Community Needs Assessment for North Philadelphia Pennsylvania

• Do you address this issue or need in the community? (Education, housing,
employment, child care, etc.)
• How do you address this issue? (advocacy, direct service, referral)
• What do you see are the challenges facing this issue in the community?
• Who else is working on this issue in your area?
• How would you know your programs were successful?
It is recommended that the agency consider putting together a cross functional team of agency staff to
discuss the issues facing the many clients who are served by the various programs. The community
needs assessment, while required for CSBG (Community Services Block Grant) and Head Start funding,
if comprehensive and multi-faceted should provide the background for the whole agency’s strategic plan
and provide the framework for discovering other programs and funding. The above questions can be
revised for such a group and might look like the following:
How do we address this issue or need in the community?
What do you see are the challenges facing these issues in the community?
Who do you partner with when you need to help someone who is facing this
issue? Who should the agency partner with when addressing these issues?
How will we know if we are successful?
4. PARTNERS
Many agencies participate in partnership with other service providers or groups. Partnerships however
are more than just attending meetings. Active partnerships mean having a say at the table during
discussions, a role in an organization’s action plan, and is reciprocal. The partnerships listed in the
document reflect common statewide groups. Your agency should also consider unique local partnerships
with area developers, local service organizations, churches, faith based organizations, and others who
may not be statewide in nature but who are just as important to the community and area.
5. RELATED PLANS
Many communities and areas have already undertaken a number of plans covering the same geographic area that the
community action agency covers. These plans provide a wealth of knowledge for the agency and can inform the agency of what
other programs are active in the region. The challenge of many regional plans is that other regional agencies often do not have
the same boundaries as the lead organization in poverty matters. It is suggested that the local action agency look at other plans
that touch on at least one issue area or aspect of the community needs assessment. By examining the plans, an agency can
see what is being proposed by other groups, can adjust their plans if needed, or become active partners in helping the other
agencies achieve their plans if the goals and objectives are a good match.
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