A Community Needs Assessment is a process conducted by all Community Action Agencies every three years to determine the underlying causes and conditions of poverty within the community they serve and identify the available resources to address the unmet needs of the community’s most vulnerable residents. The Community Needs Assessment is the first phase of the Results Oriented Management and Accountability (ROMA) Cycle, grounding and guiding the work to develop and implement programs and services that lift families and communities out of poverty.
The execution of a regular Community Needs Assessment is a requirement for all CSBG Eligible Entities, and one of the nine category’s (Category 3) of the Organizational Standards. To assist with this critical activity, the resources shared below have been curated to provide Community Action Agencies with comprehensive information and easy-to-use tools for each step of the Community Needs Assessment.
Planning for a Comprehensive Community Needs Assessment:
- Community Toolbox: Developing a Plan for Assessing Local Needs and Resources
- Community Toolbox: Planning Check List:
- Iowa State University Extension: Preparing for a Collaborative Community Assessment
- Montana Department of Commerce: Community Assessment Techniques
- ROMA Next Generation Training Series: Setting the Stage for Data Collection Slides
- ROMA Next Generation Training Series: Setting the Stage for Data Collection Video
- Community Needs Assessment: Planning for a Comprehensive Webinar Series Slides
- Community Needs Assessment: Planning for a Comprehensive Webinar Series Video
Collecting Community Needs Assessment Data:
- Community Action Community Assessment Tool
- Utah Extension Survey Guide (with sample questions)
- LKLP Community Action Council On-Line Needs Assessment Survey
- Texas State Association Community Needs Assessment Guide
- Missouri State Association CNA Guide
- Community Needs Assessment Webinar Series: Collecting CNA Data Slides
- Community Needs Assessment Webinar Series: Collecting CNA Data Video
- Peer to Peer Series: Program Level Data Collection and Analysis
Community Assessment Organizational Standards Tools:
- Community Assessment Organizational Standard Technical Assistance Guide (Private CAA’s)
- Community Assessment Organizational Standard Technical Assistance Guide (Public CAA’s)
- Checklist for Monitoring Community Needs Assessment for CSBG State Offices
- Organizational Standards Beyond Compliance Webinar – Category Three: Community Needs Assessment
General Community Needs Assessment Tools:
- The Community Needs Assessment Online Tool (CARES Engagement Network)
- Virtual Tour of the Online Needs Assessment Tool
- Peer to Peer Series: Effective Practices for Community Needs Assessments
- NASCSP: A Community Action Guide to Comprehensive Community Needs Assessments
- Community Toolbox: Toolkit for Assessing the Needs and Resources of a Community
- Missouri Association for Community Action: Comprehensive Community Needs Assessment Tool Kit