CONDUCTING A COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT & POLICY SCAN

Angela G. Brega, PhD

Program Evaluator

University of ColoradoREACH 2012

Overview & AcknowledgmentsOverview Objectives of Community Assessment &

Policy Scan (CAPS) Review the recommended process Provide guidance on reporting your results

Acknowledgments Venice Ng & Cory Sedey-Seitz UCLA REACH 2012 Team

Community Assessment & Policy Scan

Required component of your projects Due 60 days from execution of subcontract

Objectives To evaluate the current state of “PSE” in

your community Policies, Systems, and Environmental factors

that influence nutrition, physical activity, and ultimately obesity

Provides a foundation for identifying areas to target in your final Work Plans

Refresher: Definitions

Policy: Laws, regulations, rules, protocols, and procedures that influence health-related behavior. Taxes on tobacco products Affordable Care Act – menu labeling provisions

Systems: Features of an organization, institution, system that influence health behavior District-wide school physical activity policies National School Lunch Program in state school system

Environment: Physical, social, or economic factors that influence people’s behaviors Availability of healthy food and safe walking paths

Categories can overlap.

Conducting Your CAPS

Community Health Assessment aNd Group Evaluation (CHANGE Tool) CDC

Provides a snapshot of PSE factors in your community Strengths and weaknesses

Weaknesses represent areas for PSE improvement

Follow some of the recommended steps Suggesting a simplified process

Selected CHANGE Steps

1. Assemble the Team2. Develop Team Strategy3. Review CHANGE Tool Process4. Gather Data5. Review Gathered Data

Step 1. Assemble the Team

Kelly Moore’s webinar on coalition building http://

www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/PublicHealth/research/centers/CAIANH/REACH/Pages/Resource-Library.aspx

Coalition should participate in this work Partners from different sectors will bring different

skills, knowledge, and perspectives to the process Develop buy-in from your coalition partners

First opportunity to work together – accomplishment Shared understanding of the problems Awareness of opportunities to improve PSE Build a strong foundation for implementing Work Plans

Step 2. Develop Team Strategy Work with coalition to identify best approach to

collecting and reviewing community data Should coalition work as a whole or “divide & conquer”

Divide the assessment by sector If coalition is divided, each subgroup should includes 2+ people

collecting/reviewing data and reporting back to the full group

Decide on decision-making process 100% agreement, majority rules

Define what is meant by “community” County, city, town, zip code, school district, etc. Jurisdiction wide; not just the American Indian

population

Step 3. Review CHANGE Tool Process

Review the process of conducting the Community Assessment and Policy Scan with coalition Early meeting of the coalition

Steps 3a. Review CHANGE Sectors 3b. Review Assessment Process 3c. Review Excel Workbooks

Step 3a. Review CHANGE Sectors

1. Community-At-Large Sector2. School Sector

Preschool, elementary/middle/high school, after-school programs

3. Worksite Sector Any place of employment

4. Community Institution/Organization Sector Childcare settings, churches, senior centers,

YMCA, colleges/universities, boys and girls clubs, etc.

Step 3b. Review Assessment Process

Assessment of 4 sectors in your community Community-At-Large Sector School Sector (≥3 sites) Worksite Sector (≥3 sites) Community Institution/Organization Sector (≥3

sites)

Identification of Sites Identify sites that involve a higher

concentration of American Indians or that serve Native people

Community organizations – specific or varied types

Step 3c. Review Excel Workbooks

Excel Workbooks for each Sector Developed as of the CHANGE Tool

Guide your assessment Outline the questions to ask

Colorado REACH 2012 team has revised Limited the number of questions to be asked You are welcome to add additional questions

Appendix C of the CHANGE Tool provides recommendations

Each Workbook contains Demographics Physical Activity Nutrition School Sector Workbook also contains District

spreadsheet

Step 4. Gather Data

Complete Excel workbook for each sector Complete one workbook for each site

assessed Approaches to collecting data

Key informant interviews Online data sources

Key Informant Interviews

Key informants are people in your community who have expertise in PSE factors

Interviewing key informants can: Provide knowledge and documentation Point you to other resources and informants Make connections with key stakeholders

Can become partners in implementation of Work Plan

Not a formal interview

Identification of Key Informants Coalition members can assist in identification Other organizations/programs can help

Community Transformation Grants Other programs focused on PSE efforts

Who is likely to have expertise? Department of Transportation Health Department State Legislature, City Council, Mayor’s Office School Board, school principal

Appendix to Slides: Suggested starting places Appendix B of CHANGE Tool

Online Data Sources

Provide information in specific areas Demographic data Policies

Suggested resources You may know of others – we would be

happy to hear about them! Ensure data are up-to-date

Community at Large: Demographics

Census Data http://www.census.gov/2010census/

Population Finder – Areas within http://

factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml Community Facts

County Health Rankings and Roadmaps http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/#app/

