COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Learning Objective: At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
1.define the community needs assessment;
2.identify the importance of community needs assessment;
3.discuss the methods in collecting data for community needs
assessments; and
4.explain the steps in conducting needs assessment.
Content : Definition of community needs assessments Importance of
community needs assessments
Methods in collecting data for community needs
assessments
Steps in conducting needs assessment
Concept of Community Needs Assessment
Needs assessment, social analysis or community diagnosis as others refer to, is a
concrete base for the formulation of programs. It reflects the sentiments, needs,
aspirations and recommendations of the community people. When it is done properly, it
will reflect also the trainees’ feeling of oneness with the community. They begin to see
that the people’s problems also reflect their own.
Needs assessment becomes significant when it is conducted through integration
with the people. Our analysis and assessment should be done with the people. Hence, it
does be genuinely pro-people. Analysis of social situation becomes meaningful if it is
used as an instrument for conscientization. Those immersing in the community must not
just make the people realize their issues but also make them to act on it. Their realization
of the problems should help make the community realize the relation between their local
condition and situation of other communities around them. It is important that the people
realize that they can do something to change their situation for the better.
Assessing the needs of the community is a prelude to effective program offered to
clients. This will ensure solutions to problems, issues and concerns of the people in the
locality.
Community Needs Assessment Defined
It is the process wherein problems, issues and concerns of the community are
identified through the use of several tools for assessment.
It encourages the participation of the community, as they are the stakeholders, to
the findings in the assessment.
Importance of Needs Assessment
1. Gather information about citizens’ attitudes and options in order of importance. 2.
Determine how citizens rank issues, problems and opportunities in order of
, importance or urgency.
3. Give citizens a voice in determining policies, goals and priorities.
4. Evaluate current programs and policies.
5. Provide speculations about what people are thinking.
6. Provide speculations about what people really want.
Information to be included in Assessing Community Needs
1. Historical Development
Refers to data on how the community became what it is today and provides
insights into the kind of resources to collect and weed.
2. Geographical and Transportation Information
It includes information on the community’s patterns and population contributions.
3. Political and Legal Functions
It includes strategies for community-based selection [or this may include
strategies that community uses for selecting players in the political sphere]. 4.
Demographic Data
It includes data on age characteristics, size, race, and transience of population.
5. Economic Data
It refers to the economic base, social, cultural, educational, recreational
organizations. This includes the values and social pattern.
Methods in Collecting Data for Community Needs Assessment
1. Focused Group Discussion (FGD) with Key informants
The key informants of the community are people who hold socially responsible
positions such as educators, public officials, clergy and business representatives or
those who are active in community events.
These are people who can provide good information that will guide and give you
better understanding on historical issues needed by the community.
2. Community Forum/Assembly
This involves holding of group events that may include the entire community. It
gives visibility to the leaders and raises the status of the community but it requires
lots of planning and publicity.
This meeting can be a venue where people can express their needs and be
immediately validated by the rest of the attendees. Participatory action research
effectively uses this method.
3. Public Records
Public records like national census will provide data for social and demographic
indicators of the community. Data include are age, gender, educational level,
locality, etc. that tend to contribute to library use.
4. Survey
Survey and questionnaires involve asking individuals in the community about
their everyday needs. This can be implemented through the following: a. Mailing
Learning Objective: At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
1.define the community needs assessment;
2.identify the importance of community needs assessment;
3.discuss the methods in collecting data for community needs
assessments; and
4.explain the steps in conducting needs assessment.
Content : Definition of community needs assessments Importance of
community needs assessments
Methods in collecting data for community needs
assessments
Steps in conducting needs assessment
Concept of Community Needs Assessment
Needs assessment, social analysis or community diagnosis as others refer to, is a
concrete base for the formulation of programs. It reflects the sentiments, needs,
aspirations and recommendations of the community people. When it is done properly, it
will reflect also the trainees’ feeling of oneness with the community. They begin to see
that the people’s problems also reflect their own.
Needs assessment becomes significant when it is conducted through integration
with the people. Our analysis and assessment should be done with the people. Hence, it
does be genuinely pro-people. Analysis of social situation becomes meaningful if it is
used as an instrument for conscientization. Those immersing in the community must not
just make the people realize their issues but also make them to act on it. Their realization
of the problems should help make the community realize the relation between their local
condition and situation of other communities around them. It is important that the people
realize that they can do something to change their situation for the better.
Assessing the needs of the community is a prelude to effective program offered to
clients. This will ensure solutions to problems, issues and concerns of the people in the
locality.
Community Needs Assessment Defined
It is the process wherein problems, issues and concerns of the community are
identified through the use of several tools for assessment.
It encourages the participation of the community, as they are the stakeholders, to
the findings in the assessment.
Importance of Needs Assessment
1. Gather information about citizens’ attitudes and options in order of importance. 2.
Determine how citizens rank issues, problems and opportunities in order of
, importance or urgency.
3. Give citizens a voice in determining policies, goals and priorities.
4. Evaluate current programs and policies.
5. Provide speculations about what people are thinking.
6. Provide speculations about what people really want.
Information to be included in Assessing Community Needs
1. Historical Development
Refers to data on how the community became what it is today and provides
insights into the kind of resources to collect and weed.
2. Geographical and Transportation Information
It includes information on the community’s patterns and population contributions.
3. Political and Legal Functions
It includes strategies for community-based selection [or this may include
strategies that community uses for selecting players in the political sphere]. 4.
Demographic Data
It includes data on age characteristics, size, race, and transience of population.
5. Economic Data
It refers to the economic base, social, cultural, educational, recreational
organizations. This includes the values and social pattern.
Methods in Collecting Data for Community Needs Assessment
1. Focused Group Discussion (FGD) with Key informants
The key informants of the community are people who hold socially responsible
positions such as educators, public officials, clergy and business representatives or
those who are active in community events.
These are people who can provide good information that will guide and give you
better understanding on historical issues needed by the community.
2. Community Forum/Assembly
This involves holding of group events that may include the entire community. It
gives visibility to the leaders and raises the status of the community but it requires
lots of planning and publicity.
This meeting can be a venue where people can express their needs and be
immediately validated by the rest of the attendees. Participatory action research
effectively uses this method.
3. Public Records
Public records like national census will provide data for social and demographic
indicators of the community. Data include are age, gender, educational level,
locality, etc. that tend to contribute to library use.
4. Survey
Survey and questionnaires involve asking individuals in the community about
their everyday needs. This can be implemented through the following: a. Mailing
