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Assessing Community Strengths and Needs

To succeed, a prevention program should be tailored to the strengths and needs of the community it serves. An assessment to identify those strengths and needs can take many forms, such as a compilation of demographic data from census records, results of surveys, and partners' responses to questions about the community they serve. Assessments can be expanded to include focus group discussions, town meetings, interviews with stakeholders, and telephone or mailed surveys to partnership members. An image or chart of community assets will show opportunities for building on strengths of individuals, agencies, and businesses within the community.

Use the following resources to learn more about assessing community strengths and needs, including State and local examples.

Community Guide to Helping America's Youth The White House Helps communities build partnerships, assess their needs and resources, and select from program designs that could be replicated in their community. Includes the steps necessary for building strong supports for youth. Healthy Communities - Healthy Youth Search Institute This initiative seeks to motivate and equip individuals, organizations, and their leaders to join together in nurturing competent, caring, and responsible children and adolescents.

Assessing Community Needs and Resources
University of Kansas Community Tool Box
Focuses on community assessment for health promotion programs.

Community Development Capacity Index
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Laboratory for Community and Economic Development (2002)
This assessment tool provides a framework for communities to benchmark or evaluate the impact of community development initiatives by measuring change in both organizational and financial resources.

Community Needs Assessment: Taking the Pulse of Your Community
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Laboratory for Community and Economic Development (2002)
Explains reasons for conducting a community needs assessment, who should be involved, the steps in conducting the assessment, and where to go for help.

Early Childhood Needs and Resources Community Assessment Tool (PDF - 56 KB)
National League of Cities (2002)
Designed to help city officials and other community leaders gain a better understanding of how young children and their families are faring and where assistance is needed.

Five Steps to Community Assessment: For American Indian/Alaska Native Head Start Programs (PDF - 2310 KB)
AED Center for Early Care and Education & American Indian Technical Assistance Network (2006)
Step-by-step guide to planning, designing, and gathering community assessment information. Helps users analyze the results and apply them toward successful program planning and implementation.

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State and local examples

Investing in the Future of L.A.'s Most At-Risk Children: Data on Needs and Resources for Preschool Children Involved With Child Welfare and Probation (PDF - 734 KB)
McCroskey & Nadybal (2007)
Investigates the current and projected number of preschool children in Los Angeles County at risk of child abuse and neglect, and examines the capacity of local communities' child care systems.

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Updated on February 2, 2010