This guide will help you conduct a comprehensive needs assessment of your community, target populations, and the services available to them. It will also guide you in using the results of your needs assessment to further develop, refine, and implement your program.
How can needs assessments help? Here's an example: After conducting an assessment, you learn that domestic violence victims in your area need dental care. With this information, you reach out to local dental offices and ask them to provide this service. You also learn that a local community-based organization has already established relationships with dental care providers, and you invite this organization to become part of your initiative. You even consider including dental referrals when you initially refer victims to medical services.