A social worker evaluating whether to develop a new non-profit uses census data and community discussions. What is this process called?

A social worker evaluating whether to develop a new non-profit uses census data and community discussions. What is this process called?

• A. Conducting a needs assessment
• B. Program evaluation
• C. Strategic planning
• D. Grant writing

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is determining whether there is a real need in the community for a new nonprofit, using census data and community discussions. This is a needs assessment. A needs assessment looks at who is underserved, the scope and severity of the issue, and the resources required to address it. By combining quantitative data from census sources with qualitative input from residents and stakeholders, you get a clear picture of whether starting a new organization is warranted and what services should be prioritized. Program evaluation would come after a program exists and focuses on measuring its effectiveness and outcomes. Strategic planning centers on setting the organization’s long-term goals and the actions needed to achieve them. Grant writing is about crafting proposals to obtain funding for a program, not about assessing whether a program is needed in the first place.

The main idea here is determining whether there is a real need in the community for a new nonprofit, using census data and community discussions. This is a needs assessment. A needs assessment looks at who is underserved, the scope and severity of the issue, and the resources required to address it. By combining quantitative data from census sources with qualitative input from residents and stakeholders, you get a clear picture of whether starting a new organization is warranted and what services should be prioritized.

Program evaluation would come after a program exists and focuses on measuring its effectiveness and outcomes. Strategic planning centers on setting the organization’s long-term goals and the actions needed to achieve them. Grant writing is about crafting proposals to obtain funding for a program, not about assessing whether a program is needed in the first place.