Needs Assessment

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Needs Assessment

• Another evaluation approach
• What is a need
• Approaches to assessing needs
• Examples

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I need a thneed, the Lorax

• Like/Dislike, Preference
• Need vs Want
• Demand
• Willingness vs Ability to Pay

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• Need difference between what someone wants and
  what exists
• Applied mostly to public programs
• Often in context of resource allocations across
  target populations or regions
• Relative needs - indices, priorities

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• "need" is a value judgement that some group has a
  problem that can (should) be addressed.

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Whose value judgement?

• normative need - an experts opinion,
• felt need - client self-assessment,
• expressed need -(behavior)- use or non-use of
  services/facilities),
• comparative need -relative to a reference or
  peer group.

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Kinds of Needs

• Outcomes not equal expectations (standards)
• At risk groups whose conditions put them at
  greater risk of problems
• Maintenance needs, e.g alcohol/drug rehab,
  fitness, health

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Steps in Needs Analysis

• Identify users and uses of the study why?
• Describe target population (who?) and service
  environment
• Identify Needs
• assess relative importance
• Propose alternatives for meeting needs
• Evaluate alternatives
• Feasibility, effectiveness, costs
• Communicate results/Implement

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Three Models

• Discrepancy (gap) desired - existing
• Goal setting - what we want
• Performance measurement - what is
• Discrepancy identification
• Marketing - determine needs and wants of target
  markets and assess ways (4P's) of meeting them
• Select target markets
• Choose competitive position
• Develop effective marketing mix
• Process/Root Causes vs Symptoms

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Ex.1 SCORP Approach recreation needs

• Measure supply of facilities in a region
• Measure Demand or desired use
• Difference Need
• Forecast Future Supply or Demand to assess future
  needs
• Possibly rank needs by priority/importance

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Ex 2 NRPA Open Space Standards for Communities

• 10 acres of parkland per 1000 population
• 10 of land area in parks
• 8 operating expense per capita

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Problems with Standards

• Minimums, Maximums or Ideal?
• Must be revised to fit local situation
• Origin usually dubious
• Tend to become performance measures rather than
  guidelines
• Often misused

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Ex 3. Community Needs Survey or Market Survey

• Qualitative or Quantitative
• Attitudes or Behavior
• Objective or subjective measures
• Direct or Indirect Approaches
• What are your needs? perceived needs
• Measure/observe behavior compare with a norm

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Michigan SCORP 1985User-Oriented Facilities
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MI Local Park Acres- 1985
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Activities Analyzed at Regional level

• Boat launches
• Campgrounds
• Trails - XC , hiking, ORV, snowmobile
• Fishing access
• Nature areas
• Beaches

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LWCF

• 1958-1962 ORRRC
• 1964 LWCF act
• Funding for federal land acquisition
• State matching grants
• Planning, acquisition development
• SCORP plans
• 1978- UPARR

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Central Cities 10/acres/1000
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Central Cities 10 of Land
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Central Cities 8 Operating per capita
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Meeting all 3