Starting the Planning Process & Assessing Needs HSC 489

Presentation Overview Starting the Process  Convince decision-makers  Build a rationale  Create a committee Assessing Needs  What’s a need?  Types of data  4 steps of the process

Plan: (verb) – to engage in a process/procedure to develop a method of achieving an end. Different Reasons a Program Starts: - an obvious need - current successful program

Convince the Decision-Makers For Resources  $  staff  facilities  equipment  supplies  utilities  time! For Support  acceptance  policies  visibility  priority  credibility

Build a rationale (Sources of info in building a rationale) 1. Needs assessment data 2. Epi data 3. Economic impact & cost effectiveness 4. Value/benefit of program to decision makers 5. Other successful programs 6. Comparison of proposed program w/ nation or state

Create a rationale sequence Start global Narrow to local State problem Describe solution Point out benefits State why successful Provide references

A good planning committee helps! Other Stakeholders Community reps “Doers” Influencers Sponsoring agency Good Leadership A Solid Committee

Needs assessment contributes to.. PROGRAMS  Program planning  Program implementation  Program evaluation  Marketing COMMUNITY  Policy development  Assets mapping & capacity-building  Community coalition development  Research

What’s a need?  Issue Choice  Actual needs (service needs)  Perceived needs (service demands)  Kinds of data  primary  secondary

 Begin with open- ended questions  Involve community members  “Community-check” goals & assumptions  Frequently report progress/results For Community Involvement

Needs Assessment Focus Risk Factors: Health Environmental Behavioral Others Capacities: Resources & assets Strengths Potential

Conducting a Needs Assessment Step 1: Determine purpose and scope Step 2: Gather data Step 3: Analyze data Step 4: Identify data-linked factors Step 5: Identify program focus Step 6: Validate prioritized needs