Documenting Your Findings:
The Needs Assessment Report
Purpose
Key Components
> Introduction
> Overview of collaboration
> Overview of planning phase to date
> Description of needs assessment
> What is the purpose and goals?
> How will the information be used?
> How does it fit within the strategic plan and collaboration’s end goal of change?

> Brief Summary of Methodology
> Who did you engage? 
> How many people? 
> How did it compare to your goal? 
> What methods did you use? 
> How many focus groups, interviews, survey responses, etc. did you conduct or get? 
> How did it compare to your goal?
> Did you encounter any challenges? If so, how, at all, do they effect the results?
Components Cont’d…
> Key Findings and Implications
> What key themes (both needs and strengths) emerged?
> What did you learn about each of those themes?
> What did each audience tell you about each theme? How do their perspectives align or contradict one another? What does that mean?
> What opportunities for change were suggested or discovered?

> Conclusion
> Summarize key findings and opportunities for change
> Discuss collaboration’s next steps

Important Considerations
> Write as a free-standing document.

> Tell a cohesive story.

> Include enough information to support each of your findings.

> Attribute information to the source (i.e., consumers, disability providers, decision-makers, etc.)

> Include quotes, if possible.  

> Help readers understand the implications of the information. 
Plotting Your Course:
The Strategic Plan
Purpose
General Guidelines Regarding: 
Short-Term Activities
Guidelines cont’d…
Required Elements
Required Elements cont’d…