ASSESSING YOUR COMMUNITY'S NEEDS
The key to learning your community’s needs on underage drinking prevention is to
do a needs assessment. A needs assessment is the first step in
SAMHSA’s five-step Strategic Prevention Framework
(SPF), a community-based approach to prevention. The SPF uses a step-by-step process
to help communities identify, manage, and evaluate their substance abuse prevention
and mental health needs. Communities follow these five steps:
To help organizations conduct needs assessments and launch effective prevention
Communities That Care Community Planning System
SAMHSA Exit Disclaimer Page offers a valuable approach to creating a safer community.
The most important reason to do a needs assessment is to make sure you understand
the concerns of community members from their points of view. Their priorities should
be your priorities.