Outreach Evaluation Series: Community Assessment Susan Barnes and Alan Carr National Network of Libraries of Medicine Outreach Evaluation Resource Center April 29, 2008 Tucson, AZ

Objectives By the end of the session, participants will be able to: Describe the goals of a community assessment Identify methods for gathering information from local participants and stakeholders to better plan an outreach project Collect community assessment data for proposal writing

What is Community Assessment Building a picture of a community

Why Do Community Assessment? Investigate whether your project is necessary and viable Convince stakeholders of the need for your project Make decisions about how to conduct your program Find resources and community partners for your outreach project

What Information to Collect What you already know What is available in public documents What key informants know What other community members know and do

Quantitative Evaluation Data What are your evaluation questions? How many? How much? What percentage? How often? What is the average amount? What are community members… Ideas? Concerns? Beliefs? Opinions? Experiences Qualitative

Existing textual information (reports, meeting minutes) Observations Interviews Public forums Focus groups How to Collect It Existing numerical information (e.g., census data) Questionnaire data QuantitativeQualitative

Phase 1: Inventory what you know What you already know

Inventory What You Know Team brainstorming: What issues, problems, behaviors particularly interest you? What information resources are available to help you address these problems/ issues/behaviors? What community relationships have you formed that can be helpful? What existing studies can help you? What experts are available to you?

Information Needs Team brainstorming: What do we need to know about our “issue” and our target community What information do we need that will convince our funders our project is necessary? What resources can we use to answer our questions and build our case?

Phase 2: Work With Existing Data What is available in public documents

Community Assessment Robeson County, NC Worksheet 1 What do you know from this profile?

Identifying Community Needs Community statistics about: Medically underserved areas Special populations Prevailing health problems Computer literacy and Internet access (individuals; physicians)

Existing Data Community statistics about: Age Poverty Health problems Ethnicity Educational level Primary care physicians per capita Primary care providers per capita Computer literacy and Internet access

Where to Find Existing Data Scholarly literature Health data tools and statistics US Census data Health and social service departments State centers with health or economic statistics Federal agencies Boards of education Foundations and community-based organizations

Where to Find Existing Data Partners in Information Access for the Public Health Workforce

Community Assessment Robeson County, NC Next steps: What questions do we want to pursue next in our community assessment of Robeson County

Identifying Community Assets Community leaders Health coalitions and partnerships Libraries that serve the public Health care organizations Nonprofit agencies Churches Businesses Lay health advisor programs

Where to find it Chamber of Commerce Internet searches Newspapers Networking

Phase 3: Collecting Local Information What key informants know What other community members know and do

Important Local Information Opinion leaders Innovators and early adopters Health information and computer access for residents Computer experience of residents Community assets and resources

Levels of “Community” Assessment Target Community Larger Community

Innovators and Early Adopters Who in the community needs better access to health information resources ? Who has had habits or experiences that prepared them for using this resource? Who seems most motivated to learn to use the resources?

Innovators and Early Adopters Who in the community has experience with and access to technology? Who is most likely to see tangible results from using the technology?

Types of Information – Attitude toward “Innovation” Stages of change: Pre-contemplation Contemplation Preparation Action Maintenance

Types of Information – Attitudes and Behaviors What resources do people currently use for health resources? What is their opinion of the information they receive? How much do they use computers and the Internet?

Resources and Assets Community events Educational activities that can incorporate health information Community training facilities

Partnership Resources Partner organizations’ time, financial support, and other resources What resources are available in the partners’ organization to support health information outreach? Are there any anticipated resources that can be leveraged? (e.g., grant funding)

Methods Key informant interviews Review of existing data Observations Questionnaires Focus groups Public forums

Key Informants People who have specialized knowledge and unique perspectives about the community of interest. Find them through: Networking Groups and organizations Recommendations (you can ask key informants to suggest other key informants )

Qualities of Good Key Informants Opinion leaders in the community (the people who can “get things done”) Innovators and early adopters – who in the community needs your information?

Examples of Data Collection Methods Data from Individuals Interviews Observations Questionnaires Data from Groups Observations Focus groups Public forums

Planning Sheet Planning and Evaluation Health Information Outreach Projects Booklet 1 Getting Started with Community-Based Outreach Workshop Series blank worksheet

Breakout Groups: Developing a Local Community Assessment Plan Worksheet 2

Wrap-Up List one thing you have learned from this workshop What key thought or piece of advice will guide your future evaluation work? What action step will you take in the near future? What one question are you still pondering?

Contact Information Susan Barnes, Assistant Director NN/LM Outreach Evaluation Resource Center Alan Carr, Outreach Coordinator NN/LM Pacific Southwest Region NN/LM Outreach Evaluation Resource Center Web Address: