Question

Describe a process for assessing communities and prioritizing the needs revealed by community assessment.

Answer 1

A community health assessment, also known as community health needs assessment, refers to a state, tribal, local, or territorial health assessment that identifies key health needs and issues through systematic, comprehensive data collection and analysis.

Community health assessment is a fundamental tool of public health practice. Its aim is to describe the health of the community, by presenting information on health status, community health needs, resources, and epidemiologic and other studies of current local health problems. It seeks to identify target populations that may be at increased risk of poor health outcomes and to gain a better understanding of their needs, as well as assess the larger community environment and how it relates to the health of individuals. It also identifies those areas where better information is needed, especially information on health disparities among different subpopulations, quality of health care, and the occurrence and severity of disabilities in the population. The Community Health Assessment is the basis for all local public health planning, giving the local health unit the opportunity to identify and interact with key community leaders, organizations and interested residents about health priorities and concerns. This information forms the basis of improving the health status of the community through a strategic plan.

Conducting a community assessment – the process: Establishing assessment team(s): The first and foremost step of an assessment process is to gather human resources required to conduct effective assessment. The ultimate goal of a community health assessment is to develop strategies to address the community's health needs and identified issues. A variety of tools and processes may be used to conduct a community health assessment; the essential ingredients are community engagement and collaborative participation.

Community assessment is the process of identifying the strengths, assets, needs and challenges of a specified community. Assets refer to the skills, talents and abilities of individuals as well as the resources that local institutions contribute to the community. Community Needs Assessments seek to gather accurate information representative of the needs of a community. Assessments are performed prior to taking action and are used to determine current situations and identify issues for action.

There are six steps to conducting a community assessment.

The six recommended steps in the process of planning and conducting a community assessment are:

Step 1: Define the Scope
Step 2: Go Solo or Collaborate
Step 3: Collect Data
Step 4: Determine Key Findings
Step 5: Set Priorities and Create an Action Plan
Step 6: Share your Findings

Steps 1 through 3 should be considered an iterative and sequential planning process. Each step should be discussed independently. The information identified in one of the steps may change the approach to another step. For example, an organization may decide to collaborate with a key partner to complete the community assessment, but the key partner has to wait three months before it can start. The organization now has to decide if it wants to wait three months before beginning or decide to change the community assessment scope, look for a new partner, or move forward without a partner. Steps 4 through 6 focus on analyzing community assessment data.

A community needs assessment identifies the strengths and resources available in the community to meet the needs of children, youth, and families. The assessment focuses on the capabilities of the community, including its citizens, agencies, and organizations.

Most assessment and planning frameworks include steps or phases that reflect the following actions, some of which may occur simultaneously:

•     Organize and plan
•     Engage the community
•     Develop a goal or vision
•     Conduct community health assessment(s)
•     Prioritize health issues
•     Develop community health improvement plan
•     Implement and monitor community health improvement plan
•     Evaluate process and outcomes

The ultimate goal of a community health assessment is to develop strategies to address the community's health needs and identified issues. A variety of tools and processes may be used to conduct a community health assessment; the essential ingredients are community engagement and collaborative participation.

Types of assessments

You can combine or adapt the following six assessments to best suit your club’s resources and the preferences of community members:

• Community meeting
• Asset inventory
• Survey
• Interview
• Focus group
• Community mapping

TIPS FOR CONDUCTING ANY ASSESSMENT

Remain open minded. Do not underestimate the community. Don’t presume you know what it needs or what challenges it faces.

Choose participants carefully. Consider the makeup of the community and ensure you include a diverse cross-section of relevant groups (e.g., gender, age, ethnicity, religion, income level, vocation).

Include overlooked or marginalized groups. Women, young people, the elderly, and religious and ethnic minorities are often overlooked. Keep the community’s social dynamics in mind, and provide a forum in which all groups feel comfortable sharing their views.

Consider yourself an outsider. Even if you live in the community you want to work with, find a well-connected individual, group, or organization that can introduce you to local stakeholders.

Avoid promising a project before your club makes a formal decision. But do assure participants that you’ll let them know what your club decides. Invite them to take part in any future activities.

Empower stakeholders. Speak with them, not at them, and encourage them to help inform decisions. Ensure stakeholders are an active part of any local initiative.