Information Access Category III Resource Development

1. Information Access Category III Resource Development Conducting Community & Program Needs Assessments

2. Introduction The purpose of this tool is to assist ACIOP awardees with conducting needs assessments (NA), collecting data, and evaluating the needs assessment process

3. Measures & Evaluation Questions Measure: Resource needs – Target population needs assessment and types of resources needed Evaluation Questions: Has a resource needs assessment been conducted for the target population? If so, what were the outcomes of that needs assessment?

4. Public Health “What we as a society do collectively to assure the condition in which people can be healthy” (Institute of Medicine, 1988)

5. Purposes of Needs Assessment To identify and set need priorities Make decisions about community or organizational improvement Allocation of resources In this particular case to determine resource needs of your target population as related to the ACIOP award UTILIZES: A systematic approach A needs assessment plan Multiple methods of data collection Community input Evaluation of the needs assessment process and outcomes

6. Phases of a Needs Assessment 2 Pre-assessment: – Its function is to determine what is already known about needs in the system; to identify issues and major areas of concern; and to decide on system boundaries, focus and purpose of the needs assessment, potential sources of data, how the information will be used, and what kinds of decisions will be made on the basis of the findings. Needs assessors develop the design and management plan for Phase 2 and sets criteria for evaluating the entire needs assessment. Assessment: – The needs assessors gather and analyze information and opinions on the needs, set preliminary priorities, and analyze causes related to all three system levels (1-3).

7. Phases of a Needs Assessment 3 Post-assessment: – The bridge to use of the data and plans for action. Principal tasks are to set priorities and criteria for solutions, weigh alternative solutions, and formulate action plans for program changes or other interventions. Information on the needs assessment design, results, and recommendations for action are communicated to decision makers and other stakeholders, and relevant information is prepared for archives and other uses. The evaluation of the needs assessment itself also occurs. From Planning and Conducting a Community Needs Assessment, a Practical Guide, Witkin & Alstchuld.

8. Target Population Categories Level 1 - Service Recipients: Patients, clients, residents Level 2 - Service Providers: Staff, administrators, community officials Level 3 - Resources: Buildings, equipment, personnel needs

9. Health Promotion Program Planning

10. The PRECEDE-PROCEED Model for Health Promotion Planning and Evaluation

11. Three-Phase Plan for Assessing Needs • From Planning and Conducting a Community Needs Assessment, a Practical Guide, Witkin & Alstchuld

12. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

13. Iceberg Model of Health and Wellness

14. Community Needs Assessment is collected from many perspectives Knowledge of people who know the community or health issue best (key informants) Voices of the community Community analysis (Data about the community) – Demographics – Geography – History, educational and political structure – Business and commerce – Health infrastructure and status – Other relevant data Resources at all different levels

15. Voices of the Community All types of stakeholders – Key agencies and informants – Service recipients – Service providers – Health professionals

16. National and State Level United States Census Bureau National Health Surveys Bureau of Vital Statistics State Health Department

17. Local Level Chamber of Commerce City, County, Regional Planning Offices Newspaper Offices Public Libraries Insurance Companies School Systems Hospitals Public and Private Mental Health Centers Public Health Centers Community Residents Participants in Programs or Services Neighborhood Leaders

18. Needs Assessment Tools Surveys Interviews Focus Groups Resource Inventories Observational Methods Community Forums Telephone and Electronic Conferencing

19. Assessment Planning Phase Step 1: Talk to key informants Step 2: Determine purpose and objectives Step 3: Involve the stakeholders Step 4: Identify the target population or community Step 5: Develop an operational management plan

20. Data Collection Phase Step 6: Identify indicators for assessment Step 7: Identify data sources Step 8: Conduct a community profile Step 9: Conduct a resource inventory Step 10: Gather the data

21. Gathering the data Decide on individual or group setting Choose method for data collection (quantitative or qualitative) Choose method for data analysis Create data collection instrument Review instrument Pilot instrument Administer instrument to target population

22. Data Analysis Phase Step 11: Review and analyze the data Step 12: Prioritize needs in terms of importance

23. Action Planning Phase Step 13: Develop an action plan to address the community analysis Step 14: Share the assessment results Step 15: Establish methods of monitoring and evaluating the action plan

24. Recommendations: Utility of Findings Suggest recommendations for the basis of goals and objectives Be clear and concise Connect to stated priorities Look for creative solutions utilizing existing resources Be realistic with the solutions

25. Evaluating the Community Needs Assessment Process and Outcomes Needs Assessment Evaluation Questions: Has a resource needs assessment been conducted for the target population? If so, what were the outcomes of that needs assessment? Needs Assessment Evaluation Results Reporting: Discuss the needs assessment process: What was the purpose? Who was the target audience? Who conducted the needs assessment? Who was involved? Were members of the target population involved? What steps did you take to complete the needs assessment? What happened in each step? (Discuss quantitatively and qualitatively)

26. Evaluating the Community Needs Assessment Process and Outcomes (con’t) Needs Assessment Evaluation Results Reporting: How long did it take? Were there any barriers/challenges? What lessons did you learn during the process? Discuss the outcomes of the needs assessment What resource priorities did the needs assessment unveil? Were these priorities anticipated before the start of the needs assessment? What are the action plans related to those priorities? How will you use the ACIO award to address those priorities?

27. Resources • Institute of Medicine, Committee on Assuring the Health of the Public in the 21st Century. (2003). The community - Chapter 4. Institute of Medicine (U.S.) - Committee on Assuring the Health of the Public in the 21st Century The future of the public's health in the 21st century (pp. 178-211). Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press. http://www.nap.edu/books/030908704X/html/178.html • Peterson, D. J., & Alexander, G. R. (2001). The process of needs assessment. In Petersen, D. J. & Alexander, G. R., Needs assessment in public health: A practical guide for students and professionals. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers. • Witkin, B. R., & Altschuld, J. W. (1995). Planning and conducting needs assessments: a practical guide. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.

28. Resources (con’t) • Community Toolbox Website Resource, Chapter 3. Assessing community needs and resources http://ctb.ku.edu/en/node/9 • Needs Assessment Strategies for Community Groups and Organization http://www.extension.iastate.edu/communities/tools/assess/ • TeamLab-University of Southern California, Designing materials for particular audiences/understanding culture http://teamlab.usc.edu/learn/roadmap/audience.html • CenterLink-The Community of LBT Centers, Conducting Needs assessmentshttp://www.lgbtcenters.org/how-to-do-a-community-needs-assessment.aspx