How to Use the Community Needs Assessment Tool

1. How to Use the Community Needs Assessment Tool

2. What is the Community Needs Assessment tool? • Some Clubs do not know how to best assess needs in their local communities and develop plans to meet those needs that are consistent with local Club resources. • This is a step-by-step tool that will help Clubs determine what needs exist in their local community and if the Club has the resources to help meet those needs.

3. Step One:Establish Club Committee • Identify Members who can interview others comfortably Interviewer Skills: • Outgoing, Friendly • Tactful • Good Listener • Any Others?

4. Step One:Establish Club Committee • Identify Members who will tabulate results of interviews Tabulator Skills: • Detail-oriented • Precise • Analytical • Any Others?

5. Step One:Establish Club Committee • Find Members with Contacts in associations or organizations within the area. Examples: • Teachers • Boy Scout Leaders • Nurses • Police Officers

6. Step One:Establish Club Committee • Are there any other people who might make good Members of the Club Committee?

7. Step 2: Types of Organizations to Contact • Schools – both Public & Private, Home School Association • Social Service Agencies

8. Step 2: Types of Organizations to Contact c. Boy and Girl Scouts, Girl Guides, Boys and Girls Clubs, Big Brothers, Big Sisters • Red Cross, Fire Department, Police Department, Parks & Recreation Department • Other possibilities?

9. Step 3: Establish Meetings & Interviews to Define Needs A. Questions for Organizations and Associations: • What current programs is your organization conducting? • Who participates? • How are those programs funded? • What could be done to improve these programs or increase the number of children they reach?

10. Questions for Organizations and Associations (cont.) • Have any programs have been canceled due to lack of funding? • Who did this program reach? • What was the community’s response to this program being canceled? • Is there still a need for this type of program? • What is needed to make this program available?

11. Questions for Organizations and Associations (cont.) • Are there any future programs that are not being conducted and why? • What programs would you like to run but feel unable to due to lack of resources? • What types of programs are needed in this community that are not being conducted? • What is needed to run these programs that your organization currently does not have?

12. Questions for Organizations and Associations (cont.) • Are there any children that are not participating in your programs due to financial considerations? • How can the Club work to make sure these children are included? • Tuition Assistance or Membership Fees • Transportation • Cost of Supplies

13. Questions for Organizations and Associations (cont.) • What other groups have you approached for this? • Have you applied for any grants or funding from government sources? • Have you talked to any other community groups, such as Rotary or Lions Clubs? • Have you solicited for community donations?

14. Questions for Individuals • What areas do you think are the most critical for local young people that are not being adequately met? • Health • Education • Safety • Others?

15. Questions for Individuals (cont.) • What are your suggestions as to how those needs can be met? • Classes • Informational Brochures • Safety Instruction • Recreational Activities • Other Ideas?

16. Questions for Individuals (cont.) • Do you see any duplication of efforts from other organizations in the area? • Are any other local organizations running this type of program? • How can groups work together to avoid duplication or coordinate joint efforts? • Other organizations may know of needs not being met in the community. • Clubs may be able to tell inform other organizations about resources available through them or other agencies.

17. Questions for Individuals (cont.) • What other fundraising sources have you or will you explore for this request? • Grants • Community donations • Service Clubs • Corporate funding • Other?

18. Questions for Individuals (cont.) • Do you feel that members of this community are aware of services offered for local youth? • How can this type of information be more effectively communicated? • TV or Radio announcements • Posters, flyers • Newspaper ads or community calendar listing • Other ideas?

19. Step 4: Analysis of Results • Committee should review results of all interviews and present findings to Club • Who was interviewed • Agencies contacted • Needs identified • Children not being reached • Possible solutions for filling need

20. Step 5: Determine Support Needed • This step should be completed for each need identified by the Club: • Determine level of support needed • Identify and avoid overlap funding from several different sources • How much assistance would it take to meet this need? • Is this something the Club would possibly be interested in working on? • Is this need being filled by other community groups?

21. Step 5: Determine Support Needed (cont.) • Determine the time requirements involved • How long a commitment is this for the Club? • Is this a need that can be met by Members agreeing to make a time commitment? • Mentoring • Tutoring • Reading to kids

22. Step 5: Determine Support Needed (cont.) • Determine the space requirements and how it can be met • Is this a need that can be met by donating a space or securing the donation of space? • Does the local Girl Scout troop need a place to hold their meetings? • Could the Club donate their meeting place? • Does a Club Member have access to the local youth center auditorium?

23. Step 5: Determine Support Needed (cont.) • Is there a financial need and how can it be met? • Club donations • Community donations - Individuals or Local Businesses • Fundraiser • Car Wash • Bake Sale • Ideas?

24. Step 5: Determine Support Needed (cont.) • Is there professional support needed and can it be provided? • Grant-writing • Office Work • Resume –Writing

25. Step 5: Determine Support Needed (cont.) • Can support efforts be coordinated among other organizations as well as ours? • Can the Club work with other volunteer organizations? • Could other community groups or officials assist in any way? • Fire department • Teachers • Police department

26. Step 6: Survey Members’ Level of Interest • Is this need something the Club would like to be involved in? • Does the Club feel they should devote their resources to meeting this need? • Is this the best use of Club resources? • Are there other needs in the community the Club would rather work to fulfill?

27. Step 6: Survey Members’ Level of Interest (cont.) • Conduct Member Interest Survey and tabulate results • Results will determine if the need fits within Member’s interest. • Based on the survey results, the Club should determine the recommended action to be taken by the Board of Directors.

28. Step 7: Implement Action Plan • If the Club decides they will work to fulfill a need in the community, they should establish an action plan. • What? • Who? • When? • Where? • How?

29. Step 7: Implement Action Plan • The WHY is obvious: Optimists are committed to “Bringing Out the Best in Kids!”