Needs AssessmentNeeds Assessment

Suzanne Borys, Ed.D.Suzanne Borys, Ed.D.

Program ManagerProgram Manager

Research, Planning and Evaluation Research, Planning and Evaluation UnitUnit

NJ Division of Addiction ServicesNJ Division of Addiction Services

DefinitionDefinition

One basic definition of needs One basic definition of needs assessment is the systematic process assessment is the systematic process whereby needs are identified and whereby needs are identified and documenteddocumented

A needs assessment is a series of data A needs assessment is a series of data collection activities that help pinpoint collection activities that help pinpoint gaps in services and inform as to what gaps in services and inform as to what kinds of programs might fill the gapskinds of programs might fill the gaps

It is a process encompassing planning, It is a process encompassing planning,

data gathering, and analysis. data gathering, and analysis.

PurposePurpose

Supports rational, data-driven Supports rational, data-driven allocation of resourcesallocation of resources

Identifies high-need areasIdentifies high-need areas Supports sound service planningSupports sound service planning Improves coordination of servicesImproves coordination of services Assesses the gap between need Assesses the gap between need

and resources/capacityand resources/capacity

BackgroundBackground

NJ has conducted substance abuse NJ has conducted substance abuse needs assessment studies since the needs assessment studies since the 1970s1970s

PurposePurpose– Improve program planningImprove program planning– Guide treatment and prevention resource Guide treatment and prevention resource

allocationallocation

Since 1992, the Federal government Since 1992, the Federal government has funded states to support needs has funded states to support needs assessment studiesassessment studies

Need vs. Demand for Need vs. Demand for TreatmentTreatment

NeedNeed- - physical and behavioral indicators physical and behavioral indicators (e.g., frequency and quantity of (e.g., frequency and quantity of substance use, diagnoses)substance use, diagnoses)- biological testing- biological testing

DemandDemand- - motivation for treatmentmotivation for treatment- service utilization- service utilization- waiting lists- waiting lists- referrals from other agencies/service - referrals from other agencies/service systemssystems

Steps in the ProcessSteps in the Process

Defining addictions treatment needDefining addictions treatment need Estimating need in given populationsEstimating need in given populations Estimating treatment demandEstimating treatment demand Inferring service requirements on basis Inferring service requirements on basis

of needs and/or demand estimatesof needs and/or demand estimates Comparing existing services with Comparing existing services with

inferred service requirements to identify inferred service requirements to identify service “gaps”service “gaps”

Establishing priorities among the gapsEstablishing priorities among the gaps Designing service programs to fill the Designing service programs to fill the

gapsgaps

MethodsMethods

Gathering opinions and judgmentsGathering opinions and judgments– Key informant interviewsKey informant interviews– Community forums/public hearingsCommunity forums/public hearings– Political leadersPolitical leaders

Conducting surveysConducting surveys– General populationGeneral population– Special sub-populationsSpecial sub-populations

Collecting service statisticsCollecting service statistics– Utilization rates/system performanceUtilization rates/system performance– Other system utilization ratesOther system utilization rates

Methods (con’t)Methods (con’t)

Social Indicators AnalysesSocial Indicators Analyses– Use of existing quantitative data Use of existing quantitative data

such as hospital discharge records, such as hospital discharge records, poverty, unemployment rates, poverty, unemployment rates, crime, education, income levels, crime, education, income levels, housing, etc.housing, etc.

Use of mathematical modelsUse of mathematical models– Capture-RecaptureCapture-Recapture

Capture-RecaptureCapture-Recapture

Capture-RecaptureCapture-Recapture

ProblemProblem– To estimate the size of the population known To estimate the size of the population known

to exist but not possible to sampleto exist but not possible to sample ObjectiveObjective

– To estimate the need for illicit drug treatmentTo estimate the need for illicit drug treatment HistoryHistory

– In 1896, Carl George Johannes Peterson, a In 1896, Carl George Johannes Peterson, a Danish fisheries scientist, estimated the size Danish fisheries scientist, estimated the size of a fish population using this methodof a fish population using this method

Capture-RecaptureCapture-Recapture WhyWhy

– Household surveys do not provide reliable Household surveys do not provide reliable estimates of illicit drug useestimates of illicit drug use

HowHow– Use NJ-SAMS data to examine 2 different Use NJ-SAMS data to examine 2 different

samples from 2 different years and samples from 2 different years and observe the presence or absence in both observe the presence or absence in both yearsyears

Other ApplicationsOther Applications– Study of epidemiologic problemsStudy of epidemiologic problems– US Census BureauUS Census Bureau– EcologyEcology

National StudiesNational Studies

Need in general populationNeed in general population– National Household Survey of Drug Use National Household Survey of Drug Use

and Health (NHSDUH)and Health (NHSDUH)– Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN)Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN)– Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS)Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS)

Need in special populationsNeed in special populations– Monitoring the Future Study (MTF)Monitoring the Future Study (MTF)– Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)– Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring Program Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring Program

(ADAM)(ADAM)

DAS Needs DAS Needs Assessment StudiesAssessment Studies

NJ Household Survey on Drug Use NJ Household Survey on Drug Use and Healthand Health

