Understanding your Community Needs and Resource Assessments Primary Prevention Institute 2015

Learning Objectives :  To understand the value of conducting community assessments  To learn how to conduct a needs-based and strength-based assessment  To practice using assessment tools Primary Prevention Institute 2015

Opening Discussion: What have your experiences been with needs and resources assessments? Primary Prevention Institute 2015

Needs & Resources Assessment  What are the needs and conditions that must be addressed in your community to prevent problem behaviors?  What assets does your community have in place already to prevent the problem behaviors? Primary Prevention Institute 2015

What is a Needs and Resources Assessment?  A systematic process of gathering and critically interpreting information (data) about a particular health or social problem, and the resources available to address that problem, within a defined community. Primary Prevention Institute 2015

Why is it important?  We can ensure that we are actually addressing the community’s needs, not just what we think the needs are  Community members are engaged in the process and are therefore more willing to work on the issue because they are guiding the process  All stakeholders develop a shared understanding of community needs and resources  Needs and resources assessments are the foundation for planning Primary Prevention Institute 2015

Identifying a problem  We are going to focus on Texting and Driving  Which social issue/problem will you address in your program? Primary Prevention Institute 2015

Defining Community Who is in your community?  Who are your stakeholders?  Who are you collecting information from?  Who needs to be involved in collecting and analyzing data?  What are their roles? Primary Prevention Institute 2015

Tools for Assessment Primary Prevention Institute 2015

 Asset maps are used to identify the strengths, skills, capabilities, and talents that a community can use to create beneficial changes. Resources and asset mapping Institutions Groups and Organizations Individuals Primary Prevention Institute 2015

Types of Assets CategoryEntitiesAssets InstitutionsGovernment bodies, hospitals, schools, businesses funding sponsorships clout and influence media exposure Groups & Organization s 4-H Club, Rotary, neighborhood organizations, faith- based community groups volunteer base meeting space and facilities office space and equipment outreach capabilities organizational clout and respect IndividualsBoth formal and informal leaders in the community technical skills political influence social research skills management experience and skills fundraising experience and skills journalism/public relations Primary Prevention Institute 2015

Existing Data  RI DataHUB  Census  Kids Count  Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)  Survey Works (SALT) data  State Departments of Education, Health  Your organization’s existing data  Other organization’s needs assessments  Data from local, state, or national studies  stats/ stats/ Primary Prevention Institute 2015

Common Methods for Collecting New Data:  Surveys  Key Informant Interviews  Focus Groups  Community Meetings/Forums  Environmental Scans Primary Prevention Institute 2015

Surveys 1. Determine goal of survey 2. Select a sample 3. Find or write the questions Open-ended 4. Test the survey 5. Administer the survey 6. Analyze the data 7. Share & use the results Primary Prevention Institute 2015

Key Informant Interviews Structured conversations with formal and/or informal leaders in a community 1. Define the purpose of the interview(s) 2. Identify potential key informants 3. Generate the questions 4. Identify interviewer 5. Conduct the interviews 6. Interpret and report the results Primary Prevention Institute 2015

Focus Groups  A group of 6-8 people selected for their particular demographic, skills, experience, views, or position are asked a series of questions about a topic or issue to gather their opinions.  Group interaction is used to obtain detailed information about a particular issue.  Steps are similar to those used for key informant interviews Primary Prevention Institute 2015

Community Meeting/Forum  A public meeting is a larger setting that encourages community members to discuss community needs, prioritize needs, and steps to address the priority needs. Primary Prevention Institute 2015

Environmental Scans  Media & advertising scan  Policy scans  Community conditions scan  DISCUSS Environmental SCAN for Texting & Driving Primary Prevention Institute 2015

Once you collected the data…  USE it!  Share the information with staff  Share the information with the community Primary Prevention Institute 2015