 |
       |
 |
Assessing Community Needs
B. WHAT DATA AND INFORMATION CAN WE USE?
Although conducting a community needs assessment may seem like a daunting task, much of the information needed to identify gaps in service already exists.
- The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System can provide information about health risk behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of mortality, morbidity, and social problems among youth in the United States.
- State and local health departments can provide vital statistics for the community.
- The state education department can provide a "report card" for the schools and school systems in the community that will help determine whether children are achieving their educational goals.
- Individual schools in the community can also provide valuable information, including data on attendance and immunization rates.
- Surveys can help determine the community's status on many important issues, such as access to and utilization of care, the availability of particular programs and services, and the strengths and assets of the community. Surveys can and should be conducted with a variety of different subjects to get the most accurate picture of the community; important groups include youth, parents, care providers, school staff and leadership, and representatives of community agencies.
- Interviews and focus groups can be valuable tools to collect anecdotal data and personal experiences.
- The Public Health Department and Police Department also has youth data.
