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Toolkit for Conducting a Dynamic Needs Assessment in

Your Community

Tarzana Treatment Centers, Inc.

Substance Abuse Prevention and Control:

Youth Substance Abuse Prevention

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Table of Contents

Timeline………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………3

Stakeholders ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………4

Helpful Data Resources……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….5

Sample Public Opinion Survey …………………………………………………………………………………………………….6

Sample Needs Assessment Focus Group Script……………………………………………………………………………7

Sample Questions Key Informant Interview ………………………………………………………………………………..10

Activity Creating Your Own Needs Assessment …………………………………………………………………………..11

Implementation Plan Template.…………………………………………………………………………………………………..13

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Timeline Activity Target

Population

Duration Person

Responsible

Completion

Status

1 Gather Public Opinion Surveys All

2 Literature Review: all available

local, county and state

information about the SUD issue

you are researching

Youth, young

adults, drug

users, prevention

efforts

3 Focus Groups Youth, Adults,

Drug users,

community

members

4 Key Informant Interviews

Civic leaders,

local

government,

health

professionals,

treatment staff

5 Preliminary analysis and

beginning to determine the

extent of the problem, impact

on the community, what is

needed to combat the problem

in the community, and to

identify community resources

N/A

6 Complete analysis and create

community needs assessment

report, complete with

recommendations.

N/A

7 Disseminate results: use results

and recommendations to begin

to combat the issue within your

area.

N/A

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Stakeholders The following list of 12 Sectors are examples of local stakeholders in the community who you can access to

help you gather data or to implement your action plan following the needs assessment:

For larger stakeholder groups, look to the following at the county or state level:

County or State Department of Public Health

County or State Department of Mental Health

Board of Supervisors

State Assembly member

State Senate member

Partner organizations on county, state, or federal grants

County-wide or State-wide organizations or coalitions

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Helpful Data Resources

Approaches to Community Needs Assessment: A Literature Review:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1046/j.1365-2648.1995.22040721.x

How States Can Conduct a Needs Assessment:

https://www.samhsa.gov/section-223/certification-resource-guides/conduct-needs-assessment

California Healthy Kids Survey:

http://chks.wested.org/

8 Steps to Guide Your Community Health Needs Assessment:

https://www.hhnmag.com/articles/7545-steps-to-guide-your-community-health-needs-assessment

Public Health Institute Best Practices for Community Health Needs Assessment and Implementation Strategy

Development:

http://www.phi.org/uploads/application/files/dz9vh55o3bb2x56lcrzyel83fwfu3mvu24oqqvn5z6qaeiw2u4.pdf

Conduct a Rural Needs Assessment:

https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/toolkits/rural-toolkit/1/needs-assessment

Los Angeles County Key Indicators of Health 2017:

http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/ha/docs/2015LACHS/KeyIndicator/PH-KIH_2017-sec%20UPDATED.pdf

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Sample Public Opinion Survey: Any Drug Thank you for completing this survey. All your answers will remain confidential.

Today’s Date: _______________ Zip Code of Residence: ________________ Gender: ________ Age: ________

Race/Ethnicity: (Check all that apply) Hispanic/Latino—please specify: _______________________ African American/Black Asian—please specify: _______________________________

Native American or Alaskan Native Pacific Islander—please specify ________________________

White (not Hispanic) Other—please specify ________________________________

1. Do you think that XX use is a problem in your community? Yes No Don’t Know

1a. If you answered yes, do you feel like XX is a bigger problem amongst youth or adults in your community?

Youth (under the age of 21) Adults (21+) Both Don’t Know

2. How easy do you think it is for youth (under the age of 21) to get XX?

Very easy Somewhat easy Somewhat hard Very hard Don’t know

3. Do you know anyone who currently uses or has used XX in the past? Yes No Don’t Know

4. From your experience or from what you have directly witnessed, how do most young people (under the age of 21) who

use XX usually get it? (Check all that apply)

At school At parties From drug dealers From family or relatives From adults (who are not family)

From friends or another teenager Other (please specify): ________________ Don’t Know

5. Based upon what you have heard, why do people use XX? (Check all that apply)

Easy Access Boredom Need Stamina Peer Pressure Low Cost Don’t Know

Please answer to the best of your knowledge by checking one box per statement: True

False

Don’t

Know

9. Using XX does not have severe or dangerous effects.

10. XX is a highly addictive drug

11. XX makes you smarter and more focused

12. In what ways do you think XX use among young people poses harm to public health, safety and/or welfare of your

community? (Check all that apply)

Driving under the influence Petty theft Violence Linked with other drug use Physical Health

Mental Health Property damage Noise issues Homelessness Other (please describe): ____________

Please indicate whether you support the following: Support

Do not

support

Don’t

know

13. More community education about the dangers ofXX use

14. More treatment and intervention programs for youth and adults

Thank you for your participation!

