2026 Community Assessment Skill Builder
From Requirement to Real Insight
A strong community assessment does more than meet a requirement. It provides the insight Community Action Agencies need to plan effectively, learn continuously, and respond to changing community conditions. This two-part virtual Skill Builder is designed for staff who lead or manage the community assessment process and want to deepen both the quality and usefulness of their work.
This training goes beyond compliance to focus on how to design and conduct community assessments that combine meaningful data with lived experience, including the perspectives of people with low incomes. Participants will explore how to move from a one-time assessment to an ongoing learning approach and how to use findings to inform planning, priorities, and decision-making across the agency.
Participants will be introduced to NCAP’s free data hub as one optional resource and will discuss how to integrate data from multiple sources, including national, state, local, internal, and customer-driven data. The Skill Builder emphasizes practical approaches that reflect the realities of CAA capacity and timelines.
The Skill Builder blends presentation, facilitated discussion, case examples, and applied exercises. Participants will leave with a clear framework for strengthening their community assessment approach and practical next steps they can realistically apply within their agency.
Who Should Attend:
This Skill Builder is for Community Action Agency staff who lead, coordinate, or manage conducting the Community Assessment. Participants at all experience levels are welcome, including executive leaders, planning or ROMA staff, program managers, and others involved with the Community Assessment.
Dates & Times: For the best learning experience, participants should attend both sessions.
Day 1: Wednesday, April 8, from 1 PM – 5 PM ET (12 PM – 4 PM CT | 11 AM – 3 PM MT | 10 AM – 2 PM PT)
Day 2: Wednesday, April 15, from 1 PM – 5 PM ET (12 PM – 4 PM CT | 11 AM – 3 PM MT | 10 AM – 2 PM PT)
Registration Fee: $399 Members / $499 Non-members per person
Make 2026 a Year for Skill-Building!
Agencies that register staff members for both the Community Assessment Skill Builder and the Organizational Standards Skill Builder will receive a $50 discount on registrations for the second event. Instructions to access the discount will be included in the registration confirmation email.