1. We need to understand the community or situation better.

1. Have we described the people and conditions in the community?

• Toolkit: Assessing Community Needs and Resources
• Assessing Community Needs and Resources
• Developing a Plan for Identifying Local Needs and Resources
• Understanding and Describing the Community
• Conducting Studies of the Issue

2. Have we described the history of the community (in general and regarding the issues of concern)?

• Toolkit: Assessing Community Needs and Resources
• Assessing Community Needs and Resources
• Developing a Plan for Identifying Local Needs and Resources
• Understanding and Describing the Community
• Collecting Information about the Problem
• Using Public Records and Archival Data
• Understanding Culture and Diversity in Building Communities
• Conducting Studies of the Issue

3. Have we described what matters to people in the community?

• Assessing Community Needs and Resources
• Conducting Public Forums and Listening Sessions
• Conducting Focus Groups
• Conducting Concerns Surveys
• Conducting Interviews
• Conducting Surveys
• Leading a Community Dialogue on Building a Healthy Community
• Understanding People’s Needs
• Gathering Data on Public Opinion

4. Have we described what matters to others (stakeholders) who care about the community?

• Assessing Community Needs and Resources
• Developing a Plan for Identifying Local Needs and Resources
• Conducting Needs Assessment Surveys
• Determining Service Utilization
• Discovering and Creating Possibilities
• Studying the Opposition

5. Have we gathered and reviewed evidence about potentially important problems or goals?

• Toolkit: Assessing Community Needs and Resources
• Collecting Information About the Problem
• Analyzing Community Problems
• Developing Baseline Measures of Behavior
• Quantitative Methods to Assess Community Issues
• Leading a Community Dialogue on Building a Healthy Community
• Using Public Records and Archival Data
• Talking About Risk and Protective Factors Related to Community Issues
• How to Conduct Research: An Overview
• Conducting Studies of the Issue
• Gathering Data on Public Opinion

6. Have we identified the needs related to important problems and goals?

• Developing a Plan for Identifying Local Needs and Resources
• SWOT Analysis: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats
• Talking About Risk and Protective Factors Related to Community Issues
• How to Conduct Research: An Overview
• Conducting Studies of the Issue
• Gathering Data on Public Opinion

7. Have we identified resources and assets that can be used in addressing important problems or goals?

• Developing a Plan for Identifying Local Needs and Resources
• Identifying Community Assets and Resources
• SWOT Analysis: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats
• Talking About Risk and Protective Factors Related to Community Issues
• Understanding People’s Needs
• Learning from and Contributing to Constituents
• How to Conduct Research: An Overview
• Conducting Studies of the Issue
• Gathering Data on Public Opinion