Idntifying priority health issues involves striking a delicate balance between perceptions the community itself has of its needs and the needs that are Identified through the community health assessment. When identifying assets, community members are able to gain control of their environment, their behaviors, and their perceptions that they can use to change their lifestyles. This brings about a sense of dedication to long-lasting health changes that the community will effectively maintain.

For this Discussion, refer to the media Identifying Assets from this week's resources. Then review the case study "Opening the Doors to Change" from this week's resources, in which the author identifies policy priorities and the areas in need of attention (starting on page 4). Finally, consider the following scenario: You have received funding from an agency to implement improvement strategies for three areas in need of attention in the case study.

Required Readings

Gilmore, G. D. (2012). Needs and capacity assessment strategies for health education and promotion (4th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

• Chapter 2, "Needs and Capacity Assessments Within the Bigger Picture" (pp. 29–30; pp. 47–51)
• Chapter 6, "Group Participation Process: Nominal Group" (pp. 112–115)
• Chapter 8, "Community-Based Needs and Capacity Assessment Process" (p. 130)

Darling, R., & Kaminska, M. (2010). Opening the doors to change: Domestic violence in Belize: A case study. Cornell University.
Cornell University, Darling, R., & Kaminska, M. (n.d.). Opening the Doors to Change. Domestic Violence in Belize: A Case Study. Retrieved from http://ciifad.cornell.edu/downloads/CS_Belize_MOD….

University of Kansas (n.d.). Community Tool Box: Chapter 3-section 14: SWOT analysis: Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Retrieved: March 21, 2018 from https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/assessment…
University of Kansas. (2013). Section 14. SWOT analysis: Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Tool: Performing a SWOT analysis. Retrieved from http://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/assessment/…

U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Exercise: Prioritizing issues. Retrieved April 23, 2014, from http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/implement/Priori…
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (n.d.). Exercise: Prioritizing issues. Retrieved from http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/implement/Priori…

University of Kansas. (n.d.). Community Tool Box: Chapter 3: Section 1. Developing a plan for assessing local needs and resources. Retrieved: March 21, 2018 from http://ctb.ku.edu/en/tablecontents/sub_section_mai…

University of Kansas. (n.d.). Community Tool Box: Chapter 3: Section 2. Understanding and describing the community. Retrieved: March 21, 2018 from http://ctb.ku.edu/en/tablecontents/sub_section_mai…

University of Kansas. (n.d.). Community Tool Box: Chapter 17: Section 3. Defining and analyzing the problem. Retrieved: March 21, 2018 from http://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/analyze/ana…

University of Kansas. (n.d.). Community Tool Box: Chapter 17: Section 4. Analyzing root causes of problems: The "But Why?" technique. Retrieved: March 21, 2018 from http://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/analyze/ana…

Required Media

Laureate Education (Producer). (2014). Identifying assets [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.