Assessing Community Readiness

One way to think about community readiness is derived from research on health promotion, community development, and crime and delinquency prevention. This perspective provides a focus on the organizational or systems aspect of community readiness.

Seven key factors. From this perspective, seven key factors are associated with successful prevention efforts, easily remembered with the acronym PREVENT.

Key Factor 1: Problem definition
Key Factor 2: Recognition of problem by community
Key Factor 3: Existence of and access to resources
Key Factor 4: Vision and plan
Key Factor 5: Energy to mobilize and sustain prevention activities
Key Factor 6: Networking with and support of stakeholders
Key Factor 7: Talent, leadership structure, and a sense of community

Community readiness is a dynamic developmental process. Each of these factors may be present to a greater or lesser degree, and the degree will change over time. Thus, readiness assessment is not a static process, but is likewise dynamic and ongoing. The following sections provide tips for evaluating community readiness in relation to these seven key factors.