From needs to dreams: An aspiration-based community needs assessment methodology

Community needs assessments are widely utilized tools that have been mandated by key regulatory bodies and legislation for many U.S. organizations. As the name implies, these practices typically focus on what is wrong with communities in order to ameliorate those problems. Even when assets are included in reports, deficits are usually emphasized in quantitative terms. This paper presents a novel methodology for conducting community assessments that centers on community-defined aspirations rather than externally-identified needs. Utilizing a mixed-methods, grounded theory design, the protocol reverses the standard practice by initiating inquiry with qualitative exploration of community aspirations before using quantitative data to validate and specify identified themes. The methodology was tested within a regional social service agency through an iterative process involving surveys and focus groups with program participants as well as staff, donors, and community partners. The results suggest potential benefits to this methodology including the strength of aspiration-based inquiry, the value of iterative approaches, and the ability to create a theoretical model of community functioning. Limitations and suggestions for future practice as discussed.