Service Check: Research with a Regional Lens

When the Peninsula Community Foundation (PCF) released our most recent research report, “Serving an Older Peninsula,” in late January, we had a plan:

• Reach leaders and organizations across the Peninsula, far and wide.
• Deepen our community’s understanding of the needs of our older neighbors and spark catalytic conversations about how the community will support this rapidly growing population, both now and in the future
• Prompt actual change, now.

This report is the third major research project PCF has completed in the last 15 years. Our first project focused on early childhood development, an issue that remains one of our core priorities. Our second study, conducted nearly a decade ago, addressed homelessness and helped build the community partnerships that led to the creation of the Housing Crisis Hotline.

"Serving an Older Peninsula" is the first report released under our new formal program banner,  The Center for Community Research. This initiative will continue to produce data-driven research projects, large and small, that offer a unique "view from the balcony" of our community. We were created to maintain that broad perspective. Leaders in government, business, nonprofits, and education must focus on their respective agendas, so part of our service is providing information that will help them, in turn, make well-informed decisions that benefit the entire Peninsula region.
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So, did our plan work?

• Distribution: Through emails and press releases, website views and thanks to local media support, more than 220k impressions resulted for the report. A couple of highlights include a front-page feature in the Daily Press and a television interview with Ashley Smith on News13 Now.

• Conversations: The report has also fueled a wave of new and ongoing conversations. From presentations to local governments, a Chamber of Commerce event and other community groups, to visits with small gatherings and individuals all across the Peninsula…dozens of conversations have unfolded - many in partnership with the Peninsula Agency on Aging (PAA) - and more to come. ​

“From PAA's perspective, we've used this report as a foundation for conversations with policymakers, city leaders, and community partners, ensuring that decisions are informed by the real needs of our older neighbors,” says Randi Keesee, with PAA. “This report has been incredibly impactful, providing real evidence that the call to support older adults in aging in place is both genuine and pressing.”

• Change: The report has indeed prompted change in real time. A few examples:
  - In Hampton, one neighborhood leader, Jamie Chapman, hosted a gathering attended by neighbors and several city leaders where the report was shared, and the idea of a Caring Neighbors project (built on the premise of Neighborhood Watch but focused instead of mindful support of older neighbors) emerged. It is now being piloted in Jamie’s neighborhood and hopefully will create a model that can be easily adapted for neighborhoods across the Peninsula. 
  - CNU students used the report as the basis for a proposal they took forward to Newport News administrative leaders, recommending the city find a way to offer a “starting point of contact” for older residents to help them access services and programs.
  - And, the Peninsula Agency on Aging reports an uptick in calls and online inquiries for programs and services as the report has elevated public awareness about the support and assistance they offer. (link to PAA website)

​This report isn't the kind of undertaking where we declare “victory” and move on. We will continue to work with our partners to encourage conversations and inspire more change, now and for the future - and to connect partners who can help each other achieve more, together for our older Peninsula residents.

​And the Center for Community Research will press on overall - an ongoing Foundation effort to build trust in the unique research and information we can provide. We’re already beginning conversations about our next research topic, driven by the same mission: to serve those who serve our neighbors.

The full report, a brief summary, the press release, and a slide deck are all available online, just click the "Aging Report" button to access them.

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Aging Report