Transcript Needs Assessment: Community Resources & Readiness

Identifying
Community Resources
Steve Delaronde, MSW, MPH
University of Connecticut Health Center
The Governor’s Prevention Initiative for Youth
July 16, 1999
Steps in conducting a
Needs Assessment
1. Define the community
2. Assess the level of substance use
3. Identify target population(s)
4. Identify risk and protective factors
5. Identify community resources
6. Assess community readiness
What is a community resource?
• Programs and other assets which exist or have the
potential to reduce the likelihood that members of
a population will begin or continue to abuse
tobacco, alcohol or other drugs (ATOD)
• Directly or indirectly
 reduce risk factors for ATOD abuse
 enhance protective factors which buffer the
effects of risk exposure
Arthur M. et al., Assessing State Prevention Resources. CSAP Technical Report, 1998.
What is a community resource
assessment?
• The systematic identification and analysis
of a wide array of assets at the community
level that are or can be used to prevent or
reduce substance use in a population:
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Prevention programs
Policies
Coalitions
People
Conducting an inventory of
community resources
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What resources already exist?
Who is providing those resources?
Who is receiving the resources?
Where are these resources?
How are those resources made available to
the community and target group?
• How do the resources address the risk and
protective factors within a target group?
Geographic Distribution of Prevention
Programs: 3 Connecticut Communities
Assessing
Community Readiness
Steps in conducting a
Needs Assessment
1. Define the community
2. Assess the level of substance use
3. Identify target population(s)
4. Identify risk and protective factors
5. Identify community resources
6. Assess community readiness
What is a Community Readiness?
Community readiness for prevention is:
The capacity of a community to implement
programs, policies and other changes that are
designed to reduce the likelihood of substance use
Two levels of assessing
Community Readiness
• Attitudes
– Substance use
– Prevention interventions
– Community
• Organizational capacity
– Leadership
– Collaboration
– Formal organizational structure
Completing the Community
Applicant Readiness Worksheet
1. Documentation of need
2. Vision and resources
3. Community awareness
4. Previous approaches to substance use
5. Funding history
6. Networking