Community Needs Assessment

Through the vast resources available on the Indy Indicators website we are able to assist communities, hospitals, public health departments and other organizations assess the overall health of their community. Whether the need is to satisfy a regulatory requirement or to impact a neighborhood, the Indy Indicators team has the experience and resources available to meet your needs. What follows is a sample of data, analytic tools and reports to demonstrate what is possible. We encourage you to take a look at the site to discover how we can help you and your organization.

Profile

Community Needs Assessment Profile

Reports

The Indy Indicators project relies on the expertise of Indiana University and two of its research centers. The sampling of reports listed below highlight some to the research and analytic skills available to you as you prepare and conduct your needs assessments.

Overview

• Marion County Metrics for Quality of Life and Community Assessment (IU Public Policy Institute 2012)

Demographics

• Indiana’s Minority Population is Growing (Indiana Business Research Center 2011)
• Demographic View of Indiana’s Housing Slump (Indiana Business Research Center 2011)

Education

• The Value of Education (IU Public Policy Institute 2011)
• How Education Pays (Indiana Business Research Center 2011)
• The Importance of Being Educated (Indiana Business Research Center 2011)

Environment

• How Green is Indiana (Indiana Business Research Center 2011)

Housing

• 2011 Homeless Count (IU Public Policy Institute 2011)
• Measuring Housing: Quick Facts from the 2010 Census for Indiana (Indiana Business Research Center 2011)

Public Health

• Burden of Obesity in Indiana (Indiana State Department of Health 2011)
• Burden of Diabetes in Indiana (Indiana State Department of Health 2011)

Public Safety

• Indiana Crash Facts 2010 (IU Public Policy Institute 2011)
• Cell Phones and Driving (IU Public Policy Institute 2009)

Additional Resources

Data

During the development of this website, steps were taken to provide both a robust and comprehensive set of data to adequately assess quality of life in a region and to support completion of Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNA). This does not mean that other data may not be available. If there is a source of data that improves the site or enhances the ability to conduct a CHNA, it can be added to the Indy Indicators database or to an individual client’s website.

Surveys

Surveys are an excellent way to supplement data collection and provide a mechanism for utilizing current, primary data in CHNAs. This survey is an example of one used previously by a local unit of government to collect data to support a needs assessment.

• Sample Survey

Mapping

Through the resources contained within the website, it is possible to supplement your CHNA work with maps. The following provides an example of how maps could be used to enhance your website or CHNA reports and display areas of need or improvement.

• Food Deserts

Focus Groups

The CHNA requirements call for public input. With decades of experience in civic engagement we can assist with all aspects of planning and conducting focus groups and public input events.