Find Your County

Other Sectors: Demographics

School Sector School District Demographics System

http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/sdds/index.aspx School District/School websites State Department of Education website Key informants

Worksite and Institutional/Organizational Sectors

Worksite or organization websites Key informants

Policy & Other Websites

CDC Chronic Disease State Policy Tracking System http://

apps.nccd.cdc.gov/CDPHPPolicySearch/Default.aspx State-level, health-related policies with status (e.g.,

enacted) ENACT Local Policy Database

http://eatbettermovemore.org/sa/policies/ Nutrition and physical activity at multiple levels (city,

county, school district) Community Garden Locator

http://www.communitygarden.org/learn/what-is-a-community-garden/find-a-community-garden.php Locate community gardens in area, including at schools

Completing Workbooks

Complete Excel workbook for Community-at-Large Sector Each site from the other sectors

For each question, rate policy & environment Has policy been developed Has implementation happened

Don’t leave items blank All questions are required 99 if not applicable

Rating Scale

Example

Step 5. Review Gathered DataReview Data with Sector-Specific Subgroups Discuss findings related to each item Decide on final scoring – Enter into workbooks Identify strengths and weaknesses in sector

Review the “Module Score Summaries” %s combine the ratings for all applicable items

Take detailed notes Why did you decide on the scores you chose What was the rationale for the areas you identified

as strengths and weaknesses

Step 5. Review Gathered DataReview Data with Whole Coalition Subgroups present their findings to the coalition Coalition decides on any refinements to scoring

Enters changes Identify strengths and weaknesses in community

Review the “Module Score Summaries” What areas should be targeted for improvement?

Take notes regarding findings and decisions

Consultant Assistance

Involving a consultant in conduct of the CAPS

Consultant can conduct and write up the scan Coalition should review all results with the

consultant and identify areas to target in the Work Plan

Consultant should follow the process outlined here Can go beyond this, but must include these

elements at a minimum

Reporting Your Results

Report Outline

I. IntroductionII.Community Assessment and Policy Scan MethodsA.Sites reviewedB.Data collection process and sources

Key informants and other resources

C.Coalition review and decision-making process

Report Outline (cont.)

III. FindingsA.Sector-Specific Findings

Community-at-Large Sector School Sector Worksite Sector Community Institution/Organization SectorIn each sector, describe: Demographics PSE factors related to physical activity & nutrition

What policies are in place? What PSE approaches have already been implemented? What weaknesses did your coalition identify?

B.Across all sectors, where were the greatest needs identified?

Report Outline (cont.)

IV. ConclusionsA.Discuss the implications of your Community

Assessment and Policy ScanB.What PSE strategies would address the

weaknesses your coalition identified?C.Provide initial thoughts on how your Work

Plan could be refined to address these areas

V. AppendicesA.Copies of your final workbooksB.Copies of other data gathered

Resources

CDC CHANGE Tool http://

www.cdc.gov/healthycommunitiesprogram/tools/change/downloads.htm

Sector-Specific Excel Workbooks Will be uploaded to UCD REACH 2012 website

REACH Kick-off Training May 7th & 8th Come prepared with thoughts and questions

What has worked well? What barriers are you facing?

Contact Information

Tim Noe – Co-Principal Investigator Timothy.Noe@ucdenver.edu

Kelly Moore – Co-Principal Investigator Kelly.Moore@ucdenver.edu

Angie Generose – Project Manager Angie.Generose@ucdenver.edu

Angela Brega – Program Evaluator Angela.Brega@ucdenver.edu

Venice Ng – Evaluation Specialist Venice.Ng@ucdenver.edu

Cory Sedey-Seitz – Professional Research Assistant Cory.Sedey-Seitz@ucdenver.edu

Questions?

Identification of Key InformantsPossible Starting Places

Appendix

Community-at-Large Sector

Government: Director of specific programs Parks and recreation Community and economic development Health department Transportation

Community Assembly Groups Farm or neighborhood representatives City district representation Community food groups

Minority Health Council: Chairman, Project Coordinator

School Sector

District: Superintendent program coordinator Chairperson of health services or School Board Food service director

School: Principal or Administrator School nurse Director of child nutrition PE Instructor

Worksite Sector

Owner/CEO General manager Board member Human Resources Director or benefits

coordinator

Institutional/Organizational Sector Community center/Community action

organization: Director, program staff University/College: Senior

administration, Professor Church: Pastor Head Start Agency: Executive Director Food bank/Youth center/Family center:

Director of programs