The Household Survey, while targeting all of the Wabash Valley’s population, was under-representative of the diversity of the community. In order to identify the particular needs of different groups within the community, the Community Partnership conducted focus groups with minority groups within the Wabash Valley. Focus groups were conducted with members of the following communities:

• African-Americans
• Persons with disabilities
• Single parents
• High school students
• Hispanics
• Grandparents raising grandchildren

The members of the focus groups were asked to identify issues of concern both in their neighborhoods and their own households. They were asked to rank those issues as “not an issue,” “moderate issue,” or “major issue.”

Respondents with lower household incomes reported more moderate to major issues than the higher income groups. Not surprisingly, people reported more “issues” in their neighborhoods than in their own households.

Among the Focus Group findings:
The top neighborhood issues, in rank order, were:

• Jobs/Economic issues
• Lack of leisure/recreational activities (identified by high school students)
• Health issues and safety issues (identified by low-income groups, single parents, and high school students)
• Transportation (identified by persons with disabilities and single parents)

The top household issues, in rank order, were:

• Jobs/Economic issues
• Family
• Health issues and safety issues
• Racial and/or Ethnic Discrimination was identified as the most pressing issue among African-Americans an Equal Opportunity was identified as the most pressing issue by persons with disabilities.