2.1 Community Needs Assessment Overview

Question 1

Needs Assessment
(Community Analysis, Community Diagnosis, Community Assessment)

Answer 1

• Identifying, analyzing and prioritizing needs of a priority population (group of people in a community who will be served interventions)

Question 2

6 Step Process

Answer 2

1. Determine Purpose/Scope of the Needs Assessment
   - What is the goal of the needs assessment
   - What do you hope to gain from the assessment
   - What resources do you have available to complete the assessment
2. Gather Data
   - Identify primary/secondary data to identify population needs
   - Primary data is used specifically for a needs assessment (asking people in the priority population to complete a survey about health habits)
   - Secondary data (consulting health insurance claims)
3. Analyze Data
   - Formal approach would be statistically driven
   - Informal approach would look at overall differences between the population’s health status and health conditions.
   - This should help form a list of priority problems
4. Identify the Risk Factors Linked to the Health Problem
   - Can be genetic, behavioral or environmental

5 - Identify the Program Focus
- What might impact the risk factors
Example issue of overweight
- Does the population have knowledge to make healthy choices (knowledge would be predisposing factor)
- Does population have access to exercise equipment (enabling factors)
- Support or peers that recognize the importance of exercise and healthy habits (reinforcing factor)

6 - Validating the Prioritized Need
- Double check and verify information