was created to garner input from those who provide regular physical activity opportunities for Santa Ana youth; in particular, community organizations and athletic leagues. This analysis allowed several key themes to emerge from the data, informing the recommendations and opportunities identified later in Section IV. Although multiple methods were implemented (often concurrently) the data analysis that follows is divided into two parts. Part 1 is an assessment of the youth services in Santa Ana with a focus on organizations providing physical activity opportunities. Part 2 focuses exclusively on athletic leagues in Santa Ana, with a deeper analysis of soccer leagues. Youth services assessment methodology The data collection and analysis forthe Youth & Family Master Plan took place from August 2008-June 2009. The assessment was amulti-tiered study of the youth services environment, including both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis. This assessment of all youth services provided insights into youth programming networks and environment in Santa Ana. It identified details of particular programs and strategies involving physical activity and gang prevention. The method of identifying participants- the units of analysis- for Phase I was critical to the success of the project. The team tried to balance the need to hear from those that implement the City programs with the desire to hear from the broad-based network of community organizations operating in Santa Ana. Attention was also paid to the needs of youth and the voices of parents whose youth play organized sports (soccer). It is our hope that, given the resources allotted to Phase I, we gleaned the most pertinent information from the analysis. The data collection methods are listed below. Stakeholder interviews focus groups Focus Groups with City Staff Two focus groups and several individual interviews were conducted with City of Santa Ana staff involved in youth services and programming. Over 30 staff participated in the two focus groups and stakeholder interviews that were held between October 2008 and February 2009. Staff members were recruited through the weekly PRCSA Coordinator's Meetings and snowball sampling of key stakeholders working with youth. These meetings were 1-1 ~/2 hours in length and focused on 1) assessing the current state of youth programming and 2) identifying gaps in youth services. Focus Groups & Interviews with Community Partners One focus group was conducted with staff from community based organizations providing youth physical activity programming in Santa Ana. Although the youth-serving nonprofit community is extensive in Santa Ana, due to the limited scope of Phase I, the invitations to participate were extended only to those organizations providing direct physical activity programming to youth. Twenty organizations identified as providing youth physical activity were invited to participate and a total of 8 individuals attended the focus group and shared their opinions and ideas about how physical activity programming and the built environment could better support healthy children and families in Santa Ana. In an attempt to better understand how community partners are currently working to support a safe and healthy Santa Ana environment for children and families, interviews and/or data collection were also conducted with the following organizations: the Early Prevention and Intervention Commission (EPIC), Community Development Agency, SAPD, Santa Ana Unified School District and Orange County Probation staff. Atotal of 12 individuals shared their insights and reflections regarding unmet youth and family programming needs. Youth Focus Groups