Research Method Paper
A Community Needs Assessment
Research is conducted in a variety of different ways using different methods and methodologies. How these methods are used is imperative to how clear and accurate research will be. Community needs assessment is a research method used by many researchers that assists in finding gaps within a particular target group within a particular community. Throughout this paper I will discuss what a community needs assessment is and when and how it is used. I will also discuss some of the strengths and limitations of this method. I then continue to explain some theoretical and practical perspectives when dealing with this method and how it would apply when conducting your own research in a
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When conducting a needs assessment, people’s needs with in the community are assessed to see where gaps lie and improvements can be made. If carried out and reported correctly these needs are then bought to local government or relevant organisations/peoples attention, giving the opportunity for programs to be put in place to benefit the people of the community. This is where the third step of Finifter, Jensen, Wilson & Koenig (2005) process comes into place; the implementation of projects to assist where the gaps were found. “Implementation of recommended solutions should be the ultimate goal of any project to improve services and quality of life of a target population (Neely, T R).” The more efficient all three steps are carried out the stronger this method becomes. “The importance of disseminating results effectively using these guidelines cannot be stressed enough. A needs assessment will have achieved nothing if the results are not communicated effectively (Neely, T R).”
Theoretically, community needs assessments are a great way to identify gaps within communities and improving the life of individuals within a target group. If there is a collaboration of all three components of the community needs assessment model, Assessment, Dissemination and
For example, interim measures in the first six months of an initiative might explore the process of establishing stronger relationships with a community through town hall meetings or one-on-one conversations with key influencers. Metrics surrounding these activities might assess levels of participation among target audiences, and whether the meetings led to the identification of concrete action steps. If data show that relationships are not strengthening, rethinking engagement approaches would be warranted. After a partnership’s first full year, assessments of changes in community member awareness of how to access health services, as measured through random-sampling surveys, could indicate the effectiveness of awareness-raising interventions, and suggest needed improvements if increases are falling short of objectives or expectations. As the evaluation process evolves, sharing progress with the community may help drive further engagement. This can be accomplished by making periodic scorecards on key measures available; issuing progress reports on the evolution of partnerships; and hosting face-to-face opportunities for the community to meet to hear about progress and ask
The basic needs of a community should be help where needed, security, warmth, light, food and the company of others.
The year 2017 saw a lot of changes to the landscape in Metcalfe County and one little lady from Center even put us on the national news. Here are a few highlights.
The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast a triad of needs assessment models to analyze their methods and unique qualities, and facilitate future choices of
The person-in-environment model assists the task force in interpreting the need assessment results by identifying the presenting needs and strengths of the population. The model guides the task force in pinpoints the populations’ well-being needs and focuses on the environmental condition that influences their needs. The needs assessment results were ranked from highest to lowest based on the populations need for access to higher education. Based on the results from the assessment, the participants listed that the highest personal need they required was receiving assistance with FASFA application, and having access to college readiness program which was the highest on their needs. In addition, the participants listed that one of their highest
Community is often defined as “a group of people who live in the same area” (Webster, n.d., p. 1), however deepening the definition one may describe a community as a feeling which “happens when people come together for the good of the whole” (Farmer, 2010, p. 1). A collective sense of belonging within a community is essential to planning and building healthy communities for the future.
There are three important components in the ecological practice framework. These are developing the capacity for disadvantaged communities to meet their own needs, promoting informal social networks and forming a culture of active listening for the client. In order to develop the community’s capacity it is important to recognise the complexities and diversity within a community and to develop a good understanding about the demographics and socio economic background. An example of its implementation would involve creating community profiles which incorporates a variety of sources including child welfare data and date from things such as interviews of parents with young children detailing sources of support and difficulties they face. (Grey, Midgley & Webb, 2012) In addition to this the component of promoting informal social networks is important when considering aspects of social support in situations of illness and crisis what they may experience their life. Social support can include provision of practical health or advice as well as emotional comforting. It can be provided by a range of different people including relatives, work colleagues, neighbours and professional services. In view of this, Social workers are able to provide a more effective assistance if they are able to elicit the client support networks as studies have highlighted that relationship networks can be both a positive and a negative source for the clients wellbeing. Lastly the components of active
The purpose of a Community Health Assessment is to improve the health of the community by focusing on factors that promote health and wellness. Per the CDC, “Community health assessments use principles such proactive, broad, and diverse community engagement to improve results” (2016). Retrieved November 06, 2016, from http://www.cdc.gov/
Kintrea (1996) analyzed several obstacles about the participation of community-based practice. The primary is the methodology, which lacks specificity purposes and roles to determine whose perspectives are particularly emphasized and by whom the practice is conducted. And the second one is the costs of involvement, such as timing and unnecessary expense, which is hard to maintain balance with benefits. Moreover, most projects are held by government, and the opposition is tend to be regarded as uncompromising and hard to be heard. Accordingly, the extent to ensure community-based participation, especially in the use and analysis of information still remain to be a contested issue. For example, Marsden, Oakley and Platt (1994) point out that
This paper will conduct a community assessment of Marion County, Indiana. Marion County is located in the heart of Indianapolis, which is the capital of the state of Indiana. Marion County was created April 1, 1822 and was formed from Delaware New Purchase. It was named after General Frances Marion from South Carolina in the Revolutionary War period. This assessment will address the health needs and risks of Marion County through the use of the WGU assessment forms identifying the population’s economic status, neighborhood and community safety inventory, cultural assessment, and the disaster assessment and planning guide.
Social services, provided by the government or the community, have the capacity to help people progress in their current environment and discover new opportunities for themselves and their families. It is a hypothesis proven by sociologists who have researched the effects that community services and civil institutions have on various neighborhoods (Zuberi 2006, 113). Access to adequate education also plays a significant role in affecting quality of life, as it provides individuals with the opportunity to further themselves in various fields, and in turn allow them to seek employment in the area of their interest. Consequently, it is of utmost importance to provide social services that will
This project proposal will look at a specific community and identify a specific need within the area and aim to offer a solution through an action plan. It will refer back to the previously conducted community profile to assist with the project proposal. The community profile will provide vital information for the community and identify the key areas of need within the area. It will look at the definition of community and social capital and see how they link. It will look at the importance of social capital and the affect it has on members of the community. When devising a project proposal, it is essential to look at the demographics of the area to ensure that the proposal is appropriate and beneficial for the people in the community. Once
Community Development is a process strengthening the society in which an organisation operates with the aim of enhancing the mental and physical capacity of people to enable them to serve the society in a better way.
Knowing the needs that your community has is an important step that is necessary when developing programs for an organization. To learn what needs are within the community a human service professional can use the logic model to take the steps for development. The need is recognized and supported by the community which at this point enables the agency to create the program to address the need. Creating the goals and objectives will assist in the success of the program.
Community building is “creating communities that work for the low-income families who live there” (Schriever, 2015, p. 274). Coming up with a way for the community to work as a whole, to ensure that the low-income families are getting the basic needs met. According to Walsh another way of looking at community building is by taking a more comprehensive approach to poverty. Walsh believes that by taking a more comprehensive approach of poverty you will see the interwoven problems, such as poor, bad health, and racism (as cited in Schriever, 2015). To create a well-rounded community, the low-income families living in poverty need to have their voices heard. The only way that others can fully understand their experiences and struggles of living in poverty is to hear about it. This is how the alternative perspective of community building can be implemented into a community.