Tool Kit - Community Assessment

Toolkit

 Community Assessment
Introduction

Our Story
for community assessment

Tips For Success
for community assessment

Links
for community assessment

INTRODUCTION
A community needs assessment (PowerPoint required) involves collecting information to better understand a community’s strengths and challenges. Community needs assessments are used to:
    - Document needs and gaps in services
     -Identify potential resources
     - Help to establish a vision, goals and strategies to meet community needs
     - Build consensus and buy-in to change
     - Increase a community’s readiness and ability to change by promoting
        collaboration among partners
     - Identify benchmarks to measure progress in meeting goals

Community health departments are an excellent place to find community health assessment information. Although the process of gathering data for community assessment and public health planning varies by state, public health personnel are knowledgeable resources for priority concerns in their region. An example of a comprehensive community assessment is the Olmsted County Community Description(Acrobat Reader required), completed as part of Olmsted County’s public health planning process.