Needs Assessment as a Vital Community Service Tool

Listen Better to Serve Well

Starting with Needs Assessment is the best way to understand and serve

your community

We really only understand our community and market from our own vantage point. Like the familiar story of of the blind men trying to describe the elephant– we can only see a part.

Multiple Choice:Is your community:

A wall A snake A spear A tree A fan A rope From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_men_and_an_elephant

Since we don’t know, what we don’t know

It makes sense to intentionally learn more about the values, challenges, needs and strengths

Of those we want to serve.

Large Corporations, Service Agencies, Hospitals, Educators and Many Others Gather this information, BEFORE they

launch new ventures &then annually to refine their services

When our purpose is to serve our community, then this information gathering is called,

A Community Needs Assessment

Community Needs Assessment

Involves the process of identifying the people with key information, and then gathering their

insights by interview or survey

Community Needs Assessment

Should focus not only on the “needs” of a community, but also on its strengths and assets.

Communities are always comprised of both needs and assets

Here’s a Shift

Like Market Research or other formal types of study, Needs Assessment has usually been completed by professionals for a fee.

We think listening to the story of a community is a job for neighbors and others who want to make a difference.

So We Did A Switch

We took the process of needs assessment and re-developed it for volunteers.

Now, any community organization that wants to make a difference can complete a needs assessment first.

Now More Groups Can Play

If the process is volunteer friendly, then lots of different local organizations can conduct a needs assessment. If

you are a church, nonprofit, school, civic group or volunteer association you can do this!

Why Should We Do That?

If you are going to put all of the effort into a plan to help others, shouldn’t you first understand their values, needs

and strengths?We think that serving starts with listening.

And Here is a Secret

Real service is a partnership with people we want to help. When we listen first, we let them know that we value and

respect them. And that is a very important message.

Here are some more benefits

Organizations that complete needs assessments before they plan and deliver services:

Build more effective services Grow local credibility Involve recipients in planning Connect relationally Look more attractive to supporters

What’s Involved?

Good Community Needs Assessment Follows a Good Plan Interviews with the right people Questions that build insight Team that understands what and how to ask A thoughtful way to use the information that you receive

We’ve Got Just the Thing

Compassion by Design Offers Two Needs Assessment Approaches

1. Eight Step Complete Assessment2. Five Step Rapid Assessment

And you can mix and match the steps to fit your setting.

Learn More

http://compassionbydesign.orgOr call us at 888-652-0119