Mental Health StudyMental Health Study Administrative Client-Level Administrative Client-Level

Treatment Data Analysis Treatment Data Analysis Database Linking StudyDatabase Linking Study Social Indicators Supplemental Social Indicators Supplemental

StudiesStudies Middle School SurveyMiddle School Survey

Some Recent DAS Some Recent DAS ExamplesExamples

AEREF funding formula and AEREF funding formula and applicationapplication

Deaf , Hard of Hearing, Blind and Deaf , Hard of Hearing, Blind and Disabled needs assessmentDisabled needs assessment

NJ EPI Profile NJ EPI Profile - - MortalityMortality- Morbidity/Injury and Illness- Morbidity/Injury and Illness- Crime- Crime- Consumption- Consumption- Other Risk Factors- Other Risk Factors

DAS ChartbooksDAS Chartbooks

Presents profiles of each county Presents profiles of each county and the State using key social and the State using key social indicators related to substance indicators related to substance abuseabuse

Includes core indicatorsIncludes core indicators- - populationpopulation- mortality- mortality- crime- crime- SA treatment admissions- SA treatment admissions

DAS ChartbooksDAS Chartbooks

Includes supplemental indicators of risk Includes supplemental indicators of risk and protective factors that affect health and protective factors that affect health outcomesoutcomes

(community environment, family structure,(community environment, family structure, school involvement, individual/peer groupschool involvement, individual/peer group

behavior, substance abuse related problems)behavior, substance abuse related problems) Shows the effect of substance use and Shows the effect of substance use and

health related consequenceshealth related consequences Provides information to support needs Provides information to support needs

assessment and prevention, as well as assessment and prevention, as well as treatment planning, at the community treatment planning, at the community levellevel

Supplemental StudiesSupplemental Studies

- - Estimates of need for treatmentEstimates of need for treatment - Treatment gap analysis (unmetTreatment gap analysis (unmet

demand/total demand) demand/total demand)

- The Relative Needs Assessment - The Relative Needs Assessment Scale Scale

Need vs. Demand DataNeed vs. Demand Data

Total Treatment Need*

Treatment Demand Gap

Unmet Demand As Percent of Total Demand

MetDemand

Unmet Demand

Total Demand

833,285 50,380 29,736 80,118 37.1%

State Estimates of Met and Unmet Demand for

Adult Population in 2000

•Treatment need is derived from the 2003 Household Survey and Capture-recapture analysis•Met demand: Population who received treatment, in NJ-SAMS DATA•Unmet demand: Those in need who would seek treatment, had it been available (2003 Household Survey)

Geographic Geographic Information Systems Information Systems

(GIS)(GIS) A method to visually spatialize A method to visually spatialize

social service problemssocial service problems Being used as a tool to illustrate Being used as a tool to illustrate

needs assessmentneeds assessment Will be mapping treatment Will be mapping treatment

capacity overlaid over needcapacity overlaid over need

Some GIS ExamplesSome GIS Examples

Ocean

Atlantic

Burlington

Morris

Sussex

Salem

Warren

Monmouth

Hunterdon

Cumberland

Bergen

Mercer

Somerset

Middlesex

Gloucester

Cape May

Camden

Passaic

Essex

Union

Hudson

17537 12661

5042

16261

4141

10919

21236

115153623

3871

6602

7913

11993

19362

22662

11403

25318

15215

37222

15893

20458

Total Treatment Need in 2005 3,623 - 5,042 5,043 - 7,913 7,914 - 1,626116,262 - 25,31825,319 - 37,222

Total Treatment Need in New Jersey, 2005

223 364

958

303

511

366

202

253

370

257

382

347

181

751

215

553

667

615

766

500555

Ocean

Atlantic

Burlington

Morris

Sussex

Salem

Warren

Monmouth

Hunterdon

Cumberland

Bergen

Mercer

Somerset

Middlesex

Gloucester

Cape May

Camden

Passaic

Essex

UnionHudson

IDU_Treatment Need Per 100,000 County Population181 - 303304 - 555556 - 958

754 1536

339

572

737

1892

246

304

1730

126

766

421

602

2061

1489

1513

2534

2247

4488

19802598

Ocean

Atlantic

Burlington

Morris

Sussex

Salem

Warren

Monmouth

Hunterdon

Cumberland

Bergen

Mercer

Somerset

Middlesex

Gloucester

Cape May

Camden

Passaic

Essex

UnionHudson

Total Treatment Need in 2005126 - 421422 - 766767 - 25982599 - 4488

Treatment Need Estimate for Injection Drug Use in New Jersey, 2003

Next StepsNext Steps

Developing a plan to conduct a Developing a plan to conduct a comprehensive statewide needs comprehensive statewide needs assessmentassessment

Unifying the prevention and Unifying the prevention and treatment needs assessment treatment needs assessment processprocess

For More InformationFor More Information

Suzanne Borys, Ed.D.,Program ManagerSuzanne Borys, Ed.D.,Program Manager

DAS Research, Planning and Evaluation DAS Research, Planning and Evaluation UnitUnit

(609) 984-4050(609) 984-4050

Suzanne.borys@dhs.state.nj.usSuzanne.borys@dhs.state.nj.us