Enhanced community needs and assets assessment can provide critical information to guide programs in creating, developing, targeting and tailoring teen pregnancy prevention services that best “fit” the diverse youth and diverse communities they serve. Moreover, innovative and inclusive needs assessment approaches can help to inform, interest, and engage community members in local teen pregnancy prevention efforts.
The Working with Diverse Communities component works to build the capacity of Part A grantees to: 1) better understand the teen pregnancy prevention needs of diverse segments of the community, and 2) utilize data-driven strategies to work with diverse communities at the community level to address the root causes of teen pregnancy.
Within this section you will find Enhanced Needs & Assets Assessment resources and tools that will help you to do these things, focusing on topics such as: involving diverse segments of the community, including youth in needs/s assessment activities; identifying and using relevant existing data sources; conducting focus groups, listening sessions and community forums; alternative qualitative and participatory needs assessment methods; and meaningful presentation and use of assessment findings.
Community Health Assessment and Group Evaluation (CHANGE) Action Guide: Building a Foundation of Knowledge to Prioritize Community Needs
Center for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2010— This comprehensive data-collection tool and planning resource assists community members to gather and organize data on community assets and facilitates identification of actions to transform communities to support healthy living. Easy-to-use Excel spreadsheets are included for collection of local-level data from schools, work sites, community organizations, and health care facilities. PDF
Community Needs Assessment Tool Kit
Missouri Association for Community Action, 2009— Developed for use by community action agencies in Missouri, this tool kit guides users through an integrated needs assessment to build an understanding of social determinants in the community. Included are information and tools for data gathering involving community members around conditions of poverty and related issues of employment, income, education, housing, nutrition, transportation, and health; analysis; prioritizing of issues; and steps for strategic planning. PDF
