Table of Contents >
Chapter 3. Assessing Community Needs and Resources >
Section 1. Developing a Plan for Identifying Local Needs and... >
Developing a Plan for Identifying Local Needs and Resources |
Tools & Checklists | Contributed by Catie Heaven Edited by Kate Nagy and Jerry Schultz |
Checklist
Here, you'll find a checklist summarizing the major points contained in the text.
What do we mean by needs and resources?
__ Needs can be defined as the gap between what is and what should be.
__ Resources, or assets, can include anyone or anything that can be used to improve the quality of life.
Why develop a plan for assessing local needs and resources?
__ It will help you gain a deeper understanding of the community.
__ An assessment will encourage community members to consider the community's assets and how to use them, as well as the community's needs and how to address them.
__ It will help you make decisions about priorities for program or system improvement.
__ It goes a long way toward eliminating unpleasant surprises down the road.
__ It allows you to involve community members from the very beginning of the process.
__ An assessment is a great opportunity to use community-based participatory research, further involving community members and increasing community capacity.
__ A good plan will provide an easy-to-follow road map for conducting an accurate assessment.
__ A planning process will give community members the opportunity to voice their opinions, hopes, and fears about the community.
Who should be involved in developing a plan for assessing local needs and resources?
__ Those experiencing needs that should be addressed.
__ Health and human service providers.
__ Government officials.
__ Community leaders.
__ People whose jobs or lives could be affected by the eventual actions taken as a result of the assessment.
__ Community activists.
__ Businesses, especially those that employ people from populations of concern.
When should you assess needs and assets?
__ Prior to planning the initiative
__ During implementation of an initiative
__ On an ongoing basis
How do you develop a plan to assess local needs and resources?
__ Recruit a planning group that represents all stakeholders and mirrors the diversity of the community.
__ Design an evaluation process for the assessment, including the development of the plan.
__ Decide why you want to conduct the assessment.
__ Determine what data is already available.
__ Figure out what other information you need.
__ Decide what methods you'll use for gathering information.
- Using existing data
- Listening sessions and public forums
- Interviews and focus groups
- Direct, and sometimes participant, observation.
- Surveys.
- Asset mapping.
__ Decide whom you'll gather information from.
__ Decide who will collect data.
__ Decide how you will reach informants.
__ Decide who will analyze the data and how they'll do it.
__ Plan whatever training is needed.
__ Decide how you'll record the results of the assessment and present them to the community.
__ Decide who will perform what assessment tasks.
__ Create a timeline.
__ Present the plan, get feedback, and adjust it to make it more workable.