Why Is It Important To Begin Program Plans And Assessments?

1 Why Is It Important To Begin Program Plansassessments With A Needs

Why is it important to begin program plans or assessments with a needs assessment, and what do assets have to do with planning? How would the Precede-Proceed model help you in the needs assessment process?

Describe the quality of life in your community. What approach would you take if you had to plan a program to improve the quality of life in your area to meet the Healthy People 2020 vision? Who is your target market? Why is it important to select a target population and determine what the health problems are?

This chapter discusses data collection strategies and includes key terms relevant to this topic. Review this Needs Assessment PowerPoint from the US Dept of Health and Human Services, "A Snapshot of Your Community: Understanding Resources and Needs Assessments": slides_needsassessmentwebinar.pdf. After reviewing this, share your thoughts about the data shared. Do you agree with this approach and the conclusions reached?

Paper For Above instruction

Beginning any health program or intervention with a comprehensive needs assessment is fundamental for effective planning and implementation. A needs assessment systematically identifies the health issues, resources, and gaps within a community, ensuring that interventions target the most pressing health concerns. It also highlights community assets, which are the strengths, resources, and capacities that the community possesses and can leverage to improve health outcomes. Recognizing assets alongside needs fosters a strengths-based approach, promoting community empowerment rather than solely focusing on deficits (Golden & Earp, 2012).

The Precede-Proceed model, developed by Green and Kreuter (2005), provides a structured framework for guiding the needs assessment process and planning health promotion programs. This model emphasizes understanding community needs first (precede) by assessing epidemiological, behavioral, environmental, and social factors. It then proceeds to the development, implementation, and evaluation of interventions (proceed). The model's comprehensive nature ensures that planners consider multiple influences on health behaviors and outcomes, facilitating culturally appropriate and community-specific strategies (Green & Kreuter, 2005). Using this model promotes an in-depth understanding of community dynamics and supports evidence-based decision-making.

In my community, the quality of life is influenced by various socioeconomic and environmental factors, including access to healthcare, education, employment opportunities, safety, and recreational spaces. Many residents face challenges related to chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, often linked to lifestyle and environmental factors. Addressing these issues requires a holistic approach that encompasses health education, improved access to preventive services, and environmental modifications (CDC, 2021).

If I were to design a program aimed at improving quality of life to align with the Healthy People 2020 vision, I would start by engaging community members to identify their needs, priorities, and assets. I would utilize a participatory approach, incorporating community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles to foster trust and collaboration. My target population would be adults aged 40-65, a demographic at higher risk for chronic conditions contributing to reduced quality of life. It is crucial to select a target population because it enables tailored interventions that address specific health disparities and ensure efficient use of resources. Determining prevalent health problems within this group—such as obesity, sedentary lifestyles, or hypertension—allows for focused intervention strategies aimed at risk reduction (NCDH, 2019).

The PowerPoint presentation from the US Department of Health and Human Services on community needs assessments emphasizes a data-driven approach. It advocates for collecting diverse data sources, including surveys, interviews, health records, and community observations, to obtain a comprehensive understanding of community health status and assets (HHS, 2022). I agree with this approach as it promotes triangulation, validity, and reliability in data collection. Engaging various stakeholders and utilizing multiple data types facilitates a nuanced understanding of community needs and resources, ultimately leading to more effective and sustainable health interventions. I believe the conclusions drawn from such assessments can be robust if data quality and representative sampling are prioritized.

In conclusion, starting a program planning process with a thorough needs assessment enriches the understanding of community health issues and assets, guiding culturally appropriate and effective interventions. The Precede-Proceed model offers a useful framework for integrating data-driven insights into program development, ensuring that health promotion efforts are strategic, inclusive, and impactful.

References

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2021). Social determinants of health: Know what affects health. https://www.cdc.gov/socialdeterminants/index.htm
  • Green, L. W., & Kreuter, M. W. (2005). Health Promotion Planning: An Educational and Environmental Approach. McGraw-Hill.
  • Golden, S. D., & Earp, J. A. (2012). Social ecology of health promotion interventions. Practice-based evidence in health promotion, 4(2), 54-58.
  • National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP). (2019). Chronic Disease Overview. https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/aag/chronic.htm
  • Green, L. W., & Kreuter, M. W. (2005). Health Promotion Planning: An Educational and Environmental Approach. McGraw-Hill.
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). (2022). A Snapshot of Your Community: Understanding Resources and Needs Assessments. slides_needsassessmentwebinar.pdf.
  • Healthy People 2020. (2020). Building a Healthy Future. https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020
  • Israel, B. A., Eng, E., Schulz, A. J., & Parker, E. A. (Eds.). (2013). Methods in Community-Based Participatory Research for Health. Jossey-Bass.
  • Anderson, N. B., & McFarlane, M. (2019). Social determinants of health: Challenges and opportunities. Annual Review of Public Health, 40, 1-15.
  • Wallerstein, N., & Duran, B. (2010). Community-based participatory research contributions to intervention research: The intersection of science and practice to improve health equity. American Journal of Public Health, 100(S1), S40–S46.

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