Needs Assessments

A needs assessment for a health promotion program consists of a variety of steps. Firstly, the population needs to be identified as well as the goals for the program and the resources available (Quality Improvement and Innovation Partnership [QIIP] 2009) . The next step would be to identify who would assist with the program, where information would be sourced and how it would be used (QIIP 2009). This would include gathering data and speaking with local agencies such as hospitals, health centres and public health facilities (QIIP 2009). The next step would be to use all of the gathered data to determine the needs of priority according to various categories such as social determinants of health, age, ethnicity and risk factors, and after identifying the needs, strategies need to be developed to address the needs such as potential programs, campaigns and interventions (QIIP 2009). These strategies need to then be discussed with the relevant stakeholders and implemented with a specific, measurable and achievable goal that can be evaluated following the project and potentially re-used for future program planning (QIIP 2009).

Currently, I am working on a few projects during my placement experience at Chigamik Community Health Centre. I had previously mentioned the monthly health campaigns that I continue to work on. I have also however, been given the opportunity to plan my own “mock” workshops where I will be completing needs assessments to plan and develop a workshop. Chigamik CHC uses as internal ‘Program & Workshop Planning Tool’ that forms the basis of the needs assessment so I will be using this tool to plan my mock workshop. The reason it has to be “mock” is because all programs and workshops have already been approved for this quarter so there is no room to add a real one. I am able to however, assist with the facilitating of various programs and workshops with my supervisor to get some real-life experience. The needs analysis will help to inform my project by assisting to provide evidence based needs for the target group and help to determine the best strategies to use for the priority needs.

Zoe

References

Quality Improvement and Innovation Partnership (2009), Needs assessment resource guide for family health teams, viewed 6 August 2019 http://www.hqontario.ca/Portals/0/documents/qi/qi-rg-needs-assessment-0901-en.pdf