Needs assessment is a systematic process that involves the community in identifying and analyzing community needs and assets, prioritizing those needs, and then implementing a plan to address significant unmet needs. The process of mapping community assets and needs emphasizes available community resources and is not purely a deficit-based process. The needs assessment process can be dynamic and can identify unexpected stakeholders or partners to engage in the planning or implementation process. The five readiness tools in this guide were developed to support your efforts to successfully assess, plan, and identify emerging consortium needs. These brief tools emphasize (1) planning consortium engagement (motivation), (2) determining necessary tasks and activities, and (3) identifying specific capacities (abilities) to carry out these tasks for the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Planning (RCORP-P) initiative. In addition to the five worksheets, the guide provides a basic needs assessment template to help you determine whether you have completed all the elements for the needs assessment.
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