1. Community Assessment Measurement = Assessment =
measuring the way things are (__________)
Determining _______________________
calculating the ________________

2. Why Assess? determine level of care needed
respond to a crisis, demand, or opportunity

3. Assess What? ______ target population Who is the community?
demographics:

4. Assess What? What are the _________ health needs?
how will you know?
What is the _____________ status?
statistics: IMR, LBW, causes of death and disability…
check with community agencies
survey nutrition-related habits, dietary intakes, food supply… (NNMRR system)

5. Assessing Nutritional Status
Before data collection
Review the purpose, goals, and objectives
Develop a set of questions
Select a method to obtain answers
Methods of data collection

6. Assessment of Nutritional Status
B_____________
C_____________
D_____________
Dietary Assessment Methods:

7. Assess What?
What resources are available to meet needs? M

8. Scenario1
You are an RD with the County X Health Department. Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death among U.S. women. There are no data on knowledge/awareness of CHD risk factors among women living in County X or about existing CHD prevention program and services in the county. You are asked to assess the problem in the community to determine whether a intervention or program is needed. What will you do?

9. Prioritize needs Merge needs and desires with available resources
Consider the mission of the organization
Consider funds

10. Prioritize needs: Ask…
What is the size of the problem?
incidence/prevalence rate
What will happen if nothing is done?
What is the benefit of addressing the problem(s)?

11. Decision-making Tools
Brainstorming: spontaneous idea generation
Nominal group: all relevant personnel work to consensus
Focus group: ‘unaffected’ group opinions are extracted
Roundtable: discussion among stakeholders
Consensus building:
diverse groups work toward goal
Flowchart: tool to analyze and sequence processes/problems

12. Selecting a Method Issues to consider: Program objectives
Study population
Financial issues
Implementation requirements
Analysis requirements
Actual data collection issues

13. Issues in Actual Data Collection
Practical issues
Scientific issues
specificity vs. sensitivity
validity, reliability
Cultural issues

14. Steps in Community Assessment
Define the problem
Set the parameters
Define “community”
Determine the purpose of assessment
Define target population
Set goals and objectives
Specify the type of data needed

15. Steps in Community Assessment
Collect data
Individual lifestyle factors
Living, working and social conditions
Community conditions
Background conditions
Analyze and interpret the data
Share the findings
Set priorities
Choose a plan of action

16. Community Programs Targeting Adults
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly called Food Stamps)
Commodity Supplemental Food Program
Community Health Centers
Cooperative Extension Service
EFNEP
Family Nutrition Program (FNP)

17. Cooperative Extension Service
Began as an agricultural outreach mandated by President Lincoln
Serves all residents of the U.S.
“Cooperative” =
“Extension” =

18. Scenario2
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death among US women. The target population is women over 18 years of age in County X. In the community assessment phase, data were collected about community morbidity and mortality associated with CHD; types of educational materials available from nonprofit organizations, doctors’ offices, and other sources; and existing programs and services designed to reduce CHD risk. Now you are asked to review the assessment objectives. For each objective, develop a list of questions about this population’s knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to CHD risk and decide on a method of obtaining the answer.
Objectives
1. Assess women’s knowledge and awareness of the leading causes of death and CHD risk factors
2. Assess women’s practices related to reducing CHD risk
3. Assess women’s use of existing services designed to reduce CHD risk