Educators' Resource Center for Youth Sexual Risk Behavior Prevention: Needs Assessment

What is needs and assets assessment?

Needs and assets assessment is the process of collecting and assessing data (information) that describe the nature and magnitude of community's needs, as well as its resources or assets (e.g., financial, organizational, intellectual, institutional, and human).

The information that is collected through needs and assests assessment should describe:

the extent, magnitude, and scope of the problem in the community
current efforts to address the problem
gaps in existing services
local residents' perceptions of the problem, its causes, and its potential solutions
current science-based knowledge about "what works" to prevent the problem.

Needs and assets data may be summarized in a succinct problem statement that describes:

your vision with respect to the problem
the population most affected
the scope and severity of the problem
the probably causes and most appropriate solutions (based on scientific research and community input)
key indicators that would show that the problem has improved.

What publicly available sources can provide helpful needs and assets assessment data?

Why is needs and assets assessment important to prevention programming?

It points toward appropriate goals, objectives, and approaches for programming efforts.
It can help to inform and interest community members and other key stakeholders (constituents) in your prevention program.
It can provide baseline (pre-program) data that can be used to evaluate your program's progress later on.
It can help you justify to supervisors, Board members, and external funders why you need the resources that you are requesting.

Needs and Assets Assessment Case Study

Needs and Assets Assessment Links to Resources

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For questions about this information, contact Emily S. Holder (608) 267-9170

Last updated on 2/22/2008 8:00:30 AM