Developing a community involves a multifaceted approach, and success criteria will vary depending on the specific focus. Here's a breakdown of key success criteria for a community that is:

1. More Secure

Overall Goal: Residents feel safe, and the community has effective mechanisms to prevent and respond to threats, both internal and external.

Key Success Criteria:

• Reduced Crime Rates & Perceptions of Safety:
  • Measurable: Decrease in reported violent crimes, property crimes, and anti-social behavior (e.g., graffiti, vandalism).
  • Perceptual: Increased percentage of residents who report feeling safe walking alone in their neighborhood, both during the day and at night.
• Strong Community-Police/Emergency Services Collaboration:
  • Measurable: Increased participation in neighborhood watch programs, community policing initiatives, and joint training exercises with emergency services.
  • Qualitative: Positive feedback from residents and emergency personnel on the effectiveness of communication and collaboration.
• Effective Disaster Preparedness and Response:
  • Measurable: High percentage of households with emergency plans, established community shelters, clear communication protocols during crises, and participation in disaster drills.
  • Qualitative: Evidence of rapid and coordinated community response during actual emergencies, with minimal disruption and loss.
• Accessible and Responsive Support Systems:
  • Measurable: Availability and utilization of resources for victims of crime, mental health support, and conflict resolution services.
  • Qualitative: Residents feel confident that they can access help when needed and that their concerns are addressed.
• Social Cohesion and Trust:
  • Measurable: Increased civic engagement (e.g., volunteering, participation in local government meetings), high levels of inter-group trust and cooperation.
  • Qualitative: Residents report a strong sense of belonging and willingness to look out for each other.

2. Healthier & Fitter for Purpose

Overall Goal: Residents have optimal physical, mental, and social well-being, supported by accessible resources and a healthy environment.

Key Success Criteria:

• Improved Health Outcomes:
  • Measurable: Decrease in prevalence of chronic diseases (e.g., obesity, diabetes), improved mental health indicators (e.g., reduced rates of depression, anxiety), increased life expectancy.
  • Data Points: Public health data, healthcare utilization rates.
• Accessible and Quality Healthcare Services:
  • Measurable: High percentage of residents with access to primary care, specialists, and mental health services; reduced wait times; increased availability of culturally competent care.
  • Qualitative: Positive patient satisfaction scores and feedback on the quality and responsiveness of health services.
• Healthy Environment and Infrastructure:
  • Measurable: Improved air and water quality, increased access to green spaces and recreational facilities, availability of healthy and affordable food options (e.g., farmers' markets, community gardens).
  • Observational: Visible evidence of clean public spaces, well-maintained parks, and accessible pedestrian/cycling infrastructure.
• High Levels of Health Literacy and Health-Promoting Behaviors:
  • Measurable: Increased public knowledge about healthy lifestyle choices, higher rates of physical activity, healthy eating, and preventative screenings.
  • Programmatic: Participation rates in health education programs and wellness initiatives.
• Strong Social Support Networks:
  • Measurable: Reduced social isolation, increased participation in community groups and activities that foster social connection.
  • Qualitative: Residents report strong interpersonal relationships and a sense of community support.

3. More Accessible

Overall Goal: All residents, regardless of age, ability, or background, can fully participate in community life and access essential services and opportunities.

Key Success Criteria:

• Universal Design and Physical Accessibility:
  • Measurable: High percentage of public buildings, transportation systems, parks, and sidewalks meeting accessibility standards (e.g., ramps, wide doorways, tactile paving).
  • Audits: Regular accessibility audits with demonstrable improvements.
• Information and Communication Accessibility:
  • Measurable: Availability of public information in multiple formats (e.g., large print, Braille, audio, Easy Read, multiple languages), accessible websites and digital services.
  • Feedback: Positive feedback from diverse users on the ease of accessing information.
• Equitable Access to Services and Programs:
  • Measurable: Programs and services designed to accommodate diverse needs (e.g., childcare, senior services, cultural programs, job training) with data showing equitable participation across different demographic groups.
  • Policy: Policies in place to ensure non-discrimination and reasonable accommodations.
• Inclusive Transportation Options:
  • Measurable: Availability of affordable, reliable, and accessible public transportation that serves all neighborhoods and links people to essential services, employment, and recreation.
  • Utilization Data: Increased ridership from diverse user groups.
• Perceptions of Inclusivity and Belonging:
  • Qualitative: Residents from all backgrounds report feeling welcome, respected, and able to participate fully in community life.
  • Surveys: Community surveys indicating high levels of perceived inclusion and low levels of discrimination.

4. More Resilient

Overall Goal: The community has the capacity to anticipate, withstand, recover from, and adapt to adverse events and changes (e.g., economic downturns, natural disasters, social crises).

Key Success Criteria:

• Adaptive Capacity and Preparedness:
  • Measurable: Presence of comprehensive disaster plans, early warning systems, diversified local economy, and robust social support networks that can be mobilized in a crisis.
  • Simulation: Successful outcomes in community-wide drills and simulations.
• Strong Social Capital and Networks:
  • Measurable: High levels of community volunteerism, active community groups, and interpersonal trust that facilitate collective action during adversity.
  • Qualitative: Evidence of neighbors helping neighbors, and strong community self-organization in response to challenges.
• Economic Diversification and Stability:
  • Measurable: A diverse local economy not over-reliant on a single industry, support for local businesses, job training programs, and reduced unemployment rates.
  • Economic Indicators: Stable or growing local GDP, business retention rates.
• Infrastructure Durability and Adaptability:
  • Measurable: Infrastructure (e.g., utilities, transportation, communication) designed to withstand anticipated shocks and stresses, with built-in redundancies and capacity for quick repair/adaptation.
  • Investment: Investment in resilient infrastructure projects.
• Learning and Continuous Improvement:
  • Measurable: Established processes for reviewing responses to challenges, incorporating lessons learned, and adapting policies and practices accordingly.
  • Policy: Evidence of policy changes and program adjustments based on past experiences.

5. More Evaluative

Overall Goal: The community regularly assesses its progress, learns from its efforts, and uses data and feedback to make informed decisions and continuously improve.

Key Success Criteria:

• Culture of Learning and Inquiry:
  • Qualitative: Community leaders and residents demonstrate a willingness to ask critical questions, seek evidence, and learn from both successes and failures.
  • Behavioral: Regular meetings and forums dedicated to reviewing data and discussing outcomes.
• Robust Data Collection and Analysis:
  • Measurable: Established systems for collecting relevant community data (e.g., surveys, crime statistics, health indicators, service utilization), and the capacity to analyze and interpret this data effectively.
  • Tools: Use of dashboards, public reports, and accessible data visualizations.
• Participatory Evaluation Processes:
  • Measurable: Active involvement of diverse community members in setting evaluation questions, collecting data, interpreting findings, and recommending actions.
  • Process: Evidence of co-creation of evaluation frameworks.
• Evidence-Informed Decision-Making:
  • Measurable: Community policies, programs, and resource allocation decisions demonstrably informed by evaluation findings and data.
  • Outcomes: Tangible changes in programs or policies based on evaluation results.
• Transparency and Accountability:
  • Measurable: Regular public reporting of community progress, challenges, and evaluation findings; clear accountability mechanisms for community initiatives.
  • Accessibility: Evaluation reports and data made easily accessible to all community members.

By focusing on these specific criteria, communities can track their progress and ensure their development efforts are leading to the desired outcomes across these vital areas.