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Question: hello, I am a senior at University of WI-La Crosse. I am working on a proposal for a statewide needs and capacity. One of the focuses is the underserved communities such as the Hmong and First Nations. I was wondering of you had any advice on how to reach these populations and unique ways to collect both qualitative and quantitative data.
Answer:

Thank you for getting in touch with us here at the Community Tool Box (CTB) and for your great questions. The CTB has resources in chapter 3 that are total money about accessing the community AND addressing your second question, the links are provided for you here. There is a lot of information provided in this chapter, but it will be well worth your time and effort to read it through in its entirety.

Chapter 3. Assessing Community Needs and Resources
Learn how to identify and assess community concerns, needs, and assets.

o    Section 1.Developing a Plan for Assessing Local Needs and Resources
o    Section 2.Understanding and Describing the Community
o    Section 3.Conducting Public Forums and Listening Sessions
o    Section 4.Collecting Information about the Problem
o    Section 5.Analyzing Community Problems
o    Section 6.Conducting Focus Groups
o    Section 7.Conducting Needs Assessment Surveys
o    Section 8.Identifying Community Assets and Resources
o    Section 9.Developing Baseline Measures
o    Section 10.Conducting Concerns Surveys
o    Section 11.Determining Service Utilization
o    Section 12.Conducting Interviews
o    Section 13.Conducting Surveys
o    Section 14.SWOT Analysis: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats
o    Section 15.Qualitative Methods to Assess Community Issues
o    Section 16.Geographic Information Systems: Tools for Community Mapping
o    Section 17.Leading a Community Dialogue on Building a Healthy Community
o    Section 18.Creating and Using Community Report Cards
o    Section 19.Using Public Records and Archival Data
o    Section 20.Implementing Photovoice in Your Community
o    Section 21.Windshield and Walking Surveys
o    Section 22.Using Small Area Analysis to Uncover Disparities
o    Section 23.Developing and Using Criteria and Processes to Set Priorities
o    Section 24.Arranging Assessments That Span Jurisdictions 
Okay, I hope these resources are helpful, if not, please feel free to contact us again and we’ll do everything we can to get you what you need. Best of success in your endeavors.
Be well and take care,
Ask an Advisor.

Question Date: Wed, 09/24/2025