Session One

Getting Started – Gathering
Secondary Research and Data

Facilitator: Debra Thompson

• Identify the “right” data – how do you know what to collect?

• Identify expected outcomes and associated measures

• Find, collect and summarize large volumes of data and turn it into information

• Interpret the data in a meaningful way to achieve results

Session Two

Conducting a Community Needs Assessment Survey

Facilitator: Debra Thompson

• Get started collecting information on needs assessments and projects already underway

• Conduct secondary research to identify useful tools and information to support the process

• Construct the questionnaire – useful strategies, tips and tricks for question design and survey formatting

Session Three

Managing Community “System”
Change: Creating an Ideal Model
of Community Youth Activity; Conducting a Roles, Players &
Gap Analysis

Facilitator: Debra Thompson

• Determine the unmet community needs and gaps in service delivery facing a particular population or sector

• Identify the “systems” that currently exist in the community and the “leverage points” for community change

• Identify “gap filling” strategies and action plans to make an impact on the community

Session Four

Community Stakeholder Forums:  Listening to the Voice of the Community

Facilitator: Debra Thompson

• Identify the key stakeholders in the community

• Develop strategies to engage with “captive audiences” to collect information and feedback

• Conduct stakeholder forums and focus groups to maximize input and collect tangible, useful ideas and strategies

• Utilize relationships with stakeholder groups to leverage results

Session Five

Community Assets Mapping – Identifying the Resources in the Community

Facilitator: Debra Thompson

• Design and implement a community assets mapping process

• Identify community assets and resources

• Connect with community resources to implement process and create maps

• Create databases of resources and information

Session Six

Putting it All Together: 
Presenting & Writing a
Needs Assessment

Facilitator: Debra Thompson

• Summarize large volumes of information for decision making

• Identify strategies to “tell the story: of the data to a group

• Develop a written summary of the findings and results