Final Thoughts About Assessment

As this section has illustrated, there is a critical need for prevention programs to identify, collect, organize, and analyze information about their community. This information or data collection process need not be overwhelming or overly complicated, but it can be most easily accomplished by an experienced professional in research design, survey design, and program evaluation.

By gathering and evaluating information on community risk factors, community protective factors and resources, and the community’s readiness to support a prevention effort, prevention practitioners are able to construct a thorough and accurate portrait of their community. This information lays the groundwork for prevention efforts that are targeted, appropriate, and effective.

Please review how the case study has worked through Step Two.