Information Access Category III Resource Development

Conducting Community & Program Needs Assessments

IntroductionThe purpose of this tool is to assist ACIOP awardees with conducting needs assessments (NA), collecting data, and evaluating the needs assessment process

Measures & Evaluation QuestionsMeasure: Resource needs – Target population needs assessment and types of

resources neededEvaluation Questions:

1. Has a resource needs assessment been conducted for the target population?

2. If so, what were the outcomes of that needs assessment?

Public Health“What we as a society do collectively

to assure the condition in which people can be healthy”

(Institute of Medicine, 1988)

Purposes of Needs AssessmentTo identify and set need prioritiesMake decisions about community or organizational improvementAllocation of resourcesIn this particular case to determine resource needs of your target population as related to the ACIOP award

UTILIZES:A systematic approachA needs assessment planMultiple methods of data collectionCommunity inputEvaluation of the needs assessment process and outcomes

Phases of a Needs Assessment 2Pre-assessment: – Its function is to determine what is already known about needs in the

system; to identify issues and major areas of concern; and to decide on system boundaries, focus and purpose of the needs assessment, potential sources of data, how the information will be used, and what kinds of decisions will be made on the basis of the findings. Needs assessors develop the design and management plan for Phase 2 and sets criteria for evaluating the entire needs assessment.

Assessment: – The needs assessors gather and analyze information and opinions on

the needs, set preliminary priorities, and analyze causes related to all three system levels (1-3).

Phases of a Needs Assessment 3Post-assessment:

– The bridge to use of the data and plans for action. Principal tasks are to set priorities and criteria for solutions, weigh alternative solutions, and formulate action plans for program changes or other interventions. Information on the needs assessment design, results, and recommendations for action are communicated to decision makers and other stakeholders, and relevant information is prepared for archives and other uses. The evaluation of the needs assessment itself also occurs.

From Planning and Conducting a Community Needs Assessment, a Practical Guide, Witkin & Alstchuld.

Target Population CategoriesLevel 1 - Service Recipients:Patients, clients, residents

Level 2 - Service Providers:Staff, administrators, community officials

Level 3 - Resources:Buildings, equipment, personnel needs

Health Promotion Program Planning

The PRECEDE-PROCEED Model for Health Promotion Planning and Evaluation

Three-Phase Plan for Assessing Needs

• From Planning and Conducting a Community Needs Assessment, a Practical Guide, Witkin & Alstchuld

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Iceberg Model of Health and Wellness

Community Needs Assessment is collected from many perspectivesKnowledge of people who know the community or health issue best (key informants)Voices of the communityCommunity analysis (Data about the community)

– Demographics– Geography– History, educational and political structure– Business and commerce– Health infrastructure and status– Other relevant data

Resources at all different levels

Voices of the CommunityAll types of stakeholders

– Key agencies and informants– Service recipients – Service providers

– Health professionals

National and State LevelUnited States Census BureauNational Health SurveysBureau of Vital StatisticsState Health Department

Local LevelChamber of CommerceCity, County, Regional Planning OfficesNewspaper OfficesPublic LibrariesInsurance CompaniesSchool SystemsHospitals

Public and Private Mental Health CentersPublic Health CentersCommunity ResidentsParticipants in Programs or ServicesNeighborhood Leaders

Needs Assessment ToolsSurveysInterviewsFocus GroupsResource InventoriesObservational MethodsCommunity ForumsTelephone and Electronic Conferencing

Assessment Planning PhaseStep 1: Talk to key informants Step 2: Determine purpose and objectives Step 3: Involve the stakeholders Step 4: Identify the target population or community Step 5: Develop an operational management plan

Data Collection PhaseStep 6: Identify indicators for assessment Step 7: Identify data sourcesStep 8: Conduct a community profile Step 9: Conduct a resource inventory Step 10: Gather the data

Gathering the dataDecide on individual or group settingChoose method for data collection (quantitative or qualitative)Choose method for data analysisCreate data collection instrumentReview instrumentPilot instrumentAdminister instrument to target population

Data Analysis PhaseStep 11: Review and analyze the data Step 12: Prioritize needs in terms of importance

Action Planning PhaseStep 13: Develop an action plan to address the community

analysisStep 14: Share the assessment results Step 15: Establish methods of monitoring and evaluating the

action plan

Recommendations: Utility of FindingsSuggest recommendations for the basis of goals and objectivesBe clear and conciseConnect to stated prioritiesLook for creative solutions utilizing existing resourcesBe realistic with the solutions

Evaluating the Community Needs Assessment Process and OutcomesNeeds Assessment Evaluation Questions:

1. Has a resource needs assessment been conducted for the target population?

2. If so, what were the outcomes of that needs assessment?

Needs Assessment Evaluation Results Reporting:1. Discuss the needs assessment process:

a. What was the purpose? Who was the target audience?b. Who conducted the needs assessment? c. Who was involved? Were members of the target population

involved?d. What steps did you take to complete the needs assessment? What

happened in each step? (Discuss quantitatively and qualitatively)

Evaluating the Community Needs Assessment Process and Outcomes (con’t)

Needs Assessment Evaluation Results Reporting:e. How long did it take? f. Were there any barriers/challenges? g. What lessons did you learn during the process?

2. Discuss the outcomes of the needs assessmenta. What resource priorities did the needs assessment unveil?

Were these priorities anticipated before the start of the needs assessment?

b. What are the action plans related to those priorities?c. How will you use the ACIO award to address those priorities?

Resources1. Institute of Medicine, Committee on Assuring the Health of the Public

in the 21st Century. (2003). The community - Chapter 4. Institute of Medicine (U.S.) - Committee on Assuring the Health of the Public in the 21st Century The future of the public's health in the 21st century (pp. 178-211). Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press. http://www.nap.edu/books/030908704X/html/178.html

2. Peterson, D. J., & Alexander, G. R. (2001). The process of needs assessment. In Petersen, D. J. & Alexander, G. R., Needs assessment in public health: A practical guide for students and professionals. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.

3. Witkin, B. R., & Altschuld, J. W. (1995). Planning and conducting needs assessments: a practical guide . Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.

Resources (con’t)

4. Community Toolbox Website Resource, Chapter 3. Assessing community needs and resources http://ctb.ku.edu/en/node/9

5. Needs Assessment Strategies for Community Groups and Organization http://www.extension.iastate.edu/communities/tools/assess/

6. TeamLab-University of Southern California, Designing materials for particular audiences/understanding culture http://teamlab.usc.edu/learn/roadmap/audience.html

7. CenterLink-The Community of LBT Centers, Conducting Needs assessmentshttp://www.lgbtcenters.org/how-to-do-a-community-needs-assessment.aspx