In Section 2: Program Design, you learned about several ways to shape your program plan around the assets and needs in your community. You can identify the needs you should address by conducting a needs assessment. In Tool 15 you learned about conducting a market analysis, and in Tool 34 you learned about going through an asset mapping process. This tool shows you how to do a needs assessment, the third component in helping you think about how to shape your program plan.
Directions: A needs assessment can be done in many different ways, depending on how much time you have, the resources you have available, and how thorough you want to be. Below are a series of ideas and activities you might include in your needs assessment. Together with your staff and advisory team, select one or several of these activities. We've noted what kinds of resources and how much time is required for each to help you select the most appropriate activities for you.