Starting the Planning Process& Assessing Needs

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Presentation Overview

Starting the Process

Convince decision-makers

Build a rationale

Create a committee

Assessing Needs

What’s a need?

Types of data

4 steps of the process

Plan: (verb) – to engage in a process/procedure to develop a method of achieving an end.

Different Reasons a Program Starts:

- an obvious need

- current successful program

Convince the Decision-MakersFor Resources $ staff facilities equipment supplies utilities time!

For Support acceptance policies visibility priority credibility

Build a rationale(Sources of info in building a rationale)

1. Needs assessment data

2. Epi data

3. Economic impact & cost effectiveness

4. Value/benefit of program to decision makers

5. Other successful programs

6. Comparison of proposed program w/ nation or state

Create a rationale sequence

Start global

Narrow to local

State problem

Describe solution Point out benefits State why successfulProvide references

A good planning committee helps!

OtherStakeholders

Community reps

“Doers”

InfluencersSponsoring agency

Good Leadership

ASolid

Committee

Needs assessment contributes to..

PROGRAMS

Program planning Program

implementation

Program evaluation Marketing

COMMUNITY

Policy development Assets mapping &

capacity-building Community coalition

development

Research

What’s a need?

Issue Choice Actual needs (service

needs) Perceived needs (service

demands)

Kinds of data primary secondary

Begin with open-ended questions

Involve community members

“Community-check” goals & assumptions

Frequently report progress/results

ForCommunityInvolvement

Needs Assessment Focus

Risk Factors:•Health•Environmental•Behavioral•Others

Capacities:•Resources & assets•Strengths•Potential

Conducting a Needs Assessment

Step 1: Determine purpose and scopeStep 2: Gather dataStep 3: Analyze dataStep 4: Identify data-linked factorsStep 5: Identify program focusStep 6: Validate prioritized needs