Why Conduct a Community Needs Assessment?
Purpose
A community learning needs assessment is simply a way to identify local learning needs and gaps in available supports or programs. The information revealed through a community needs assessment can be used to help you guide planning, development and delivery of your programs. It can also help you sort learner needs in order of priority, so you can design programming and services with the resources you have to address the highest needs.
It is important to remember that the programs learners say they are interested in are not always the same as the programs that will be most effective to address the needs and gaps you have identified. You will want to find the right balance of learner "interests" and learner "needs", as you plan your programming.
Who's In?
Every community has its own networks of people and resources. Engaging as many of those networks and resources as possible in your community needs assessment will give you a better picture, not only of the learner needs and existing gaps, but also of existing opportunities for adult learners.
Potential community participants:
- Literacy Program Providers
- Community Service Organizations
- Settlement Service Providers and Organizations
- Indigenous Service Providers and Organizations
- Indigenous Community Leaders
- Municipal Leaders
- Public Libraries
- K-12 Schools
- Early Childhood Coalition
- Post-Secondary Institutions/CCCs
- Employers
- Social Service Organizations
- Government Service Providers like Alberta Works and Alberta Health Services
- Religious Organizations
- Current and Potential Learners