CSBG community needs assessment checklist
What should be in the report?
A complete report is more than a stack of statistics. Reviewers look for a dated assessment, information from people with low incomes and community partners, analysis of causes and conditions of poverty, prioritized needs, available resources, and a clear board record.
A practical first pass
- Confirm the report date and the service area.
- Find both quantitative data and direct community input.
- Check whether the report analyzes the data instead of merely listing it.
- Look for causes and conditions of poverty, not only symptoms.
- Trace the evidence to the priorities the agency chose.
- Check existing, developing, and threatened resources.
- Open the governing-board minutes and confirm formal acceptance.
What often gets missed
A partner list does not by itself show that every required sector informed the work. A survey count does not show what respondents said or how the agency used it. A board presentation does not prove formal acceptance. A current-looking chart does not prove the release, geography or population is right.
Official sources
- NASCSP community needs assessment resources — includes the comprehensive guide and state monitoring checklist.
- NASCSP monitoring checklist — the reading questions and documentation checks used in this guide.
- NASCSP organizational standards resources — tools for private and public eligible entities.
State instructions can add details and deadlines. Use the current rules for the state reviewing the report.
Check the draft while it is still easy to fix.
The first pass is free. The file stays in the browser.
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