Empowerment through Accessibility: Community Needs Assessment Data for LGBTQ Communities

Abstract In November 2017, Oxford, OH joined the AARP network of Age-Friendly Communities (AFCs). The first step in building an action plan through the AARP process is conducting a community needs assessment. Scripps Gerontology Center adapted the AARP Community Survey Questionnaire and mailed surveys to a random sample of 700 Oxford residents aged 50 years and older. The response rate was 46.8%. For seven of the eight domains of livability, individuals were asked how important is it to have particular services in the community (Likert scale) and whether the community provides the services (response options: yes, no, not sure). The responses to these questions were used to calculate a perceived gap score. The purpose of this project was to identify which domains had the largest perceived gaps, then further analyze individual item gaps. The three domains with the largest gaps were transportation (50.6%), housing (47.7%), and health (46.2%). Further analysis of the 60 individual domain items provided information about the type of gap. For example, 84% of respondents found the item “affordable public transportation” important. However, of those who said it is important, 73% perceived a gap in service provision, and 64% of the gap was due to not knowing if Oxford provides it. Communities may interpret a “not sure” gap as an opportunity to restructure how they promote services to older individuals. Implications of this research include proposing different ways of analyzing needs assessment data so AFCs can make efficient and effective changes for older adults to age in place.

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A Critique of Contemporary Community Health Promotion Approaches: Based on a Qualitative Review of Six Programs in Maine

American Journal of Health Promotion ◽

10.4278/0890-1171-7.3.208 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 208-220 ◽

Cited By ~ 55

Author(s):

Robert M. Goodman ◽

Allan Steckler ◽

Sandra Hoover ◽

Randy Schwartz

Keyword(s):

Health Promotion ◽

Chronic Disease ◽

Disease Prevention ◽

Needs Assessment ◽

Community Health ◽

Prevention Program ◽

Chronic Disease Prevention ◽

Assessment Data ◽

Community Needs ◽

Community Needs Assessment

Purpose. This article reports on a process evaluation of three Planned Approach to Community Health (PATCH) projects and three Community Chronic Disease Prevention Programs (CCDPP) that operated in the State of Maine. PATCH and CCDPP are similar approaches to community health promotion developed and disseminated by the Centers for Disease Control. The evaluators studied how the Planned Approach to Community Health and the Community Chronic Disease Prevention Program models worked as community health strategies across the six field sites. Research Methods Used. Qualitative methods were used in a cross-case comparison of the six field sites. In studying each site, the evaluators focused on six stages common to both the Planned Approach to Community Health and the Community Chronic Disease Prevention Program models: Stage 1: conducting a community needs assessment; Stage 2: analyzing needs assessment data; Stage 3: setting priorities for the project based on the data; Stage 4: implementing activities; Stage 5: producing process outcomes; and Stage 6: institutionalizing the project. The analysis focused on how each of the six communities traversed these stages. Summary of Findings. Eight recommendations for refining Planned Approach to Community Health and Community Chronic Disease Prevention strategies resulted from the study: 1) do a community capacity assessment prior to initiating a community needs assessment; 2) do not overly rely on Behavioral Risk Factor Surveys; 3) analyze needs assessment data rapidly for community consumption; 4) allow flexibility and community input in determining priority health objectives; 5) provide technical assistance throughout a project, not just in the beginning; 6) fund at least one full-time local coordinator and extensive capacity building; 7) emphasize multiple interventions around one chronic condition at a time; and 8) emphasize program institutionalization. Conclusions. Community development approaches like Planned Approach to Community Health and Community Chronic Disease Prevention are promising health promotion strategies. To be optimally effective, however, these strategies need refinement based on systematic study in field settings. Because this study was limited to six sites in Maine, some of these findings may have limited generalizability.

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