This material was made possible by funds from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Substance Abuse Prevention and Control.

Please indicate how you feel about the following statements:

Approve

Somewhat

Disapprove

Strongly

Disapprove

Neither

approve or

disapprove

Don’t

Know

6. How would you feel if someone you knew was using XX?

7. How do you think your close friends would feel about you using

XX?

8. How would you feel about youth under the age of 21 using XX?

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Sample Needs Assessment Focus Group Script

(FOR MODERATOR)

OUTLINE – The following topics are included in the discussion guide:

I. Welcome and Introductions (10 minutes)

II. Core Questions (60)

III. Wrap-up (5 minutes)

HANDLING – The goal of the focus groups is to detect individual attitudes, feelings and opinions of the respondents.

Therefore, the discussion will be very open in nature and the probing will have to be flexible depending on the

responses.

Please remember:

Every statement made during the focus group regarding the topic of the research will be accepted

There are no right or wrong answers- do not react positively or negatively to any comments or statements made.

Use probing skills whenever appropriate (make sure to be clear of the objectives of the research)

If certain group attendees are dominating the conversation, or not responding at all, be sure to help guide the conversation so that everyone gets a chance to answer and take part in the discussion without over-dominating the entire process.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE – The purpose of this research is to examine to what extent XX drug abuse is a public health and

community risk, what are the risk factors, what strengths or protective factors already exist to combat XX abuse by

youth, and what is needed in order to bolster community and public health and support programs in order to prevent

youth access to and abuse of XX in [name community].

I. Welcome and Introductions (10 minutes)

1. Welcome participants and introduce the moderator and note taker. Let participants know that notes will be recorded throughout the duration of the discussion.

2. Discuss confidentiality of the session and other rules

First, please remember, there are no right or wrong answers to any of the questions that we ask, give us your honest opinions. You are the ones that really know the community. If you don’t feel comfortable answering any question you don’t have to.

Second, we’ll ask everyone to please not interrupt so that we make sure everyone gets a chance to talk.

Third, because we really want to hear what everyone thinks, if it seems like someone is not speaking up, we may ask him/her what he/she thinks.

We encourage you all to speak to one another as much as possible. Feel free to discuss the questions we ask amongst yourselves. We are here to focus the discussion you will have.

Finally, we ask that everyone please agree to keep whatever is said in here private. While it’s okay to talk about the focus group generally, we ask that each of you not talk to anyone about what specific people say today.

Because we want to be able to remember everything that people tell us today, [note taker’s name] is going to write notes about what people say. Sometimes, [note taker’s name] can’t write fast enough to keep up, so we’re also going to digitally record what is being said. This way, we can check later to make sure we get everything right.

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I just want to stress once again that everything you say will be confidential-your name will never be used and all of the ideas discussed today will be pooled together into a general analysis. Nothing will be related back to a specific person. If your name gets recorded, we’ll make sure it gets erased from the transcript. In our report everything will be anonymous. Our discussion will take about 1 hour. Please feel free to use the bathroom at any time during our discussion.

Set cell phones to vibrate - important calls should not be made in the room and please don’t text! 3. Moderator briefly presents the objective: The purpose of this needs assessment is to determine the extent to

which XX drug is a public health risk in the community, and to identify ways in which such a public health risk might be mitigated.

4. Introduction of the respondents: Name and position

Ice Breaker: What is the best movie you saw in the past year?

II. Core Questions (60 mins)

1. Do you think that this substance is a problem in your community? Please Elaborate

In your estimate, are more people using this substance than other drugs?

Do you think the number of people abusing this substance has been increasing/decreasing?

2. What age group has the biggest substance problem? Do more adults use it or do more youth use it?

Why do you think that this group has a bigger substance problem? Are you referring to adults? Youth?

How did you learn about this substance abuse in your community?

3. Do you think that specific population groups use this substance at higher rates?

Sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, different race or ethnic groups? Please elaborate

4. Why do you think that people use this substance? Why do you think this? (Did they hear it/read it/etc.)?

Why would someone begin to use this substance?

Boredom, for fun, peer pressure, low cost, desire for energy/stamina, weight loss, a way to cope with depression

Please elaborate

5. Do you think it is easy for youth to get this substance? For adults?

Where do they get it from? (School, friends, dealer, parents, parties, other adults, etc.)

Where do you think it is most commonly used? (parties, at home, in public places like parks, school, etc.)

Why is it so easy for people to get this substance? (lack of law enforcement, too many meth houses, cheap cost,

etc.)

6. Do you know anyone who currently uses or has used this substance in the past?

If so, what was their behavior when they were using this substance?

Did you see any positive or negative outcomes of their substance use? (health, family relationships, changes in

finances, changes in behavior, etc.)

