Methods of Gathering Information for a Community-Needs Assessment

1. There are individual methods, such as surveys, of gathering information for a community-needs assessment, and group methods, such as focus groups. Compare and contrast some of the positive and negative aspects of collecting information for a community-needs assessment in an individual versus group format.

2. Explore the role of focus groups versus interviews as they relate to community-needs assessments. In your answer, be certain to evaluate whether you think one method is more beneficial with regard to gathering information for community-needs assessments.

3. After evaluating the different methods of gathering information for a community-needs assessment, determine which three methods you think are the most useful for organizations. Be sure to justify why you chose the three methods.

4. Examine the role that secondary data sources play with regard to gathering information for a community-needs assessment. Determine the importance of exploring secondary data sources as one of the ways to gather data when conducting a community-needs assessment.

Please read pages 165-166 in your textbook Grant Writing and Fundraising Tool Kit for Human Services, as well as other required resources.

The following article can be found under Course Documents:

Adams, C.M. (n.d.). Developing a powerful grant proposal: A step-by-step tutorial. II: Motivating the grant writer: Developing the statement of need. Grantstation.

Handout #2: A brief on focus groups. (n.d.). National Cancer Institute. Retrieved from http://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/use_what_works/mod… /Module_2_Handout_2.pdf.

Olney, C.A. & Barnes, S.J. (2013). Getting started with community-based outreach. Outreach Evaluation Resource Center, 10-25. Retrieved from https://nnlm.gov/sites/default/files/neo/files/booklet-one.pdf.

Section 7: Conducting needs assessment surveys. (n.d.). Community Tool Box. Retrieved from http://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/assessment/assessing-community-needs-and-resources/conducting-needs-assessment-surveys/main.

Section 6: Conducting focus groups. (n.d.). Community Tool Box. Retrieved from http://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/assessment/assessing-community-needs-and-resources/conduct-focus-groups/main.

Pages 165-166 in your textbook will discuss the Needs/Problem Statement component of a grant proposal. This is an important part of the grant proposal to understand, as it helps determine the role that secondary data sources play in grant proposals. The other required resources will introduce you to ways to gather information for a community-needs assessment, including utilizing techniques such as focus groups and surveys. The readings will also expose you to information related to how to interpret the findings you gather during a community-needs assessment, and how to use this information to move forward.