• Member Log-in
  • | Password Help
  • | Registration Information
    •
  • Assessment Process Guide
  • Core Process Steps
  • Establishing the Assessment Infrastructure (Step 1)
  • Obtain leadership support
  • Build the staff team
  • Identify and obtain resources
  • Determine level of community involvement
  • Form an assessment advisory committee
  • Print this Step
    •
  • Defining the Purpose and Scope (Step 2)
  • Identify the users and audience
  • Define the purpose
  • Specify the target population
  • Print this Step
    •
  • Collecting and Analyzing Data (Step 3)
  • Determine who will collect and analyze data
  • Collect secondary data
  • Collect primary data - introduction
  • Collect primary data - methods
  • Analyze data
  • Develop a data management process
  • Examine community assets
  • Print this Step
    •
  • Selecting Priorities (Step 4)
  • Review assessment data
  • Establish criteria for evaluating data
  • Set priorities with a consensus process
  • Validate prioritized needs
  • Print this Step
    •
  • Documenting and Communicating Results (Step 5)
  • Organize information for presentation
  • Prepare a written report
  • Publicize assessment findings
  • Promote community dialogue on findings
  • Print this Step
    •
  • Planning for Action and Monitoring Progress (Step 6)
  • Conduct research to inform goals and actions
  • Define goals, objectives, and strategies
  • Create and implement the action plan
  • Develop evaluation plan and monitor progress
  • Print this Step
    •
  • Print all Steps
  • Additional Links
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Resource Links
  • Case Examples (New!)
  • Data Sources
  • Glossary
  • Home
    • photo

    Using the Toolkit

    The ACHI Community Health Assessment Toolkit is available to paid members of these groups:

    Members of these groups can use their Web site ID and password to log in by clicking "Member Log-in" in the upper right corner of this page.

    ACHI members are invited to write to communityhlth@aha.org or call (415) 248-8408 for log-in assistance or membership information.

    AHA members can write to express@aha.org or call (312) 422-3000.

    SHSMD members can write to shsmd@aha.org or call (312) 422-3888.

    Welcome to ACHI's
    Community Health Assessment Toolkit

    The ACHI Community Health Assessment Toolkit is a guide for planning, leading, and using community health assessments to better understand--and ultimately improve--the health of communities. It provides insight to the assessment process drawn from experienced professionals and a variety of proven tools.

    For log-in instructions and assistance, read the blue Using the Toolkit section on the right. Write to assesstoolkit@aha.org with general questions, suggestions or feedback about the Toolkit.

    • New!  Case examples added! The Toolkit now includes seven case examples, with a quick-reference table to help you find the ones most pertinent to your local situation. Log in and select Case Examples from the navigation.

    • Learn more! Download a brief slide presentation and a fact sheet about the Toolkit's features and benefits.

    • Why conduct a health assessment? Read An Excellent Investment by ACHI director Michael Bilton for three good reasons.

    On this site you will find:

    • Detailed steps for a typical health assessment process, including but not limited to data collection 
    • Step Summaries with task checklists, budget and timeline guides, and lists of the skills needed for an effective assessment
    • Resource Links to additional guides, tools, and templates at every step
    • Answers to frequently asked questions about assessments

    We define community health assessment as both the activity and product of collecting data on and setting priorities for improving the health of a defined population.

    This simple definition belies a multifaceted endeavor that requires careful planning, funding, collaboration, data collection and analysis, priority-setting, communication, and action planning. Community health assessments vary widely with the size and nature of each community, the number of partners involved, the goals of those participating in the process, the resources available, and a variety of other local factors.

    The ACHI Community Health Assessment Toolkit presents a typical assessment process from beginning to end in six core steps, discusses factors that will make your assessment unique, and addresses potential obstacles and solutions.

    Acknowledgements

    The Association for Community Health Improvement is grateful for the perspectives, tools, and experiences provided by the Community Health Assessment Work Group, and for funding from the American Hospital Association.