7. Do you think that this substance is harmful to the people who use it? Please elaborate if/how you feel it is harmful

How would you feel if your close friends/youth that you know were using this substance?

Do you think this substance is a highly addictive drug? Why?

8. Do you think that this substance is more or less harmful than other substances? Please elaborate

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More or less harmful than alcohol?

More or less harmful than marijuana?

9. Do you think this substance use among young people poses harm to public health, safety and/or welfare of your

community? Please elaborate

Harm through crime, mental health issues, DUIs, other drug use, family problems, issues in school, etc.

10. Do you know of any existing local measures that help to prevent youth from accessing or using drugs like this one?

Any law enforcement measures?

Any community education/drug prevention measures?

Treatment programs?

Family involvement?

11. How can the community effectively reduce the risk this substance use and its harms (i.e. limit access, stop people

from starting to use the substance)? What programs do you think would be effective?

Local group initiatives, government initiatives, more education, more treatment and intervention programs,

more law enforcement, more family involvement, more after school activities, support group, educating family

members

III. Wrap-Up (5 minutes)

1. Is there anything we have not discussed that you would like to share about this substance in the Antelope Valley?

(MODERATOR: THANK PARTICIPANTS AND CLOSE THE SESSION)

This material was made possible by funds from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Substance Abuse Prevention and Control.

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Sample Questions: Key Informant Interview

Interviewee’s Name ________________________________ Date __________________

Place of Business _____________________________________Title _________________________

1. How aware are you personally of this substance in the community? 2. Do you think that this substance is a problem in your community? If so, how do you know? 3. Where does the substance in your community come from? Where is it made? Can you please elaborate? (Where does the problem that presents in the community come from?) 4. In your opinion, what % of people in your community are experiencing the problem? 5. Do you think youth (ages 12-20) or adults (21+) have a bigger problem with this substance in your community? Why do you think that? Have you heard/seen/read things? 6. Do you think that specific population groups use the substance at higher rates? Why? 7. Why do you think that people use the substance? Please elaborate (Did they hear it/read it/etc.)? 8. Do you think it is easy for youth to access the substance/are affected by the problem, etc.? For adults? Where do they get it from?

If yes, why is it so easy for people to access the substance?

9. Where do you think people most commonly go to use the substance in your community? 10. Can you share an example of how the substance can negatively impact a person’s life? Please give an example from your work place or personal life as appropriate. 11. Do you think that the substance is harmful to the people who use it? Please elaborate if/how you feel it is harmful. 12. In your opinion, is the substance more or less harmful than other substances such as alcohol? Marijuana? 13. In your opinion, is the substance a highly addictive drug? Why? 14. Do you think using the substance poses harm to public health, safety and/or welfare of your community? Please elaborate 15. Do you know of any existing local measures or community resources that help to prevent youth from accessing or using substances such as this one? How can the community effectively reduce the risk of this substance and its harms? What programs do you think would be effective and why? 16. How can the community effectively reduce the risk of this substance use and its harms (i.e. limit access, stop people from starting to use the substance? What programs do you think would be effective? Why? 17. We are hoping to develop a community strategy to address this substance problem in this community. In your opinion, what sort of local measures or resources should go into this community strategy? Who should be involved?

11 18. Is there anything we have not discussed that you would like to share about the problem being addressed in your community?

This material was made possible by funds from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Substance Abuse Prevention and Control.

Activity: Create Your Own Needs Assessment

1. Identifying the issue:

2. Identify Key Stakeholders in Community (only identify the ones needed):

Civic/Volunteer Organizations

Healthcare Professional

Business

State/ Local /Tribal Government

Media

Substance Abuse Organizations

Schools

Youth

Youth Serving Organizations

Parents

Law Enforcement

Religious/Fraternal Organizations

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3. Identify how and where data will be collected: Identify members of the community or agencies who

have experience with your needs assessment topic.

Key Informant Interviews:

Focus Groups:

Best approach to collect community surveys:

Barriers to data collection (if any):

4. Findings and Recommendations

Findings:

What did you find? What are the gaps or needs in the community? What are the major themes that came

up from your research? Where can your findings be shared or distributed?

Recommendations:

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What can you realistically do to create change/fill a need? Who can you work with? What resources can

you access? What resources do you need that you do not have access to now? Where can these resources

come from?

5. Implementation Plan: Identify how you will move forward to accomplish each recommendation. Be as

specific as possible to ensure that you have a solid action plan

Strategy/

Recommend-

ation

Task within

Strategy

Specific Tasks

to

Accomplish

Responsible Party (person or organization)

Resources

Needed

Timeframe Expected

Outcomes

Outcome

Measures

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Toolkit Property of Tarzana Treatment Centers, Inc. 2018

Data collection material was made possible by funds from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Substance Abuse Prevention and Control.