1. Agenda 1)Welcome and Overview 2)Introductions 3)What is a Needs Assessment 4)Methods for Needs Assessment 5)Communities to be assessed 6)Calendar of Activities 7)Need for Interviewers and Requirements 8)Schedule date of Interviewer Training Workshop 9)Asset mapping 10)Develop Calendar of Steering Committee meetings 11)Final Ideas/Suggestions and Closing

2. Mahatma Gandhi Foundation Community Needs Assessment Steering Committee First Meeting March 12, 2008

3. Steering Committee Members Jose Bourget Annette Snyder Elsa de Leon Marie Drullard Melody Rodriguez Carmen Maria de la Cruz Dr. Cesar Rodriguez Juana Marte HS principal #1 HS principal #2 HS principal #3 Kerry Kelly

4. What is a Community Needs Assessment? A community needs assessment is a way of obtaining information about the community's opinions, needs, challenges, and assets which are then used to determine which project(s) will meet the real needs of the community.

5. MGF's Women's Center Community Needs Assessment: The Mahatma Gandhi Foundation has a dream to build a Women's Center in Las Terrenas. The first step in making this dream a reality is to do a Needs Assessment. The information from the assessment will be collected and analyzed to plan a Women's Center that accurately reflects the needs of females aged 12-65 years in the community.

6. MGF's Women's Center Community Needs Assessment The Needs Assessment will include: Public Forum Focus Groups School surveys Face-to-face interviews

7. Public Forum A public forum is: An opportunity to inform a large group of people of an intended plan and get feedback An arena in which people from diverse backgrounds have a chance to express their views First step in understanding the community’s needs and concerns

8. Public forum Date: March 12, 2008 Time: Location: Please spread the news in your communities!

9. Focus Groups A focus group is: A small group discussion guided by a facilitator Used to find out opinions on a designated subject These opinions are then used to guide future action.

10. Focus groups Six focus groups planned: Medical community leaders involved in Women’s Health Non-medical community leaders involved in Women’s Issues Women’s Church group Haitian women Mother’s clubs Education Workers

11. Focus Groups Dates: March 24- 29, April 5 Times: TBA Location: Library

12. School Survey A questionnaire given to school aged children of a designated age range to gather information on behaviors, knowledge, needs, and opinions Parental consent obtained for children under 18 years of age.

13. School Surveys Meeting scheduled with high school principals for approval

14. Community Interview Survey Randomized survey of a specific population to be studied that is given within a designated area to obtain information on behavior, knowledge, needs and opinions

15. Community Interview Survey Designated barrios: Codatel Hospital Play Chicago Come Pan

16. Basic Topics of Women’s Questionnaire Background Information Pregnancy History Menstruation and Menopause History Contraceptive History Hormone Medication History Medical History Sexual Health Alcohol consumption Smoking History Family Dynamics Domestic Violence Occupational History Lifestyle and Opinions

17. Community Interview Survey Dates: March 31- April 11 Time: Afternoons Location: 2 afternoons in each barrio

18. Calendar of Activities