welcome to asdc
Welcome to the website of the Association for the Study and Development of Community.ASDC is a research and development company helping government, foundations and non-profits use science to create and implement innovative solutions to social problems. Since 1997, we’ve been providing an integrated approach to building the capacity of organizations and institutions, helping to develop the health, economic equity and social justice of communities. ASDC represents a network of leading researchers and practitioners who are widely recognized for their commitment and work in various substantive areas, including organizational and community capacity building, community organization, youth development, violence prevention, substance abuse prevention and intergroup relations. Our staff members are knowledgeable and experienced in a wide range of methods for providing evaluation and research support, technical assistance, and training services to build community capacity. We recognize that successful community initiatives focus on strengthening communities by engaging and strengthening their institutions. Our goal is to create a system for learning within organizations and communities that will endure after our direct involvement has ended. All our work, regardless of which social issue we focus on, is designed, conducted, and evaluated with three values in mind—community is important, capacity building of the community to assess and solve its problems is essential, and change is necessary in our ongoing struggle for equity and justice. |
Special ASDC Report:Scope, Scale, and Sustainability ASDC, with funds from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, conducted a study exploring the history of comprehensive community initiatives to better understand how these complex efforts can reach the scope, scale, and sustainability needed to achieve lasting community change. This report examines the specific practices, approaches and mechanisms that lead to successful initiatives. The study examines those success factors as they relate to the ability of a comprehensive community initiative to achieve the scope and scale required to generate community-level outcomes and to sustain those positive impacts over time. Special ASDC Report: The Importance of Culture in Evaluation, a publication funded by The Colorado Trust, provides examples of where cross-cultural competency is critical in evaluation. While not intended to be the definitive answer to all questions about cross-culturally competent evaluation, it provides a good start in recommending questions and strategies that an evaluator should consider when practicing this form of competency. To Order Additional Copies: Colorado Trust Special ASDC Report:The Five C’s Have you ever wondered what would have the greatest and broadest impact on the well being of individuals, families, and communities? This brief report describes the strategic factors for stimulating community-wide health and well-being. It illustrates how each of the Five C’s - Community, Connections, Control, Cash and Collective Action - can be put together to develop an effective, broad-reaching, and sustainable community development strategy. Press ReleaseStephanie Wilson, Ph.D., a veteran International Program and Planning veteran, has joined ASDC as a Principal Associate. Click here for the full press release. Special ASDC Report:Scope, Scale, and Sustainability ASDC, with funds from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, conducted a study exploring the history of comprehensive community initiatives to better understand how these complex efforts can reach the scope, scale, and sustainability needed to achieve lasting community change. This report examines the specific practices, approaches and mechanisms that lead to successful initiatives. The study examines those success factors as they relate to the ability of a comprehensive community initiative to achieve the scope and scale required to generate community-level outcomes and to sustain those positive impacts over time. What's New?
ASDC is pleased to announce:Dr. Ricardo A. Millett has joined the organization as a Principal Associate. Click here to see the press release. |
The Importance of Culture in Evaluation
