Cooperative Extension Seeks Community Input

The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (UNCE) office in Logandale cares what northeast Clark County residents think, desire and need to improve their quality of life.

It is so significant to UNCE that Carol Bishop, extension educator at the local office on Moapa Valley Boulevard, has designed a survey to be mailed to half the residences in Overton, Logandale, Mesquite, the Moapa River Paiute Reservation, Bunkerville, Riverside and Moapa, to give residents an opportunity to explain in some detail just what is important to them.

“My main function as UNCE educator falls directly in line with the whole mission of the cooperative extension,” Bishop said. “That is ‘To discover, develop, disseminate, preserve and use knowledge to strengthen the social, economic and environmental well-being of people.’

“I want to determine what the needs of the communities in northeast Clark County are and then design programs to address those needs,” Bishop said. “I want to help people find solutions to the contemporary problems they’re facing and the way to do that is first to identify those problems.”

Bishop explained that the last survey was done in 1998 and it’s time to update the UNCE’s information and asking residents directly is the most effective way to find out what their needs are.

“In this ‘needs assessment survey’ I am asking the communities ‘Where does it hurt?'” Bishop said. “Where do you need help, information, education? And once I find out, I’ll design programs to ease that hurt, to help, to educate. We can also access assistance from specialists in Las Vegas or elsewhere if necessary.”

The survey is designed to get information on senior issues, youth/school issues, social services issues, community issues, nutritional/health issues and economic issues.

Bishop said that although UNCE is mailing the needs survey to half the households in northeast Clark County, anyone who wants to have input is welcome to fill out a survey. They will be available at libraries in the northeast county and residents are welcome to pick one up at the extension office, 1897 N. Moapa Valley Blvd. The UNCE office will also mail a person a survey if they call and request one.

The survey is completely anonymous and can be completed online in English or Spanish at www.unce.unr.edu/counties/clark-ne/.

Bishop is appealing to all church groups, service groups and any other organizations to not only encourage their members to fill out surveys but also provide input into what they see as needs in the their communities as well.

“I would welcome their input wholeheartedly,” she said.

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