Introduction

Planning for the Needs Assessment

The Four-Step Needs Assessment

Needs Assessment Tools

Needs Assessment Tools

A needs assessment does not have to be complicated. There are a number of tools you can use to gather information. These include:

Directly observe the congregation’s members and their needs – during meetings, home visits, services, etc.

Develop and use survey questionnaires. Whatever or however you conduct a survey, it is VERY IMPORTANT to have the clergy and key church leaders support your effort. If possible, ask people to “talk it up”, preferably from the pulpit, so that the maximum number of congregation members complete the survey. Surveys can be implemented in several ways:

1. Mailing questionnaires to randomly selected members of the congregation – this can get quite costly, and often the rate of return is low, even if you provide a self-addressed stamped envelope.
2. Performing telephone surveys – the rate of return on telephone calls is usually quite good, but the time investment is substantial.
3. Handing out and collecting surveys during a special time at services, for example, after the homily.
4. Posting questionnaires on your congregation’s Web site.
5. Handing out surveys as members enter the worship space, and collecting the surveys as members leave or having a drop box in which members can place the survey.

Remember that information gathered from survey questionnaires is only as good as the questions that are asked; so, the phrasing of survey questions is a very important consideration and can have a tremendous impact on results you get. It is always a good idea to pretest your questions. And, make sure you place a return deadline somewhere prominent on the survey tool. One last rule of thumb: Surveys should always be anonymous. Download samples:

Sample Health Needs Assessment 1 (pdf 44KB)
Sample Health Needs Assessment 2 (pdf 44KB)
Sample Health Needs Assessment 3 (pdf 80KB)
Health Needs Assessment Survey Report (pdf 164KB)

Hold formal or informal interviews with pastors, congregational staff and members, community members to find out if their needs are currently being met and how a parish nurse could make things better.

Hold a congregational forum. This would be a group event that will include a variety of congregational members. It is important to include as many people who use, or could potentially use, parish nurse resources. An added bonus of this type of data gathering is that it lends visibility to the parish nurse program.

Consult with persons in key positions outside of your congregation, those with specific knowledge of the health-related problems and concerns of people in your community (public health personnel, local physicians, hospital outreach workers). These individuals typically hold socially responsible positions, are active in community affairs, and have wide contact with a variety of people.

Conduct a literature review for current information in the field of parish nursing and congregational needs.

Hold discussions with other parish nurses in your area.

Use a suggestion box. This can be a very effective, although basic, needs assessment tool. Simply place in a prominent location with very simple instructions. Those who will not offer opinions in-person or fill out questionnaires my complete a simple suggestion.

Get your name placed on as many distribution lists as possible in the community and your congregation (ex. meeting minutes, newsletters, etc.) This will help you find out about new programs and services, and new directions some groups may be taking. It will also help you anticipate future needs. And, by being “in the know”, it will serve as a way for you to discover collaborators or promotional avenues for your programs.