COMMUNITY Needs Assessment Overview Office of Volunteerism and Community Services Virginia Department of Social Services June 9, 2015 Office on Volunteerism and Community Services, Virginia Department of Social Services

Reminder of the regulations CSBG Organizational Standards: Community Assessment Local control of Federal CSBG resources is predicated on regular comprehensive community assessments that take into account the breadth of community needs as well as the partners and resources available in a community to meet these needs. Regular assessment of needs and resources at the community level is the foundation of Community Action and a vital management and leadership tool that is used across the organization and utilized by the community to set the course for both CSBG and all agency resources.

Standard 3.1 The organization conducted a community assessment and issued a report within the past 3 years. 3.2 As part of the community assessment, the organization collects and includes current data specific to poverty and its prevalence related to gender, age, and race/ethnicity for their service area(s). 3.3 The organization collects and analyzes both qualitative and quantitative data on its geographic service area(s) in the community assessment. 3.4 The community assessment includes key findings on the causes and conditions of poverty and the needs of the communities assessed. 3.5 The governing board formally accepts the completed community assessment.

How do they fit together? Community Needs Assessment Strategic Plan Community Action Plan Every 3 years Every 5 years Annual Identifies community needs Sets agency priorities and outcomes Identifies the plan to implement programs and approaches to meet strategic goals and address community needs

Purpose of the Community Needs Assessment The community assessment is primarily intended to inform CAA strategic direction and investment decisions. Done well, it will also influence the direction and strategies of other local service providers and funders.

Steps to conduct a community needs assessment Plan Gather data quantitative data qualitative data Analyze findings Prepare report

Creating a workgroup to guide the process is a huge benefit!! 1. Plan Creating a workgroup to guide the process is a huge benefit!! Determine the focus and scope of the assessment Set a work plan and timeline Determine what information to collect and how Determine who will be participate in surveys, focus groups, interviews, etc. Help analyze the data and draw conclusions. Review reports Involve the Board and other partners (e.g. university students; non-profit partners; city or county staff; Head Start parents; teachers and administrators; local foundations and funders)

Determine the scope of the assessment Determine the geographic focus 1. Plan Determine the scope of the assessment Determine the geographic focus Poverty and low income levels, causes, root causes and results of poverty Determine community needs Are they met or unmet? Prioritize the needs Identify barriers to receiving services and to financial stability Recommend solutions How will you treat geographic differences? What else will you include?

1. Plan Gain Board Approval and Commitment to Participate Report to the Board: goals of the Community Needs Assessment major tasks and timelines the methods for collecting data in each county the plan to solicit help from partners and volunteers specific Board member responsibilities Present CNA plan to the Board for approval

2. Gather Data What data and needs assessments already exist? Sources Local foundations United Ways Universities Nonprofit hospitals [New Requirements for Charitable 501(c)(3) Hospitals: conduct a community health needs assessment (CHNA) and adopt an implementation strategy at least once every three years. ] Where else?

2. Gather Data: Determine what new data is needed Qualitative data: What do you want to know? How to get it? surveys, interviews, forums, and focus groups Quantitative data What are reliable sources for the data? How can you get it?

COLLECT QUALITATIVE DATA Future training Likely to use Surveys Interviews Forums Focus groups Determine Who How When How many Data integrity and management Data analysis Tomorrow’s Session at 1:30 Ramona Chapman Dept. of Housing and Community Development

COLLECT QUANTITATIVE DATA What do you want to know COLLECT QUANTITATIVE DATA What do you want to know? What are reliable sources for the data? Using U.S. Census Bureau Data Tomorrow’s Session at 1:30 Ally Burleson-Gibson Data Dissemination Specialist for Virginia U.S. Census Bureau

http://www.communitycommons.org/groups/community-action-partnership/

Example

http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/

3. ANALYZE DATA This is where the real work begins. This is the most critical part of the assessment process because the critical needs that are identified and the key findings will guide the strategic planning. “It is not about gathering the data but about what we will do with all the data. Once you have gathered all your data, you are going to need to determine what it all means and answer these questions: How can we use it? How can it help us paint our own future?” Community Action Association of Pennsylvania: Community Needs Assessment Toolkit

