26 August 2009
Mary E. Homan, MA
Missouri Institute of Mental Health
University of Missouri School of Medicine
Needs-based assessment
Asset-based assessment
Based on a community need, a
particular deficiency or problem that
concerns the community
Based on community assets that can
be mobilized for community
improvement
Looks at what is wrong with the
community and how to fix it
Focuses on positive aspects of
community; every community
member can potentially be a
community asset
Examines needs, what is/what should
be gaps, deficits and needed
improvements
Leads community to look within for
solutions and resources to solve
problems
Leads community to seek outside
assistance rather than in-house skills
& change agents
Fosters a sense of independence,
pride & possibilities
Discourages community members
Community discovers & appreciates
own resources
Focuses on communities weakness
and inabilities, perceiving that only
outsiders can fix them
Empowers residents to realize and
use their abilities to build/transform
community & self reliance
Individual Assets
Organizational Assets
Skills, talents, and experience of
residents
Citizens organizations, e.g. service
clubs, fraternal organizations,
athletic clubs
Individual businesses
Business associations
Home-based enterprises
Financial institutions
Personal income
Cultural organizations
Gifts of labeled people (mentally
ill, elderly, disabled)
Communications organizations
Religious organizations
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External resources are not available
Identifying and mobilizing community assets
enables community residents to gain control
over their lives.
Improvement efforts are more effective, and
longer-lasting, when community members
dedicate their time and talents to changes
they desire.
Provides necessary information allowing
people to become producers rather than
problems.
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When you don't know what those assets are
When talent is underutilized
When you are unable to provide traditional
services
When you want to encourage pride among
residents
When you want to strengthen or build
relationships
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What is the size of our community?
Who is available to do the work?
How much time is there for the task?
How much money is at our disposal?
What do we want to accomplish?
Who is this most going to help?
What are we going to do with the results?
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Asset-Based Inventories
◦ Individual Capacity Inventory
◦ Community Capacity Inventory
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A simple survey designed to identify the
multitude of abilities within each individual
◦ skills and abilities you’ve learned through
experience in the home or with the family,
◦ skills you’ve learned at church or elsewhere,
◦ any skills you’ve learned on the job.
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Asks “Who has a stake in our community?”
Thoroughly documents existing assets &
resources
Uses results to plan programs
Connects skilled community members and
organizations with people and organizations
in need of those skills
1. Assets and capacities located inside
the neighborhood, largely under
neighborhood control (primary)
2. Assets located within the community
but largely controlled by outsiders
(secondary)
Individual Capacities
Associational & Organizational
Capacities
Skills, talents, and experience of
residents
Citizens organizations, e.g. service
clubs, fraternal organizations,
athletic clubs
Individual businesses
Business associations
Home-based enterprises
Financial institutions
Personal income
Cultural organizations
Gifts of labeled people (mentally
ill, elderly, disabled)
Communications organizations
Religious organizations
Private & Nonprofit
Organizations
Public Institutions &
Services
Physical Resources
Institutions of higher
education
Public schools
Vacant land
Hospitals (Tremendous
reserve of resources and
assets to support
initiatives in community
enterprise)
Police & fire
departments
Vacant commercial &
industrial structures
Social Service Agencies
Libraries
Vacant housing
Parks
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Resources originating outside the
neighborhood, controlled by outsiders
(potential resources)
Investment developments
Welfare expenditures
Public capital improvement expenditures
Public information
Source: University Outreach and Extension at University of Missouri
System and Lincoln University
http://extension.missouri.edu/about/fy00-03/assetmapping.htm
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GIS (Geographic Information Systems) is a
tool that allows for the analysis of spatially
based information
GIS uses a method of digital mapping that
links data to their physical location
◦ This can show you where particular people, events,
things, or conditions are, and give you other
information about them as well
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Hardware with enough power to run the
GIS software.
GIS software with the capabilities you
need.
Accurate data, in a form that can be fed
into the software program.
People trained to use the GIS system
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The desired physical and political
features of the map you want.
The location information about the other
features you’re interested in.
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GIS can help you determine the how seriously
an issue affects an area or the community as
a whole
Using a GIS application is the quickest and
most efficient method of creating maps and
similar graphics that provide a picture of not
only the geographic, but of the social,
demographic, environmental, political, and
other aspects of an area
Source: Colorado Campus Compact
http://academic.regis.edu/ccc/ACCESS%20CO/DenverArvadaAssetMaps.htm
Mason, Michael,
Cheung, Ivan, &
Walker, Leslie. (2009).
“Creating a Geospatial
Database of Risks and
Resources to Explore
Urban Adolescent
Substance Use.”
Journal of Prevention
& Intervention in the
Community. 37(1):2134.
Townley, Greg, Kloos, Bret
& Wright, Patricia A.
(2009). “Understanding
the experience of place:
Expanding methods to
conceptualize and
measure community
integration of persons
with serious mental
illness.” Health & Place.
15(2009): 520-531.
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KU Work Group for Community Health and Development. (2007). Chapter 3, Section 8: Identifying
Community Assets and Resources. Lawrence, KS: University of Kansas. Retrieved 6 August 2009 from
the World Wide Web: http://ctb.ku.edu/en/tablecontents/section_1043.htm.
KU Work Group for Community Health and Development. (2007). Chapter 3, Section 16: Geographic
Information Systems: Tools for Community Mapping. Lawrence, KS: University of Kansas. Retrieved 6
August 2009 from the World Wide Web: http://ctb.ku.edu/en/tablecontents/TableofContents3.16.htm.
McKnight, John & Kretzmann, John. (1996). Mapping Community Capacity. Evanston, IL: Institute for
Policy Research, Northwestern University. Retrieved 6 August 2009 from World Wide Web:
http://www.northwestern.edu/ipr/publications/papers/mcc.pdf
Goldman, Karen Denard & Schmalz, Kathleen Jahn. (2005). “ ‘Accentuate the Positive!’ Using an AssetMapping Tool as Part of a Community-Health Needs Assessment.” Health Promotion Practice 6(2):125128.
Colorado Campus Campact. (2006). Denver & Arvada Asset Maps. Denver, CO: Regis University.
Retrieved 21 August 2009 from the World Wide Web:
http://academic.regis.edu/ccc/ACCESS%20CO/DenverArvadaAssetMaps.htm.
Townley, Greg, Kloos, Bret & Wright, Patricia A. (2009). “Understanding the experience of place:
Expanding methods to conceptualize and measure community integration of persons with serious
mental illness.” Health & Place. 15(2009):520-531.
Mason, Michael, Cheung, Ivan, & Walker, Leslie. (2009). “Creating a Geospatial Database of Risks and
Resources to Explore Urban Adolescent Substance Use.” Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the
Community. 37(1):21-34.
Lohmann, Andrew & Schoelkopf, Laurie E. (2009). “GIS: A Useful Tool for Community Assessment.”
Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community. 37(1):1-4.
Quon Huber, Melissa S. et al. (2009). “GIS Applications for Community-Based Research and Action:
Mapping Change in a Community-Building Initiative .” Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the
Community. 37(1):5-20.