{"id":913,"date":"2018-06-18T16:01:36","date_gmt":"2018-06-18T16:01:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.flnavigator.com\/health\/?p=913"},"modified":"2026-05-28T14:18:50","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T14:18:50","slug":"how-to-write-a-community-resource-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/flnavigator.com\/healthfairs\/2018\/06\/community-resources\/how-to-write-a-community-resource-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Write a Community Resource Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Resource guides enable people to have information at their fingertips about local services that may benefit them now or in the future. Material contained in a resource guide includes information on social services, government services and benefits and other important information. It is also a way of introducing your agency\/services to the community.<\/p>\n

There are many types of resource guides. Some are in print and some are online. Some speak to a specific population, like seniors or youth, and some are more general. Some cover a specific region, while others are statewide or nationwide. Internet resource guides are easier to update.<\/p>\n

Resource guides that focus on the needs of older adults are important since our population is aging. More people are caring for aging parents, and caregivers need to know where to turn for help. Transportation may be limited for those who can no longer drive and they need to know how to get needed services. Many seniors do not have access to computers and a print resource guide would be more useful to them.<\/p>\n

An Outline for Creating a Resource Guide<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. What geographic area do you want to cover?<\/li>\n
  2. What population group should the resource guide target?<\/li>\n
  3. Content: How extensive should the information be that is included?\n
      \n
    1. Name of agency\/organization and contact information<\/li>\n
    2. Description of agency services and eligibility requirements<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n
    3. Will it be in print format or online or both? While some people may need a print copy, an online version provides access to more people.<\/li>\n
    4. If online, will visitors be able to click through to other websites?<\/li>\n
    5. Who is available to help collect information and put materials for the resource guide together?<\/li>\n
    6. What topics should be covered?\n
        \n
      1. Advocacy information. If the resource guide deals with health care you may want to include information that will enable to consumer to take charge of their health care or social service needs.<\/li>\n
      2. Questions and answers about a particular topic<\/li>\n
      3. Government services<\/li>\n
      4. Government benefits and eligibility criteria<\/li>\n
      5. Local business services<\/li>\n
      6. Elder abuse and neglect resources<\/li>\n
      7. Domestic violence resources<\/li>\n
      8. A list of important phone numbers only<\/li>\n
      9. Health related services and programs and operating hours<\/li>\n
      10. Community programs and schedules<\/li>\n
      11. Information on local, state or federal government<\/li>\n
      12. Contact information for elected officials<\/li>\n
      13. Advocacy information<\/li>\n
      14. General information<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Budgeting and Production<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Who will design the resource guide? Are there funds for a graphic designer?<\/li>\n
        2. How many copies of the resource guide will be produced?<\/li>\n
        3. What funds are available, from what resources\n
            \n
          1. Government<\/li>\n
          2. Foundations<\/li>\n
          3. Advertisers\n
              \n
            1. Health care providers<\/li>\n
            2. Nursing homes and other adult facilities<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                \n
              • Home care agencies\n
                  \n
                1. Advertising rates?<\/li>\n
                2. How will they be contacted?<\/li>\n
                3. Who should receive payment and who should checks be made out to?<\/li>\n
                4. What credit cards can be taken and how?<\/li>\n
                5. Where should ads, payments, etc. be mailed to?<\/li>\n
                6. Should a bank account for this project be separate?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                    \n
                  1. Are there grants available and who is available to write a grant<\/li>\n
                  2. Who will ultimately pay for printing and distribution?<\/li>\n
                  3. How will the resource guide be distributed?\n
                      \n
                    1. By mail (what is the cost?)<\/li>\n
                    2. By individuals who can give them out<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n
                    3. How will the resource guide be marketed?\n
                        \n
                      1. Who will design the marketing materials? How will it be paid for? How will word get out about the development of a resource guide?\n
                          \n
                        1. Press release<\/li>\n
                        2. Mailing<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                            \n
                          • Email blast<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                              \n
                            1. Social media<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                                \n
                              1. Are there funds for printing and mailing the initial marketing materials?<\/li>\n
                              2. Press release to local media and community\/organization newsletters<\/li>\n
                              3. Through the Chamber of Commerce<\/li>\n
                              4. At local meetings of the targeted group(s)<\/li>\n
                              5. Social media<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                                  \n
                                1. Resource guides need to be updated regularly. Be sure to double check and verify information to make sure phone numbers\u00a0are correct, websites are accurate, etc.<\/li>\n
                                2. Finally, be sure the print edition or website is accessible to people with visual impairments as required under the Americans with Disabilities Act.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                                  [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                  [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Resource guides enable people to have information at their fingertips about local services that may benefit them now or in the future. Material contained in a resource guide includes information on social services, government services and benefits and other important information. It is also a way of introducing your agency\/services to the community. There […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,27],"tags":[65,223,172],"class_list":["post-913","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-community-resources","category-social-services","tag-community","tag-resource-guide","tag-services"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/flnavigator.com\/healthfairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/913","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/flnavigator.com\/healthfairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/flnavigator.com\/healthfairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flnavigator.com\/healthfairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flnavigator.com\/healthfairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=913"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/flnavigator.com\/healthfairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/913\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2534,"href":"https:\/\/flnavigator.com\/healthfairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/913\/revisions\/2534"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/flnavigator.com\/healthfairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=913"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flnavigator.com\/healthfairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=913"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flnavigator.com\/healthfairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=913"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}