Uncovering, Understanding & Prioritizing Needs
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Situation
As the population in Central Iowa continued to grow, a group of regional nonprofit organizations identified that obtaining effective transportation for some individuals and families was an increasing problem. Access to adequate transportation to and from jobs, school, childcare, grocery stores and even social events is a core element to surviving and thriving in modern society.
The overall purpose of this study was to understand, from those impacted by the lack of effective transportation, their specific transportation needs, the barriers they encounter when accessing transportation, and to prioritize their wants and needs. Additionally, the research was also to gather and understand the variety of transportation resources currently being offered by area health and human service nonprofit organizations.
Listening & Learning
Specific qualitative and quantitative research approaches were utilized throughout the project, based on the specific information needs and audiences.
- Compendium kicked off the project by conducting stakeholder interviews with those both sponsoring the project and the organizations who would be most impacted by the outcomes. The stakeholder input contributed to a quantitative analysis of 176 organizations providing transportation services to the audiences they serve, identifying where there were overlaps and unmet needs.
- Deep-dive qualitative research followed with a variety of underserved audiences to uncover and understand both transportation barriers and needs, as well as the impact of inadequate transportation on their lives. These qualitative insights authentically informed an online quantitative survey which was fielded in three languages, targeting 10 audiences, to quantify the magnitude of the problem, including prioritizing needs and barriers.
- The project culminated in an interactive workshop attended by the various stakeholders.
Leveraging Insights
The experiences and needs identified by the research both prioritized the audiences needing transportation assistance and services, as well as validated the need for streamlined communication, specific transportation barriers and ideas for solutions. The insights and data unveiled in this project contributed to the development of solutions which were implemented.
"Our collective work with Compendium helped propel our community toward action in addressing critical transportation needs. The thoughtful approach and intentional collaborative spirit Compendium brought to this project resulted in a comprehensive and meaningful outcome which now serves as the foundation for impactful transportation solutions.”
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