Needs Assessment

     Where else to begin a health promotion program than with a needs assessment? However well-armed a health educator may be with outside research data, knowledge, and a theoretical understanding of the health issue, a comprehensive needs assessment of the specific target population and setting is a prerequisite. It also happens to be the logical starting point for a health educator to build relationships with an organization. The only step preceding this would be the initial introductory conversations with the organization’s leadership. The needs assessment process is a vehicle to educate, engage, collaborate, and build meaningful relationships among all potential participants and to design the program that best meets their needs and achieves the program goals.