Environmental Scans andNeeds Assessments

Navigating Platforms

• Google and open web– “Environmental Scan”

• “Environmental scan and program planning”• “Environmental scan and older adults”

– “Needs Assessment”• “Needs assessment and program planning”• “Needs assessment and older adults”

• SFU Library Resources (Ageline/general)– Searched same terms as above– More on examples or terms were mentioned but explained– Dead end!

• Went back to Google– We had to piece the information that we found from

examples of organizations using ES and NA to put together our own definitions and processes• Underlying information from financial, social and health

programs – then had to adapt the information to our needs

– It was difficult to find a regulating body or committee that had protocol which other organizations then followed.

– We found 4-5 project reports using ES and/or NA in grey literature

Search Strategy

• Went to the web to find:– Differences, similarities and basic definitions– Once we had several sources, we amalgamated

ideas to create an explanation for the purpose of this assignment

– Then found examples to strengthen our explanation and find gaps in the current use of these terms

We recommend…

The World Wide Web!!

Overview• NA and ES is the first step in any program

planning• To get a general idea of a situation before any

change or implementation of a program is made (pre-planning)

What are they?

• Environmental Scan– Tool to be utilized to collect data (events, trends,

relationships) required to design programs tailed to the needs of a community or specific population.

• Needs Assessment– You are using the events/trends/relationships found during

the environmental scan to see if there is a need for a program to be implemented (and what specific type of program).

– When programs are evaluated, they will look at the degree to which the program addresses the needs of the target audiences.

Overview

• Can be used interchangeably *• Which process you use and your methodology

depends on the goals of your project and what research already exists in the community

Examples

• ES and NA can be ideally used in all situations (government, health, social, financial)

• Through examples we found, as long as the general idea and theme are followed, an example of an ES or NA in one situation can be adapted and used for any other situation

• During our web search we found ES and NA were mostly used for financial and health programs

Is this an Environmental Scan or a Needs Assessment?

Demographic Characteristics Of British Columbia's Senior

Population

Environmental Scan!

• The title clearly states demographics, however further in the article the authors look trends and relationships of the senior population living in British Columbia. Trends such as population rates, life expectancy, dependency rates etc.

• Using this data, program planners can determine if there is a need for a program to be implemented

Is this an Environmental Scan or a Needs Assessment?

Understanding Our Communities Needs

Needs Assessment!

• This overview is a needs assessment as they determine where funding needs to be targeted towards in future years.

• For example, they show different groups of individuals and the specific help they need (employment for teens or social programs for isolated seniors)

Is this an Environmental Scan or a Needs Assessment?

“Conducting an Environmental Scan”

Environmental Scan!

• Used for Human Resources purposes• External data:

educational/technology/geography etc• Internal data: skills, turnover, budgets etc• Collecting basic data relevant to the workforce

for future planning.

Is this an Environmental Scan or a Needs Assessment?

Active Living and Fall Prevention Program for Older Adults Living in Alberta

Environmental Scan!

• Research was done on what type of programs exist on fall prevention in Alberta to determine needs for future programs

• Used an online survey and focus groups/interviews

• End of article shows recommendations for future programs and how to prevent irrelevancy

Is this an Environmental Scan or a Needs Assessment?

General Considerations Regarding Health Education & Risk Reduction Activities

Needs Assessment!

• Used to develop a comprehensive HIV prevention plan; examined the adequacy, availability, and effectiveness of specific services that are available to the target audience

• Informal: conversations and interactions with staff involved with programs or clients

• Formal: systematic collection of data about client population

Is this an Environmental Scan or a Needs Assessment?

Assessing the Needs of Elder Floridians

BOTH!

While the article says it’s a needs assessment, we believe it is both as they gathered broad demographic information (ES) but then narrowed down their focus through a needs assessment by analyzing data for planning committees and program development (NA).

Links to Resources

• http://elderaffairs.state.fl.us/doea/pubs/pubs/Assessing_the_Needs_of_Elder_Floridians_Jan_2012.pdf

• http://www.centre4activeliving.ca/publications/research-reports/2010-fall-prevention.pdf

• http://www.unitedway-cny.org/Community%20Needs%20Assessment%20SUMMARY%20report%20FNL.pdf

• http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/guidelines/herrg/gen-con_community.htm