Needs Assessment

The Center for Community Support will assist in conducting needs assessments in support of proposals to demonstrate the need for proposed projects.

A Needs Assessment is...

• a process that assists community-based organizations to justify the need for a proposed project and serves as a basis for assessment of the outcomes of interest targeted by the program.
• intended to provide the organization with data and context for which to justify the potential for the project's success and is based on current and reliable measures.
• typically undertaken first; before developing the details of the program plan and after the initial project ideas have been articulated.

The Purposes of the Needs Assessment are to...

• determine the environment in which the program will take place.
• determine whether there is a need for the project as it is envisioned.
• provide a factual basis for identified problems.
• provide a baseline or context in which to judge the effects of the program.