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Survey Analyzed by Hunter Siberman School of Social Work Reveals Concerns of East Harlem Residents

Participants in a survey on East Harlem social services cited education, youth services, and jobs as the area’s greatest needs. The Hunter College Silberman School of Social Work compiled and analyzed the results from the survey, which was conducted by the Union Settlement Association, an East Harlem social-service provider. The findings were released on January 20.

Nearly 1,300 individuals, ranging in age from seven to 92, responded to the survey, which was distributed to participants in several of the Association’s programs. One of the largest social-service providers in East Harlem, Union Settlement Association offers a broad range of health, education, employment, and counseling programs for children, teenagers, and adults of all ages.

One of the study’s questions asked the participants what they considered to be East Harlem’s biggest need, and the top three responses were education (23%), youth services (16%), and jobs and employment (11%). Also frequently cited were community building, crime reduction and violence prevention, affordable housing, child care, and health care.

Nearly two thirds of the respondents (62%) said they were Latino or Hispanic, 27% were African American or Black, 4% identified two or more races, 3% identified as Caucasian or White, 1% as Asian and 2% as other. They reported speaking a total of 16 different languages, primarily English (45%) or Spanish (43%). A substantial majority of those surveyed (70%) were women.

Noting that the Hunter College Silberman School of Social Work is moving to East Harlem in September 2011, Jacqueline Mondros, dean of the School, said, “It was great to have the opportunity to help develop and analyze this survey, adding: “It is very important for us to learn more about the interests and concerns of the local community, and this survey provides valuable insights in this area.”

The executive director of Union Settlement, David Nocenti, expressed his gratitude to HCSSW for its input on this project, calling the School’s work “invaluable.”

 

Published on January 25, 2011

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