Needs Assessments

 

A needs assessment is a series of data collection activities that help pinpoint gaps in services and inform as to what kinds of programs might fill the gaps.  Needs assessments are conducted in all types of populations and communities and are used by major principalities and small organizations alike.  They determine what types of programs are needed and where resources can make the most impact.  In general, needs assessments involve:

 

·         Formative research ? to learn what is currently known about the problem in the community

·         Literature reviews ? to learn what is known about the problem by others working in the same (or complementary) field

·         Focus groups ? to learn what communities members are saying about the problem

·         Surveys ? to learn what specific community members say about the problem

·         Key Informant interviews ? to learn what involved gatekeepers, service providers, etc., say about the problem.

 

This information is compiled into a report that provides qualitative narrative as well as statistics to paint a picture of the situation and guide decision makers.

 

To assist with conducting a needs assessment, the services we provide are:

 

·         Consultations

·         Technical assistance

·         Research services

·         Planning, design, and implementation

§         Focus groups

§         Interviewing

§         Surveys

§         Data collection

§         Data review and analysis

§         Reports

     

Our telephone consultations: walk you through your goals and objectives for conducting a needs assessment; help you to determine current stakeholders and how best to involve them in the process; identify methods of data collection, populations, and locations for data collection; types of data to be collected and analyzed; and ultimately, how this information will be used to improve services/programs to the community.

 

Technical assistance provides one-on-one skills to help you conduct your own needs assessment.

 

The research services provide you with formative research and a literature review of your area of interest.

 

Through our planning and design services we will conduct the needs assessment for you and provide you with a completed document that includes a variety of data collection methods - focus groups, surveys, interviews - and the resulting analysis and report.

 

If you would like information on any of these services, please email dsscott@sageassociatesinc.com or call 713 861 6667.