This book has been designed to serve both as a textbook for public health
students and as a handbook for public health practitioners interested in improving
their understanding and skills in the area of needs assessment. The
assessment function of public health is essential in the development of appropriate
policy and programmatic solutions to persistent and emergent public
health concerns, yet few public health professionals are adequately trained in
these activities. It is hoped this resource will not only provide a sufficient foundation
for those who will lead or participate in needs assessments and related
efforts in the future, but also engender a level of enthusiasm for the collection,
analysis, and interpretation of data in the pursuit of public health goals.
Given this dual purpose as textbook and handbook, the chapters follow
the typical sequence of an actual needs assessment process, from
conceptualization of the task through the application of needs-based data to
effective public health solutions. The book begins with three case examples
which will be referred to throughout the text; these are completely fictional
and meant to illustrate the strengths and weaknesses of needs assessment activities
observed or experienced by the authors over the past decade. The book
also describes the cyclic nature of needs assessment, the need to build sustainable
teams of knowledgeable professionals engaged in relevant tasks at various
points in time, and the ways in which needs assessments are most effectively
communicated, utilized, and promoted toward sound public health policy and
programs. We draw examples from myriad public health efforts, recognizing
that not all public sector health agencies bear direct responsibility for all activities
that could be considered part of public health. We hope you find this
text enlightening and enjoyable. Happy learning!