# Presentation: 599650

## SPF SIG Step #1

- Conducting a State-wide Needs Assessment

## What is Needs Assessment?

- Assessment of substance use and related problems leading to recommendations regarding state and community priorities
- Assessment of capacities, resources, gaps, and readiness
- 5 year requirement for SPF SIG which includes ongoing monitoring/surveillance (cyclical part of SPF 5 Steps)

## SPF Step #1 Requirements Profile population needs, resources, and readiness to address the problems and gaps in service delivery

**State Requirements**
- Develop a State Epidemiological Workgroup.
- Conduct a statewide needs assessment using epidemiological data.
- The Assessment should include:
- A profile of consumption and related problems in the State
- Current capacity to implement the SPF
- Gaps in services and capacity;
- Readiness to act;
- Support the SPF implementation in communities.

## Components of a Needs Assessment

- Set the Stage: Define purpose, goals, procedures and timeframe
- Data Collection: Define data/data sources. Collect data.
- Data Analysis: Explore trends, patterns and baselines
- Integrate and Communicate Results: Develop Needs Assessment report and/or other documents, presentations, maps, etc. to communicate findings

## Setting the Stage

- Develop SPF SIG Advisory Group and  State Epidemiological Workgroup (SEW)
- Establish structural and procedural connections between Advisory Group and SEW
- Advisory Group and SEW collaborate to define purpose, goals and timeline for Needs Assessment

## Data Collection

- Identify set of state specific indicators of
- Substance use-related consequences
- Substance use patterns related to these consequences

## Substance Use Related Problems

|  | Tobacco | Alcohol | Illicit Drugs |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Illness | Lung Cancer
Heart Disease
Lung Disease
Reproductive health         
Fetal effects | Cirrhosis
Cancer
Heart Disease
Fetal effects | Overdose
HIVFetal effects |
| Injury | Burns | MVA
Suicide
Homicide | MVA
Suicide |
| Other |  | Crime
Work/School | Crime
Work/School |

## Consumption

- Overall Consumption
- Acute, heavy consumption
- Consumption in risky situations
- Drinking and driving
- Consumption by high risk groups
- Youth, College Students
- Pregnant women

## Criteria for Selecting Indicators

- Reflect critical substance use related problem or consumption pattern
- Valid
- Periodic collection
- Consistent measurement
- Available/Limited burden
- Dissagregated geographically, by age, gender and/or race/ethnicity

## Tips

- Don’t go overboard!
- Limit the data to what you believe is essential.
- Use existing data.
- In 1st year, rely primarily on existing data.  Data needs may and should be identified but focus on completing initial assessment with existing data to see what you learn before developing new data collection mechanisms

## Data Analysis

- Levels
- Establish baseline
- Trends
- Over time
- Patterns
- By age, gender, race/ethnicity

## Integration and Communication

- Creating a State Profile:
- Description of substance use related problems
- across State and across time
- by age, gender, race/ethnicity
- Description of consumption patterns that contribute to these problems
- across State and across time
- by age, gender, race/ethnicity

## Needs Assessment Process and Outcomes

| Steps | Outcomes |
| --- | --- |
| Set Stage
 | Description of purpose, goals, general procedures and timelines |
| Data Collection | Identified set of State indicators and data sources |
| Data Analysis | Descriptions of baseline, trends, patterns in data |
| Integration and Communication | State Profile integrating findings and presenting cohesive report
 |

## Next Steps

- Develop and utilize a prioritization process for consumption patterns and problems
- Recommendations for Resource Allocation based on Needs Assessment Data
- Feed recommendations into Capacity Development (Step 2) and State Strategic Plan (Step 3)

## Key milestones in Step 1 include:

- Formation of an Epidemiological Workgroup
- Collaboration with advisory groups (SPF SIG Advisory Council)
- Collection of epidemiological data
- Analysis of epidemiological data
- Development of problem statements
- Identification of potential geographic target areas and populations
- Assessment of readiness, external factors, and potential barriers to success
- Assessment of organizational, fiscal, and leadership capacity
- Assessment of cultural competence
- Analysis of service gaps

## Key products for Step 1:

- Epidemiological Workgroup Report
- Clear, concise, and data-driven problem statement(s)
- Data sources for ongoing assessment
- Gap analysis and community program/resource/service baseline inventory

## SPF Step #1 RequirementsProfile population needs, resources, and readiness to address the problems and gaps in service delivery

**Community Requirements**
- Accurately assess substance-abuse related problems using epidemiological data
- Identify the magnitude of the (substance abuse) problem and where it is greatest
- Identify risk and protective factors
- Assess community assets and resources, gaps in services and capacity, and readiness to act.