While analyzing your qualitative data it is important that you continuously ask yourself the following types of questions: What patterns and common themes emerge around specific items in the data? How do these patterns (or lack thereof) help to shed light on the community? What story are they telling us? Do they get to the root of an issue or are they a symptom? Are there any deviations from these patterns? If, yes, what factors could explain these atypical responses? If the deviation is good, is there a way to spread it? What interesting stories emerge from the data? How can these stories help to shed light on the broader issues?

What are the “whys” behind the data? Do any of the patterns/emergent themes suggest that additional data needs to be collected? Do the patterns that emerge support the findings of other needs assessments that have been conducted? Identify the themes and patterns, but make sure to include the whys. It is not enough to say we have a transportation issues. That is just compiling data. What is really the problem? What did you learn about transportation from the qualitative portion of the data collection? Why?

4. Write Report: Determine How to Organize Data, Findings and Recommendations in the Summary Report For example ORGANIZING DATA BY CSBG SERVICE CATEGORIES such as poverty conditions, employment, education, housing, nutrition, health and transportation. ORGANIZING DATA BY CAA ROMA GOALS ORGANIZING DATA BY AGENCY-DESIGNED, ORIGINAL CATEGORIES Other … From: http://www.nascsp.org/data/files/CSBG_Resources/Train_Tech_Assistance/Needs_Assessment_FINAL_-_8.22_print_to_pdf.pdf

Community Needs Assessment USE YOUR FINDINGS Community Needs Assessment Strategic Plan Community Action Plan Every 3 years Every 5 years Annual Identifies community needs Sets agency priorities and outcomes Identifies the plan to implement programs and approaches to meet strategic goals and address community needs

TIMING

S.P. process with Board and Staff from July 2016 – May 2017 Strategic Plan To be completed by June 2017 Strategic Plan To be completed by June 2022 Annual Action Plan 17/18 Annual Action Plan 18/19 Annual Action Plan 19/20 Annual Action Plan 20/21 Annual Action Plan 21/22 S.P. process with Board and Staff from July 2016 – May 2017 Community Needs Assessment complete by April 2016 Community Needs Assessment complete by April 2019 Needs Asmt Update 2020 Needs Asmt Update 2021 Needs Asmt Update 2017 Needs Asmt Update 2018 Needs to start by July 2015

S.P. process with Board and Staff from July 2016 – May 2017 Strategic Plan To be completed by June 2017 Strategic Plan To be completed by June 2022 Annual Action Plan 17/18 Annual Action Plan 18/19 Annual Action Plan 19/20 Annual Action Plan 20/21 Annual Action Plan 21/22 S.P. process with Board and Staff from July 2016 – May 2017 Community Needs Assessment complete by April 2016 Community Needs Assessment complete by April 2019 Needs Asmt Update 2017 Needs Asmt Update 2018 Needs to start by July 2015 Thoughts?

Are there training and technical assistance needs Are there training and technical assistance needs? Where can we be most helpful?

Some resources on community needs assessment http://nascsp.org/data/files/csbg_publications/guides-and-manuals/15-csbg-capplanreqs-1.pdf http://www.nascsp.org/data/files/CSBG_Resources/Train_Tech_Assistance/Needs_Assessment_FINAL_-_8.22_print_to_pdf.pdf https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/operations/docs/CA%20Workbook_v1_final%20PDF.pdf http://nascsp.org/data/files/csbg_publications/guides-and-manuals/2015-texas%20-%20commmunity%20needs%20assessment%20guide.pdf http://www.tdhca.state.tx.us/community-affairs/csbg/guidance.htm